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

tears start as she sauntered. Her
mother had said 1t didn't matter In
the least, but it did matter. 1t mat
tered just the difference between
victory and defeat, and-and-
And then the Widow Savage sud-
; denly appeared and took her arm
| and walked her up the path to the
Outlook, and when they were seated
| on the rocks she softly said
Il am not your enemy, but your
friend. You don't wish to marry
that old man, do your"
Mercy, no." was the reply, as
Miss Smith forgot her desire for
revenge.
Well, I do"
But you-you got Frank away
from me-"
and I'm going to give him back.
I was just using him as a means to
and end. l called him a BOBBY a
moment ago. and he'll be on his
knees to you tomorrow. The Hon
John is to be my next husband"
But how-how do you work things
so?"
by being a widow. Now, listen to
me-"
The evening came on with a full,
clear moon. The moon so worked
on the sentimental nature of the Hon.
| John, as well as the surrounding
corn crop. that he invited Miss Smith
to wander with him. To his great
joy she accepted his arm. They
walked as far as Seal Rock and then
sat down and gazed at the moon.
Porpoise Rock, Fish Rock and Whale
Rock also were near at hand.
After the silence had lasted four or
five minutes the Hon. John cleared
his throat. The noise set the frogs
in the pond a-piping. After another
interval he took Miss Smiths hand
in his. There came third interval.
and then he began to tell her his life
history i. was sad one. It was
full of step-fathers and step-mothers
and boils and collie and kicks from
cows that cared not for his forlorn
condition. He had married and not
been happy. and lost his wife and
not been happy over that. and for
years and years had lived a lonely
life with only fat son to cheer him.
He was rich, but lonely. He was
rich. but he yearned. He wanted a
fireside with cat and wife. He
wanted to come home after a hard
days work in seeing the district lead
ers of the Tenth ward and have some
one call him hubby.
AT intervals of about a foot, as
marked off on tape measure, Miss
Smith sighed and cuddled, but that
was all. AS the Hon. John brought
his story down to date and his voice
broke and he had to use his hand
kerchief to wipe away the scalding
tears Miss Smiths own handker-
chief got away from her and the
night breeze carried It to Porpoise
Rock. She twisted away her hand
and ran after it and even disappeared
behind the rock for an instant. She
had returned and taken her seat
again and surrendered her hand by
the time the Hon. John had chased
the tear away and was ready to say:
And now. love, 1t is for you to say
whether this lonely life shall con-
tinue or not"
The hand he held squeezed his.
II have loved you since the first
moment I saw you"
A harder squeeze
"And l ask you to be my wife,"
81 will. Joint"
"By thunder, it's the widow" ex.
claimed the Hon. John, as he scram-
bled to his feet.
"And We'll say a month from to-
day II that will please you!"
The Hon. John hurried away to
the hotel to consult his fat son.
"She's got you tight. gov, and
you'll have to go through with It,"
was the information extended. Put
up job. but breach of promise and all
that II you don't stand by your word.
Splendid locker! Splendid dresser!
Superb walker! Say. parent. you
Just missed making an ass Of your
eelf. Get a move on you!"
And the Hon. John did, and they