The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-06-15


chat
Dear old Uncle Jabez!" said Lucy
ecstatically. do you know, Arthur
| don't mind comic ssing il to you
now-at one time | positively had a
sort of tender feeling toward you
That was a long time ago. of course.
or else I wouldn't have told you.
really believe the keen old man must
have detected it. Wasn't it provi.
Dental, that clause in his will?"
Yes l said, and l was thinking
all the time that Lucy's eyes were
bluer than any eyes had ever seen.
And her hair was positively coppery
in the sunlight. I really could have
fallen in love with Lucy. if she had
given me the least encouragement!
when did this feeling possess
your" | asked her.
20, ages ago." she said evasively.
Long. long before dear Uncle Jabez
well. l may be engaged shortly"
who is he?" yelled, starting out
of my chair.
You are very impairment" she an
swered, and walked away with her
head in the air, looking like Titan
angel.
| don't know why it was. but I felt
utterly crushed. And presently / be.
gan to realize what was the matter
with me. l was in love-and with
Lucy! Yes, positively my heart was
beating like boys when he first
experiences the divine passion. She
meant everything in the world to me!
l couldn't wait; hurried after her.
found her entering her hotel upon
the arm of a smart, dark-haired fell
low in that sort of suit that is adver-
tised as "a forty-dollar suit for nine
teen fifty" She bowed to me and
walked into the hotel, With that
man! A girl of Lucy's taste! 1t
sickened me. At least ! hoped that
she would have shown little dis
elimination in her choice of a mate
instead of selecting or being select
ed by a tailor's dummy! wrote her
a letter asking for an appointment
next afternoon at three o'clock
spent a night of torture. l passed
the morning walking up and down the
board walk. At three o'clock was at
her hotel. Her maid handed me q
letter. I opened it.
Il am sorry, Arthur, but I have an
engagement with Mr. Clements this
afternoon" l read. Perhaps some
other time will do? am leaving this
evening for"
dashed the letter upon the floor
and strobe out of the room. l had
reached the front door of the suite
when l heard voice calling me.
looked back. There stood Lucy at
the door, dressed all in white and
looking like a saint.
20. Mr.. Bowen. didn't go out after
all. l had a headache" she said.
What was it you wanted to see me
about, Arthur"
reached her in four strides.
Lucy" said. making no bones
about 1t, Il have found out that
love you. Will you marry me and let
Uncle Jabez go TOTO the deuce?"
was so keyed up that / didn't
know what l was saying. But Lucy
gagged me-my darling Lucy, who
has never failed me in anything from
that day to this. She put her arms
round my neck and laid her head
down on my shoulder and cried:
20, Arthur" she SAID two minutes
later, do you know have loved you
all the time?"
How long," I asked jealousy.
always. Arthur. Tell me. when
did you begin to love mel"
Always" l replied. "And as for
Uncle Jabez-"
well let his money co." she said.
II don't care, so long as have you,
dear"
So we we're engaged, and we took
the train back to town next day to
see Mr.. Coleworth. had my last
and first instalment Of the income
ready for him. Lucy had spent most
of hers. but I was determined to
make 1t good, even il it meant delay
ing our marriage for few months
longer. Mr.. Coleworth came out Of
his Office at once and led US back into
a cozy corner beside q real, old-fash-
toned fireplace.
so you two young people have
found out that you are in love with
each other?" he asked quizzically.
Yes, and I'VE are going to get mar.
ried." I answered. and planked down
the interest upon the table. There
is my share and Miss Stokes will pay
you"
20, pshaw!" said Mr.. Coleworth.
"You don't have to pay that back. It
just has reference to the future. you
know. I'm afraid-I'm very much
afraid that the capital must go to
third party now"
"Who is the third party?" de-
manded savageiy. I'D like to know
just out of curiosity. because I'm sure
the old scoundrel's money won't do
him any good either"
Mr.. Coleworth turned round. 81
cannot allow you to refer to the late
Mr.. Stokes in that way" he said. ITO
be frank with you, it was with my
connivance that he put that clause in
his will. He wanted you to get mar
ried and thought that was the best
way to bring 1t about"
: "Well, he's had his WISH" an
swered angrily. who gets the
money now?"
He pulled the will out of drawer
and read:
eff the said parties shall marry,