The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-11-24
Love on RIVERSIDE
BY KEITH KENYON.

y
New York, Weldon prided him
upon his utter lack of sentiment.
lived on West End avenue, with
mother and two sisters. He had ,
ceeded to his fathers place in
firm at the latter's death, and was
ways alluded to as Junior" Weld
He had never known want or woI
He was rather stolid, clean-shav|
healthy young fellow, with a sense
humor and no enemies.
Every evening after dinner 1t I
his custom to take a short stroll vi
his two blue-ribbon terriers along Il
erside drive. And into this aid
hour, one night in October, there
truded the scream Of woman.
Weldon stopped and waited. It I
come from the strip of park below
drive. Almost Immediately he saw
girl running along the path, and
he looked she beckoned to him faint
The stairs were at One Hundred 4
Second street. With the dogs at
heels, he sprinted back and reach
her side as she stood leaning agai1
a tree, white as death and half uncl
scious.
What's the natter?" he demand
MY father" she breathed. Il
afraid he is dead"
Weldon did not quite realize til
he was supporting her as he led
back to the seat half hidden by d
tall shrubbery. Some way, too, he VI
catching her broken words-there III
been no work, they were without I'D
or money, her father had been vd
i'll, he wished to die.
Don't worry" he told her. I'll Id
after everything
Which, after all, was only his
stinct of efficiency. He was used
looking out for everything, and f,
that he could handle any situatid
even this. But as he stood over d
old man, with his handsome. highbr
face and closed eyes, he had his fiji
lesson in what life may do to it's eli
dren.
He's not dead he assured h,
listening to the faint heartbeats. I'll
exhaustion
Starvation the girl insisted b
terly.
Weldon saw a policeman approac
ing. Just how he did it he never uui
remembered, but 4 taxi was hailed al
he had both OF them, the girl and h
father, placed in it, and took the
straight to his home. 1t was an a
venture, the first he had ever run mi
and it interested him keenly.
Viola Mclean, she told them h
name was. They had lost their hon
in Maryland and had come Mort
thinking to find some sort of emplo
ment. Her father had been a m
chanical craftsman. His health h;
failed, and she could not leave him.
While her father was slowly gainil
his health in an upper chamber, wi
a good trained nurse to care for hi
Viola tried to make herself useful
Mrs. Weldon. The two daughters we
in college, and gradually the old la,
began to rely on her. Junior" sa
and smiled to himself. And the da
drifted by for month, until one ey
ming. as he was ready for his wal
she followed him out into the vii
entrance hall, dressed for walking.
May go with your"
Rather" He held the door ope
and they went out together. "Wou
you like to walk or drive?
"Oh, walk. I don't want to driy
only wanted a chance to speak
you-seriously."
Go ahead" His eyes rested on h
amusedly. It was the unacceptable m
ment, he knew, and he had prepar,
himself for it.
Il want to know where I can &
work. You have been so good to n
and to father, but l must work al
pay 1t back. I'm strong now, y,
know. and l want to. He worries co
stantly for the South, and his hon
there and friends. I'm hoping som
how ! can get him back"
If you remained here and worke
who would he 60 to-"
His sister-my Aunt Catherin
She has a tiny place near Belair, al
he would be quite contented with he
| could send him money"
What would you do here?"
Don't you think | would make
good social secretary? OF course,
do anything l could but | would iii
that. | asked your mother"
What did she tell your"
To ask you"
Junior" mentally registered a SD
cial prayer for mothers and their
tuition. He led her down the old stoi
steps into the park section where
had first found her. She looked
at him with a worried look in hi
eyes, the lool, that he had not SCI
there in month, and Junior" forgI
the proper formula for proposing. ID
got everything except that they II
were alone in the tender, misty tV
light of his castle garden. So he lal
his arm around her shoulders al
drew her near him, so near that hI
head just lay comfortably back on d
own shoulder.
Well send dad back anywhei
where he is happy" he told hs
You're going to stay right here WI
me. Aren't you, dear? Did you thin
that I'd ever let you get away"
Isn't the policeman coming" ST
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