The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-05-19

left the gruesome place. but not until |
he had bestowed q 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 its 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 cleanli-
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 she
held a spirited low-toned conversation
with him. Then both of them pro-
ceeded to ransack pile after pile of
hitherto unassorted wreckage.
A quick token of interest came into
the mind of Floribel. as she saw them
Fastening to the wretched room digni-
fed as the Office Of the old topping
warehouse. The names willis
Neal foated to her hearing. eau
tiously spoken. She gained a court
where she could overhear what was
said.
Its the paper" she heard the
madame say, land it is worth a for
tune"
How do you know" spoke the
rasping tones of old Jacobs.
Il have read it. A family secret
man-an old scandal that these rich
people would surely give fortune t
suppress All, we are rich, rich, ricf
at last"
, Guileless as to the ways Of thu
world as Floribel was. she realized
, from what followed that her avari
cious guardians were bent on vas
blackmailing scheme. Her mind wok
up to the immensely of the occasion
To celebrate their discovering
, fortune, the old man and woman sen
! out for liquor. 1t was long after dar
when they sank into sodden sleeI
:, Floribel approached the recumben
madame.
: She had noticed where she had 81
creted the blue colored documer
. with a white ribbon encircling it, jus
/, as Mr.. Willis had described. He
= eyes grew brilliant as two stars
;. she secured the precious paper. Sh
a thrust it into her bosom
Over and over again she repeate
= the name ard address that Arlo Will
a. had written on the card.
"a Floribel rarely went out Of II
r wretched building where she hs
v toiled so hard It was bitter co
b. night, and her ragged shoes and tn
Ye covering poorly kept at bay the fer
n. biting frost. Twice as she hurri'
is along she felt as If she would sink
10 the ground, benumbed and Overcom
ID Bravely, however, she fought her WI
against the wintry blast. She locat
the address given on the card, gre
! ornate mansion on a fashionable thu
oughfare. Floribel had just suffice
2 strength to totter up the steps a
ring the doorbell, when her sens
reeled and she sank to the &C
= marble step, unconscious.
There she had been found by NJ
Neal Floribel awoke to find hers
in luxurious bed. beautiful la
\ lowering over her. What lovi
\ grateful arms inclosed her, as she t.
IA her story-so simple in Its naive
- cital. but meaning so much to
= proud Willis family!
~ And 1t was in silken attire, a ira
formed Floribel, that Arlo Willis s
the lovely ward of his sister the N
s. day.
" Like one transported to a peri
- paradise, the sweet little waif entel
upon her new life
Il Her bright ways, her gratitude,
a beauty and then her fervent love
= pealed to the great nature OF A
Willis.
The Jacobs people never saw
- again, but society did. In all her b
liant loveliness, loyal, unspoiled, n
antly happy, the humble child Of
lonely rag warehouse became
reigning bride Of the season.