The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-04-15

turned out of the home by a greedy
landlord, gone for ever from the little
village where he was born. II he had
had different opportunities. -.
When he came back from lunch Hill
6a Lorimer was bending over her work
very attentively.
well. any more suckers come int"
he asked.
When she did not answer him he
looked at her attentively. To his
amazement he saw that there were
tears in her eyes.
"Why-what's wrong?" he inquired.
The girl looked up at him. Every
thing" she answered briefly. She could
no longer fight down her rising indig.
nation. THE business. Mr.. SANFORD"
Say! Turning pious!"
mo, but listen, Mr.. Sanford. I'll
tell you why couldn't listen to-what
you said. l couldn't marry q man who
who did these things. I'll marry you
IL you'll do-do something else. some
thing honest. and give back these peo-
Pies money to them"
Sanford whistled. That's stiff
price," he said. He tried to sneer. but
something in the girls earnestness
awoke . responsiveness in his own
heart
THAT little old lady from Philadel-
phia, Mrs. Burton, was in while you
were at lunch" said the girl. 1T nearly
broke my heart. Because, you see.
she wasn't angry. She has such faith
in you. She says she invested In your
stock because she knew you had a
good honest name. And-she's COM
ing back at four o'clock to see you"
Thunder" calculated Sanford
Tell her I've gone to Oshkosh to see
my parents"
well. it comes to this" said the
! girl deflantly. Il just can't stand for
this business any longer. Won't you
won't you give her back her money, at
any rate? You see, she-she, reminds
me of my own mother, and-and she
reminds me of what your mother ought
! to have BEEN"
| Sanford felt flush of shame creep
up his face. He turned his head away.
But the girl still stood beside him,
waiting for his decision.
'Ill give her back her money, II
you'll stay" he said.
THAT isn't enough. can't stay un-
less"
Now, my girl, do you think I'm 60
ing to sacrifice all the money that's
come in these last three months?" he
demanded resentfully. why, those
suckers don't know how to take care
Of their money. They're not fit to have
money. Miss Lorimer. II didn't ease
them Of it somebody else would. Now
see here, II you'll marry me I'll quit
the game, but l. won't give back the
money. What sort of fool would be
II did that?"
Then ! can't stay--I can't" said the
girl.
"Will you give me till tomorrow to
think 1t over? And will you marry me
at once II agree? Mind, l don't prom
Use. want to think about It."
She nodded; she could not speak.
and went back to her desk. And in
the silence of that afternoon both had
forgotten all about the little old. lady
until her bonnet appeared inside the
Office at few minutes after four.
Sanford, looking at her, felt sud
den contraction Of his heart. Some
how she brought back wildly to his
mind his home days; his father, harsh
and unkind; his mother, loving but
helpless in the face of the stern man
who, annoyed by some boyish failing
had roughly turned the thirteen-year
meant what he said, but Harry had
seized the opportunity to leave place
that had been more q prison than 9
home to him.
He had not wanted to see the ole
lady, but. now that he saw her in from
I Of him, he rose to his feet, swallow
/ ing hard.
We'll, Mrs. Burton. l am glad to SCI
you," he said. I'VE have had severa
! letters from you about your stock, ant
am sorry that there has been som,
delay in replying to them. However
: we are going to declare dividend
next week Of ten per cent, and late
I we shall have another, and-how mucl
, was Mrs. Burton's investment, Mis-
, Lorimer"
But the old lady was still standing
before him, looking keenly into hi
/ face. Suddenly she cried:
, Harry"
Il hAa In Ahnv
after all those years. He had changes
more than she; but she had know
him first by virtue Of the love tina
, every mother bears toward the chilli
, that she has borne.
, A moment. and her arms we're abou
, his neck, and she was clinging to hin
and kissing him as though he we're ,
little boy once more.
20, II had known 1t was you'll" sh'
,, cried incoherently. 1T was your nam'
that made me invest, Harry, but
never thought that it could be my owl
, boy. am SO proud Of you, my dear, t
|. see you SO prosperous and-and 8,
,, handsome, Harry! Didn't they tell yo'
had moved to Philadelphia when
married Mr.. Burton? But l never for
, got you. and after he died last yea
l tried SO hard to find you. And now
have found you and you must com
home"
"Win you take two children, moth
err" he asked.
She shot her keen look at Miss Lori
mer, who was crying frankly over he
, typewriter
This is Hilda. my future wife" sal