The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-03-09
II A OR|zzLIhe RAIN
{ Copyright, 1915, by the Mcclure Newspa-
per Syndicate0
By HOPE AINsLEE.

Copyright, 1915. by the Mcclure Ne"spa-
per Syndicateo
A soft drizzling rain was daring inc
roses in Constance Atwoods cneeks
to come out and get wet. Ana tne
roses were fast appearing as sue
walked briskly through the damp
cinder path in Central park.
It was Saturday afternoon ana Con
stance had promised herself that sne
would finish knitting the last OF nef
six pairs Of socks for the soldier boys
before the Wednesday boat should
have sailed. Her small brother ana
sister, being prevented BY the ram
from playing out of doors, would de-
mand the attention Of Sister Con-
stance II she were at home. There
fore she decided to seek the shelter OF
a summer house in the park, where
on a day like this she was sure TO
be alone.
A beautiful girl sitting alone In q
summer house on q cold, drizzling
day knitting socks is not an every
day picture. Indeed it was such an
unusual sight to Donald Grey when
he came upon it that he almost
stopped in his course to stare.
Constance looked up casually as ne
passed and her calm, level gaze met
| his; then she dropped her eyes. con-
| tinued her knitting and the man
strobe on through the winding path,
But the mans peace Of mind had
been disturbed. Only his deep-rooted
sense of chivalry kept him from re-
tracing his steps for one more look
at the lovely girl He realized that
he had only a slender chance in a
thousand of seeing her again, and
yet at that moment he could think OF
no other person whom he so desired
to see again-and often.
| Suddenly his musings we're abrupt
ly interrupted by the approach of a
big Irish park policeman leading a
small child reluctantly by the hand.
The officer had to stoop to keep a
hold of the tiny tot.
Gotta lost kid" he said laughing
ly to Donald.
Donald looked at the pretty little
girl. Fine day for youngster like
that to be alone in the park, isn't 1t p
Fine for the pneumony! Says her
mas knittin' and she run off," volun
teered the policeman further.
Donald Grey paled little Knit
ting, did you say? Her-her moth
err"
Sure! Why not? Amt they al
a-doin' It day an night for Tommy
Atkins and the loike O. him." asked
the officer.
Il saw a young woman back in thu
summer house-a-knitting," said Don
aid.
"Where?" asked the policeman
alertly.
I'll show you-it's quicker" an,
Donald led the way back to the sum
mer house.
The little one trotted beside tn
big policeman and Donald, hummin
gayly. She seemed not to care VIII
her protectors we're, so long as sh
was having a little excitement. Dor
aid could see that much in the tot
! eyes.
; When she saw the trio approachin
Constance stopped knitting an
stared. But Donald could see at
glance that she had not lost any
body's baby. She looked from one t
the other as the three drew close.
"Askin' yer pardon. lady, but di
We lose this kid?" asked the polio,
man.
Constance laughed. She shook he
I head. mo. indeed. l didn't. Is tn
poor baby lost?"
She sure Essays her mas a-kni
tin and she run away"
Mas dom that" said the chill
gayly. pointing to Constance and he
knitting.
rs she, dear?" asked Constance
/ and Donald realized that she had til
voice, too, of his ideal And wher
: did you leave your mammal"
Il The child made a vague gestur
Over home with lots O. ladies' q
| knittin' and"
II The policeman took the child aga,
| by the hand. Come on, kid, YOU
catch cold out here. I'll find her m
all right. Much obliged" And the b
| policeman and the little one wake
| of in the drizzling rain.
III Donald Grey raised his hat. "r
sorry"
ii "Oh, It was quite natural, I'm sur
Don't apologize. l only hope tn,
find the baby's mother soon. It's n
q day for little ones to be out"
The girls tone dismissed him al
Donald strobe on. This time he fe
desperate. II he had wanted to kno
her after single glance at her,
longed more than ever now that
had seen her smile, and heard b.
speak. had stood before her.
He would have felt utterly hor
less II he had not been a firm /
lever In the good Presbyterianis
that everything that happens is I
the best. II this was the way he W
to meet her. never to see her agal
why-that was all. II she were mea
for hfm-and with his youthful, hor
ful outlook on life, he believed 3
was-he would find her somewhere.
For nearly two years he sought h,
and then, at benefit dance Civ
to aid the widows and children