The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-04-06

passes for us both 30 we could take q
nice tripf"
three months leave in twenty-five
years." moaned Mrs. Rood. And now
that new managers going to take
away your pension. oh. ! know you
think I'm awful, Amos. but Just hate
that grasping, greedy old company
that works its men to death just tne
way It does its poor horses, sos TO
save q little more money!"
1T hurts me to hear you talk like
that, Lucy" Amos Rood protested 10y.
ally. THE company does the best II
can't has troubles Of its own"
well. 1 wont say another word Il
you don't want l should, Amos" the
little woman promised. brushing the
angry tears from her eyes. Il amt
afraid but we'll get along some way. It
Just made me mad to think how
little the company seemed to appre-
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
feast, It 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
got that letter l sent EN- 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. II guess maybe he would be bet
ter by himself" she thought humbly.
Il wouldn't wonder II my everlastin'
gable bothered him some when he's
got things he wants to think over.
Well, Ill fly around and straighten up
so't will look pleasant to him when
he comes in, an maybe II l was to fix
that chicken into scallop he'd relish
1t for supper. He didn't eat scarcely
a mite o. dinner"
But although Amos Rood had found
tho solitude he craved, there was
something terrifying to him In, tho
emptiness Of the great barn, and Is
no 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 sudden pang, hs real.
ICED that he was glad that the old
horse who had been his and Lucy's
FRIEND and companion for 90 many
years, had died last month. for how
could he have brought himself to sell
her when their little home was broken
up? The brush dropped from his
nerveless hand as 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 90 to the well.to.do 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 It all, while there was
still something to keep Lucy from en-
tire dependence on a woman like pros.
porous, self,satisfied 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, FIVE 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 Joy
ously. "the general superintendent
himself IL in the house. It's perfectly
lovely to hear.h him swear. He says
the new manager has exceeded his au.
thority altogether. and that the COM
pany does know how to appreciate
faithful service such as yours has
been! And only think. instead Of tax
Ing away your pension. he intends to
increase It! Why, Amos, wen be