The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-05-15

$50, as he went about kindling nre
IN the fiat rectangular wood sto''
that stood in the center OF tne io III.
At first he thought of gong 10 mIs'
Jessie and calling off the engagenen.'
After more deliberate consldera'ioh'
ba resolved to take his troubles "
Mrs Balm. the landlady, VINO hau
watched his courtship encouraginsis
during the last two years.
That evening he arrived home ia.e
for supper, purposely, and manages W
remain at his meal until after the
other boarders had left the taoie
Tben he arose to assist Mrs. BAN
with the dishes, in the course u
which he led up the conversation "
Jessie and finally succeeded In teliihs
the kind.hearted matron of his diiem-
ma"
But. laws, you needn't worry e1-
claimed Mrs. Balm. Jessie you
know. has saved up money from her
teaching. and wouldn't hesitate TO au-
vance you little. If you need II, es-
pecially you be going to marry ner'
"But that's just it, Mrs. Balm ne
demonstrated. 81 couldn't think oil let
| ting her do 1t.
Let her? Shed just do it anyhow
If she knowed"
But she doesn't know, and won I
know, and besides she couldn't ORA"
more than just small amount from
the bank at present, even II she hau
a million dollars en- deposit
Don't you just be too sure" re-
| turned the woman. That's a mighty
sriart girl and if she wanted to 90
left the gruesome place. but not unth
he had bestowed kindly parting
glance at Floribel.
Then she dreamed All life seemed
radiant. 1t was as if some royal
prince had entered a squalid GIN
derella hut, leaving behind him a
rare memory of bewildering sensa'
tions. Poor child! love budded IN her
tender heart in her very humility she
worshiped at it's shrine.
Floribel treasured the card. She
memorized the names upon it. Could
the vision indicated by her courteous
visitor ever come true? To have such
friends, to be cared for amid cleanIi-
ness and comfort-she thought not OF
opulence or luxury-just to be near
such sweet natures to toll for them
to love them-this, simply, was the
aspiration Of her childlike loyal ma
ture!
All that afternoon the madame
poked and ferreted about the place
When her husband came home sht
held a spirited low-toned conversation
with him. Then both Of them pro
ceeded to ransack pile after pile O
hitherto unassorted wreckage.
A quick token of interest came int
; the mind of Floribel as she saw then
= Fastening to the wretched room digni
: fed as the Office Of the old topplin,
warehouse. The names willis
!, Meal" floated to her hearing, cat
tiously spoken. She gained a cour
I where she could overhear what wa
J. said.
l. It's the paper" she heard tn
madame say, land it is worth a TO,
tune"
Q How do you know" spoke tn
9 rasping tones Of old Jacobs.
T. II have read it. A family secre
man-an old scandal that these rio
u people would surely give fortune
g suppress. All, we are rich. rich. ric
y at last"
- Guileless as to &c ways Of II
b. world as Floribel 1l9S she realize
10 from what followed that her aval
cious guardians were bent on a va
u Matchmaking scheme. Her mind vol
10 up to the immensely Of the occasio
= To celebrate their discovering
:. fortune, the old man and woman Sc
- out for liquor. It was long after da,
~ when they sank into a sodden slee
Floribel approached the recumbe
'" madame.
y She had noticed where she had {
~ GREETED the blue colored docume
- with a white ribbon encircling it, ju
" as Mr.. Willis had described H
~ eyes grew brilliant as two stars
~ she secured the precious paper. S
~ thrust it into her bosom.
Over and over again she repeat
81 the name and address that Arlo VIII
~ had written on the card.
!. Floribel rarely went out of I
h. wretched building where she h
toiled so hard 1t was a bitter c,
n, night, and her ragged shoes and Il
no covering poorly kept at bay the fiel
10 biting frost. Twice as she hurr
along she felt as II she would sink
~ the ground. benumbed and overcor
a.. Bravely, however, she fought her "
against the wintry blast She loca
Il. , the address given on the card, a gr
"a. ornate mansion on fashionable tn
~ oughfare. Floribel had just suffici
strength to totter up the steps 8
ring the doorbell, when her sen
n reeled and she sank to the c
Ii marble step, unconscious.
III There she had been found by n
Neal. Floribel awoke to find her.
H In luxurious bed, a beautiful |,
| lowering over her. What Low
III grateful arms inclosed her. as she I
/ her story-so simple in its naive
cital, but meaning so much to
i proud Willis family!
II And 1t was in silken attire, a tr;
II formed Floribel, that Arlo Willis
II the lovely ward Of his sister the q
N day.
II Like one transported to a per
~ i ma radisa tho suroof N4Alo ....is -