The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-05-11

BROUGHT TO ANCHOR
BY VICTOR REocLIFFE.

| Juggling kit over his SnOuluef, an"
started off from the great flaring white
circus tent with a CHEEKY whistle.
ITS like beginning life all over
again" he soliloquized, "only I've got
last months salary in my pocket no,
for the road and adventure! wish
was wandering minstrel. Ana!
there's genuine one"
Open-hearted Cy paused to look up
into a tree and drink in the wild, sweet
melody of a red-breasted robin, perch
ed on a high limb He had not been
always a circus juggler. Once he had
been a prime violinist and had led an
orchestra. Then he had drifted into
the Juggling art. The irresponsible life
of the circus just suited him.
So, for nearly a week Cy roved
where he listed. The balmy air, the
smiling flowers. the singing birds, lit
| tie wayside meetings with this and
that odd character enchanted MIN,
] One dark, lowering morning Cy left a
little village on ten mile tramp.
1t had rained the night before, and
/ at the tavern where he had bought
his breakfast he was warned to post
pone his journey.
ooh, I like the rain. 1t will make
me grow" he iubilated.
Cy changed his mind, five miles ac-
complished. He had never encoun-
tered such deluge. His clothing was
soaked through At a ford he had
gone over his head in the water
! through a slip, and had barely rescued
his precious juggling and musical out
| fit.
The road he was now pursuing was
! flooded clear over it's center. There
! The downpour was incessant, and a
cold wind had come up that chilled
him to the marrow
1--WE got to get to shelter some
where" unused Cy, and finally, upon
slight elevation at distance, he
made out house.
AS he neared it, he discovered that
a surging brook far over its banks iso-
lated the place on three\ sides. In
! front of it was a depression, now
perfect pond
There's a barn behind the house"
/ he reflected. 'I'll ask them to let me
camp there until this storm lets up
little"
There was deep ditch to cross,
spanned by board. The frail plank
snapped in two as Cy balanced on its
center. When he managed to get out
Of the water that had submerged him,
he noticed on the porch of the house
neat-looking female staring in con-
Germ at his unpleasant predicament.
She beckoned to him urgently. As
he neared her, the humorous aspect of
the situation made his CHEEKY face
break into a smile. Then, as he looked
upon a sweet-faced woman OF about
twenty-five, still in the bloom of her
beauty, he lifted his dripping cap and
made his best stage bow.
Miss, hope do not trouble you,
but II you would let me have shelter
in the barn yonder for spell"
"Oh, dear, no! Come right in
through the hall to the kitchen, where
there is a good warm fire. invited the
lady. Never mind the wet. can mop
that up
"Why, it's like heaven and you are
its angel" declared Cy sincerely, as
he was greeted by the warm, comfort
able air of the kitchen.
1--WE have a gardener here in sum.
mer and l think you will find some of
his clothes in the room overhead" ex-
planned the lady. You can dry your
own while you wear them"
Cy's face wore a constant smile of
happiness and contentment as the
hours of the gloomy day wore on. His
kind hostess provided cheering meal.
Then six little children came into the
Kitchen to inspect the stranger. Then
Cy found out that his hostess was a
Miss Mercy Walters This was her
little home. Each one Of the children
was cripple. She explained that she
had given her life to care for such
homeless and friendless waits.
Soon Cy had the little group fas.
cinated. He made them cape as he
ate fire. as he sent a cascade of daz-
zling metal balls into the air, as he
swallowed a sword and finally en-.
raptured them with music from his
beloved violin.
For three days he, with the others.
was marooned. The gardeners room
had been given him. He did all the
chores about barn and garden Often
and often he made Miss Walters smile
at his quaint. frank heartiness.
I'D like to be a fixture, he said to
himself. And Miss Mercy.-no, I'd
better get away before | find it too
hard to leave here
He followed out this resolution n
week later. The little ones chung to
him and wept at his departure. Miss
Walters was strangely fiuttered
II you would stay, I could afford to
pay you something" she ventured.
For labor Of love-of love all
around?' he cried, and she flushed
deeply. Miss Mercy. would feel
life blessing to live it always helping
you make these dear little ones hap
py."
Don't go" she said suddenly and
orokenly, and her trembling hand rest.
ed on his arm.
III / dared to think that you would
be glad to have me return" he said,
before I put a momentous Question