The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-07-14
AFTER MANY YEARS
Nv INA CHESTER LOWE.

learned 10 love him. Years oeloie ~
father had given the father OF 49, 49,
friendly business aid the son liau me-, -,
forgotten When Mr.. Barr lost mus
of his means. Woods had done
kind act The two Barr Oo!S' ~,
brothers of Felicia, thrown on 'iie"
own weak resources, had made poo.
business progress. Moods had oui''
I'D a profitable real estate ana CONF
tion business He took into MS en
ploy Ned and Dick Barr -.
Father and sister did not know lo"
heavy a burden Woods had uhuei
taken TO carry. The brothers "eie
dissolute unreliable, dishonoraoie'
Woods shielded their shortcomings
Then came a crash a large amount
of collections had not been paia "
creditors. Woods was charged WIN
embezzlement. He could not or "ouid
not explain where the money h"u
gone. He was arrested. tried ana sen
fenced.
There came a dark period OF gloom
for Felicia. She missed the compah!
of the man she had loved. OFTEN anu
often the impulse was strong Wltiiin
her soul to send some word OF pity
even Of love to the lonely CONVICT
but she was overwhelmed with grief
when her father died.
The year following news came tha'
Ned had been shot and killed IN a
gambling house fracas in a mining
camp in the far West. OF Dick she
did not hear for six years. Then one
day a stranger visited her He was
from South America. He brought q
tiny tot Of a child girl
Dying, Dick Barr, then a widower'
had entrusted this friend with some
small means and the little orphan, 10
be conveyed to the sister he had not
seen for over half a decade.
Mr.. Barr had left very little when
he died and Felicia had supported her.
self by giving music lessons. Now a
change would come. What her broth
er had sent her would comfortably
support herself and her little charge.
Felicia planned out quiet, patient
future 1t was rudely broken in upon.
1t was when she came to read the
closely sealed letter her brother Dick
had sent her. that she was aroused
vitality. as one from lethargy. Her
eyes flashed, her cheeks were dyed
with shame She bowed her head
and wept bitterly.
Then, a grave determination in her
face. she started forth on the mission
of her life She made arrangements
for the care of little Alice. Then Fe-
licia went to the penitentiary where
Woods had served his long term Of
Imprisonment.
ITO find HIM" was the constant
burden of her thoughts 81 must,
shall"
The records did not aid her much
in ascertaining what had become OF
Woods.
Fer over a month Felicia pursued
the dim trail of the vanished man
She consulted lawyers and detectives
she advertised. Her heart took hope
as a special agent she had employed
brought her the first glimmer of g
clew
Il think we have found your man
Miss Barr" he said.
"Oh, am so glad" murmured Fe
licia, clasping her hands in grateful
hope
This Allen Woods seems to hav,
broken down in health after leavlnl
the penitentlary," narrated the agent
the result Of his long cor tinement
have learned this much-that he wen
to Colorado, He was at plac,
called Rocky Glen. He may not b,
there now, but he was six months
ago."
1t was beautiful June mornin,
when Felicia started out from the lit
tie town of Rocky Glen to go thre,
miles to where at the summit of tn
great Bald mountain. the tcwnspeopl
told her, one Allen Woods had mad
his home, regaining health under tn
, influences of that high altitude. HI
was working little gold prospect.
placer proposition, from which h
made fair living.
Often, they said, he came to tn
settlement to take part in simpl
neighborhood entertainments, for h
was an elocutionist and a musician
Everybody loved the kindly, genis
stranger.
Her heart beat wildly as sh
reached the vine-covered hut whic
he had built for himself She cam
upon him as he stood drinking in m
invigorating air. He stood spellboun
as she spoke his name.
Il have come to restore to Won IN
money OF which my brothers robbe
you," she said clearly. Here is a 10
Ter you must read. Oh, WHY did va
do it?"
Why'-because of gratitude To be
father, because of love for herself
spare them and he had hoped the $,
cret was buried forever.
Then: Forgive" All, not m,
word. He gloried in his self.sacr
fee!
She turned to go. He put out h
hands pleadingly.
If this could be home to Won" +
said If you ever cared for me
"Oh, always, always," she cried ;,
restrainedly, and upon his sbon,d,
she soobed out all the pathetic sto,
OF the past wasted years.
| 1t was June, radiant June tho t;r
for mating, the month of brides ar
ROCKY Glen welcomed to its hosn,t
Die home two staach. helpful hoo
| Who fOnOu DeanA o1a