The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-04-16

could II. indeedr' murmursd Miss
Drake. ironically. Tn right glad It
can be, Miss Clare. I'm afraid Mil
dred has been spoiled q good deal
since her poor dear mother died"
Miss Clare's eyes showed tender.
courteous concern for the departed
one. She was all attention, all con-
sideration for the old lady who eyed
her with such frank disfavor.
when / saw Mildred's father Tues
day"
HE IL here now" interrupted
Esme. happily. eagerly. HE has but
Just arrived. 1t was for that was
absent I had gone to the depot to
meet him with the car"
He is here?" Miss Drake rose.
troubled and ruined. tom, l must
have a few moments conversation
alone with Miss Clare. You go and
keep Lester busy till call you.
| Tow shrugged doubtful shoulders,
but obeyed. with a look Of what he
would have called "bolstered up
courage" at the demure, low voiced
girl waiting for the storm to break
on her pretty head. 1t broke as soon
as the door closed after the tall. I'M
calmly Tom. Miss Drake S voice
fairly trembled with passion as she
made her final appeal.
81 have no doubt 1t is only infatua-
ticn," she said. Men are like that
when they have pretty girl around
them. But had no idea Lester would
think seriously Of marriage"
why should he not, madam"
asked Esme gently.
well, to speak plainly, 1t don't
seem fitting for him to marry, well,
you, don't you understand. child?"
in spite of herself her tone did soften.
Esme looked very young, very much
alone as she stood there listening.
Miss Drake remembered Tom had
said she was an orphan.
81 understand? breathed Esme
softly, her eyes ashine with emo
| ton. "He is wonderful, is he not?
Why should he even desire to marry
just merely-me?"
THE Lord only knows." answered
l Miss Drake devoutly. "The main
, point is he does want to, and he
mustn't be let That is the real
r reason why / came from Washington
e If he won't see sense, then I thought
! perhaps you would. Now there's
Tom, a nice, good-looking boy. He'd
e make a good husband for you, anc
e | don't mind saying I'd be willing t.
s settle little on you both if you mar
r ried each other"
S IF | married."
5, TON. l say. II you'd promise t
marry him, I'll settle couple o
thousand a year OH you BOTH
And suddenly Esme's mirth broke
and she leaned back her charmini
head and laughed. But she checked
! herself as the door opened and Les
| ter himself entered, Tom behind him
| We'll, Aunt Philippa, did you rul
| down to congratulate us?" he e1
| claimed heartily, catching the thi
| old figure In his arms and kissing tn
| faded bony cheek.
| Congratulate who?" asked Mis-
Drake grimly.
| Lester turned quickly and dre'
Esme into the family circle.
! MY BRIDE" he said proudly. Nv
| were married the day after saw 20
| in Washington.
| There was short, sharp internI
h struggle in Miss brakes mind. Sh
I looked at Tom. knowing him to b
guilty of foreknowledge Of the fac
She looked at Testers happy. tendt
I face, and last of all at Esme hersel
Esme whose eyes met hers with
sort Of passionate entreaty for 70
n giveness.
"Ah, madam, what could do
she implored HE wanted me
NJ very much for his wife,"
ch And the ice melted In Aunt Philly
heart. She sighed and smiled.
70. We'll. child. can you blame him
ID she asked. 1--WE done my level be
ar to save him, but as long as he's BET
no and gone and married you. an
nd how, well--you may call me Au
Mi