The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-12-15
ing business. Two years later he

ing business. Two years later he
owned it entirely
He was good son. so far as shar-
ing some of his swiftly acquired wealth
with his mother was concerned, al
though he did not write often to her.
to Mary, the daughter of his bitter
enemy not at all, although up to the
day he was refused the loan by her
father he had been her accepted es-
cort in society functions of the little
village.
One day Floyd received news that
Mr.. Werner had died He learned fur
Their that he had died poor. His bust
ness had slowly faded away into moth
ingness; so much so that when it had
been settled up there was little left
but debts.
"Retribution" half gloated Floyd.
The fortune he stole from my father
hasn't done him much good, observe.
And why. l can write my check in
five figures, and get it cashed, too"
There was reason for graduation.
for Floyd had been diligent and ener-
getic. He did not pause to realize,
however. that Mr.. Werner had given
him sound advice in starting in bust
ness on his own hook, for he knew
that if he had invested the one thou
sand dollars he would have lost it all.
Mr. Werner probably recognized that
the son was a good deal like his ia
Their. who was poor business man,
with speculative tendencies. At least
Mr. Werner had seen to it that the son
had not made a false start on Dor.
rowed capital.
Floyd decided to make flying visit
to the folks at home. Business had
driven some of the impetuous non
sense Of youth out of his mind. For
instance, he smiled at the thought of
his vow to dance on the grave of his
enemy. He might go thither aud Sc
cretly exult. but he had no idea of de-
tracing from his dignity with un-
duly capers
His way home from the depot ad-
mitted of the taking in of the little
town cemetery by diverging couple
of squares from the straight route,
and this Floyd did He sauntered
along, locating the Werner lot, which
he knew we'll
Floyd paused as he neared it. A
plain. simple shaft of marble marked
new grave, that OF John Werner, and
the solemnty of the spot made him
feel ashamed that he had invaded this
sacred Enclosure with perverted
thoughts in mind
To enforce the sentiment, he made
out seated on the curb of the burial
lot young girl in mourning. She
was Mary Werner. His heart smote
him at the sight of her sad, beautiful
face. Then his eye flashed, for kneel-
ing at the newly made mound, having
Just placed upon it wreath of i'm
mortelles, was-his mother. He strobe
towards her, angered, indignant.
Come away at once." he cried,
Selling her arm almost roughly.
My SOM" she spoke in glad well
come; and then: mo. l must not
~ away uilli HtIc, dJ tHlS uOly SDOl,
l have told you ALL
Lower and lower went his head as
the true story was fluttered forth at
last-how Mr.. Werner had taken over
Mr.. Burnett's business at loss to
protect the latter from possible Grim
inal prosecution. 1t had failed later
to succeed, and poor Mary was now
beggared.
Floyd Burnett was business man.
In businesslike way he proceeded to
restore to her what his fathers trou-
bles had cost Mr.. Werner.
| Before the restitution was complete,
| however. the softened heart of the
penitent Floyd had realized the whole
worth Of this gentle, true-hearted girl,
and Mrs. Burnett had a new daughter
to love and cherish
Copyright. 1915, by w. G. Chapman)