The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-08-25
eUplD'S own COOK
BY ELLIS BROWNE.

The Gordon place made the tag enc
OF the village, set as it was between 8
ragged paddock, weedy orchard and
fronting an unkempt lawn. Time was
when the lawn had been shorn velvet
turf. the paddock alive with horses
the stables. now desolate, trig and
properly tended, with a livery coach
mans family in the cottage near by
That was before the boom times
whose collapse had swept away the
greater part Of the Gordon fortune
Elinor said passionately to herself
sometimes that Providence in mercy
should have taken her and her father
along with the money. Not that she
was cowardly-her case was that OF
one who cannot swim carrying a be.
loved burden beyond strength, I'm.
able to assure its safety, still more
unable to let it drop. Without meta
pnor, she had to live and keep a sem
blance Of decent comfort upon; the
narrowest possible income and that
not Independent, but the dole of
kinsfolk better of. She could do
nothing to supplement- 1t, nor could
sne dispense with 1t. Bitterly she
told herself that il life were but, trans.
ferable she would gladly part with
her expectation of days to some rich
dotard for money enough to, assure
her father care and comfort while he
lived.
Although shattered, John Gordon
was not old-barely turned fifty. He
might we'll 80 on to eighty after. the
habit of his blood. So long. as he
lived she was bound to care, for him
helpless as though in prison. There
fore In her black moods she, thought
fongingly Of death-not as, one, who
UNDERWRITERS life, but as the onss door
OF escape into limitless freedom. One
drab day was 30 like another, the
frightening or shortening Of daylight
took on the nature OF an ssent.
There were no. happenings. Regu-
arly as the month end came the
monthly check from Aae uncle. In re-
turn she sent an itemized account Of
how the previous ponth's money had
been spent. Unese Jahes had q no
ton she had Inherited extravaganza
from her dead mother. He had,
somehow, q notion that his, brother
had tmbibe& from that. same source
the recklessness in finance that had
stripped him bare
At first the Uncle had permitted
Elinor to let the coachmap's cottage,
and thus get . slightly larger in.
come. But finding that she had been
- dishonesty sOft-hearted a., to- for
stvs . quarters arrears on account
OF sickness, he had taken the matter
into his own hands-with the result
Of having the house stand empty a.
most ever since.
Ono day, busy In copying her re-
turn, taking special pains to make
the COPY fair. ElinoT was startled to-
have her uncle walk In without knock
ing, nod to her father. huddle beside
the smothered fire, turn to her and
say grumpily:
I'm giving you Q chance you don't
dsserve-see that you improve Il.
Have let the cottage for ak months,
provided It's environment h found
agreeable. Two men tenants-art-
fsts--I have agreed you shall give
them breakfast--also dinner-when
they want it. That won't be regular
still it will help. You will give
them the best Of everything-they are
paying enough to deserve It. No!
They will not pay you. shall attend
to that part. But l have opened an
account for you at the market with
Higgins-they tell me he has the best
groceries. Moreover, shall send In
wine from my ewn merchant--youll
receipt and account for every bottle
Of 1t. II my brother wants q glass
now and then, let him have 1t. A
woman should stick to water"
Never fear but I shall stick to
It," Elinor said, choking. She had
risen and stood, white and shaking,
beside the moth-eaten desk. but made
herself say more temporarily:
Please. uncle. won't you give me q
little broader chance? We have 30
much room here--let me All it with
summer people. 1t won't be much
more trouble-of course, shall have
to have help"
Help! think not!" Uncle ia
bez snarled. "Help-to eat I'D all
the profit in sight? No, young wom-
an, you'll do the work yourself. Often
enough you've whimpered how you
wanted to work"
Il do want to work, but-in some
other way" Elinor nerved herself to
say. II have SO forgotten pride
l don't mind being q servant, but l
do mind being a servant without
wages"
Upon my word! OF all the in.
gratitude!" Uncle Jabez began acidly.
His brother rose suddenly-it was
seldom he said anything in family
councils. Now, in almost his old voice
Of power he cried: "Jabez-this can't
be! You forget yourself. My daugh.
ter shall serve no strangers. No!
don't forget what we owe you-it is
you who forget what you owe your
blood"
What / owe it has kept you from
the poorhouse these last seven years."