The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-04-08

wen, well, Lucy" the AAn said
PRACTICALLY. THE compans was good
to me that time had typhoid, ter
years ago. Didn't get three months
leave of absence with full pay and
passes for US both % we could take q
nice trip?"
Three month"; leave in twenty-five
years." moaneA Mrs. Rood. And nov
that new managers going to take
away your pension. Oh, l know you
think I'm awful, Amos. but Just hate
that grasping, greedy old company
that works its men to death just. the
way 1t does its poor horses. sos te
save . little more money!"
1t hurts me to hear you TAN like
that. Lucy" Amos Rood protested 10y
ally. THE company does the best Il
can't has troubles Of its swn"
Well. l won't say another word II
you don't want l should, Amos" the
little woman promised. brushing the
angry tears from her eyes. II amt
afraid but we'll get along some way. It
Just made me mad to think how
| away thO SOhAPuAy 6CCMCu " dpPIC-
ciate how honest and faithful! you've
been. Now you come and wash up
and eat your birthday dinner before
it's all spoiled"
But though Amos Rood valiantly
attempted to do justice to the little
I, feast, 1t was evident to the anxious
wife who watched him that the dainty
viands that she had prepared with
such care were as dust and ashes to
his palate. He looked stunned and
bewildered by the unexpected blow
which had been dealt him. and as he
pushed back his chair from the table.
he said slowly:
"rd calculated to finish up that job
Of Browns this afternoon, but when
l got that letter l sent 'em word not
to expect mel didn't feel equal to
tacklin' figures today. But I'll paint
them storm-doors you wanted done.
Lucy. It'll be quiet out there in the
barn, and IL want to think things
over"
Mrs. Rood looked after him visit
fully. Il guess maybe he would be bet
ter by himself" she thought humbly.
Il wouldn't wonder If my everlastin
gable bothered him some when he's
got things he wants to think over
Well, I'll fly around and straighten up
so't will look pleasant to him when
he comes in. an maybe II was to fix
that chicken into a scallop he'd relish
1t for supper. He didn't eat scarcely
mite o. dinner"
But although Amos Rood had found
the solitude he craved. there was
something terrifying to him in the
emptiness Of the great barn, and as
he resolutely set himself to the task
Of painting the storm DOORS he had
mentioned, he began to wish vaguely
that old Dolly were still alive to stamp
her iron shod feet and to nicker to
him socially from her stall.
Then. with a sudden pang. he real.
ICED that he was glad that the old
horse who had been his and Lucy's
frfiend and companion for 20 many
years, had died last month, for how
could he have brought himself to sell
her when their little home was broken
up? Tho brush dropped from his
nerveless hand a. he muttered. yes, 1t
would come to that!
Lucy said that they would man.
age some way, but Lucy, with all her
CHEEKY common sense and thrift, had
. woman's ignorance Of the grim fact
that two and two always make four.
and never BY any chance I'VE or
six.
Perhaps. BY selling their little place
and living on the proceeds they might
manage to keep together for . few
years more. but the end was inev.
table. Sooner or later Lucy would
be obliged to go to the well-todo sis
ter who had never attempted to con.
ceal her conviction that the pretty,
energetic girl might have done better
than to marry Amos Rood.
AS for him. there would be nothing
left but the shelter OF the county poor
house.
Something seemed to snap in the
mans brain. Why shouldn't he quiet
ly get out Of 1t all, while there was
still something to keep Lucy from en-.
tire dependence on woman like pros
porous. self-satisf1ed Jane Thorn? She
would mourn for him he knew, but
death Is easier to bear than some 9th.
er things.
Suddenly he paused, arrested in his
grim preparations for the deed on
which he was resolved.
Amos! Amos!" his wife was call
ing.
Ten, yes. I'VE moments more and he
would have been forever deaf to that
tender voice. and Lucy would have
come and found him-he shuddered
with q sick repulsion. He had been
selfish-cowardly-mad-!B But Lucy's
light feet were running along the gar
den paths and she was calling again:
Amos! Oh. Amos. do please
hurry!"
The man stumbled blindly to the
door. The next instant he was stand
Ing in the warm sunlight he had never
thought to feel again. with Lucy's
arms about his neck; her happy tears
upon his cheek
"Oh. Amos" she was bubbling 10y.
ously. the general superintendent
is In the house! It's perfectly
lovely to hear.him swear. He says
the new manager has exceeded his au-
thority altogether, and that the CON-
pany does know how to appreciate !