The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-05-19
4 shy MANS WO0ING
BY GEORGE MUNSoN.
Copyright, 1915, by w. G. Chapman

| 0opyTlSnt, I5i0 Dy w. ". IHdPihdh''
Nobody had believed in William
Merritt. He had been a dreamy, i'm
aginative boy and had lost half
dozen positions in his native village
An orphan. brought up by distant
relative who used him badly, he had
shaken the dust of his feet and gone
to the metropolis to earn livelihood.
Ten years later, man Of thirty
two, he was a national character. His
bridge across the Potomac was consid
cred triumph of American engineer
ing. The tunnel which he had driven
across the Kill van Kull had been
made the model for all such undertak.
ings in America and Europe.
With all his success and wealth he
was still desperately lonely. His sue
cess had been the result Of native
genius and application. To his per-
sonality the shy man owed nothing.
And there had come to him long
ing to show himself before those who
had jeered him and win their esteem.
He did not long for any personal
triumph over them.
He thought of Nettie Haines, the lit
tie girl who had lived across the
street from him. They had been child
hood sweethearts, apd he had told her
that one day he would marry her,
Doubtless she was married now and
had long ago forgotten him. He
thought Of Saunders, who had dis
missed him from the grocery store;
Boyce, the undertaken, for whom he
had worked during one long week and
he went back.
He registered at the only hotel the
village boosted and made himself
known to Flaxman, the proprietor. The
man shook hands with him coldly
enough.
Glad to see you back again, Mr..
Merritt" he said. Mr. Boyce? o yes,
he's f1ourishing. Saunders does the
same old business"
Merritt had been too shy to ask for
Nettie. He made his way up the street
to Boyce's place. The man did not
recognize him at first,
well, I'm glad to see you," he said.
when his visitor had explained his
purpose in calling.
Saunders greeting was still more
frosty. He recollected Merritt and
was glad he was doing so well. As |
Merritt turned to leave, with sense |
or establishment in his heart, he saw
a young woman bending Industrious
ly over a heap of bills in Saunders |
shop. 1t was Nettie, his old sweet
heart.
lmpulsively he strobe up to her.
why, Nettie-Miss Hanes." he ex.
claimed.
She recognized him and her face
grew red. How do you do, Mr.. Mer-
rltt, she said demurely.
Shy as he was. Merritt managed tn
get into conversation with her. I'm.
Ter the watchful glances of Saunders
he succeeded in stammering out a re.
luest to visit her that evening.
1T used to be WILL" he said, when
she greeted that night as Mr.. Merritt,
We'll, Will, then" she returned
aughing. 81 do hope you have had
,Ood luck" H
lie looked at her in amazement
lad she not heard of him? He was
ot a vain man, but it seemed incredi-
ie' when all the newspapers and
magazines had been full of his sue.
ess.
Yes, I have done pretty we'll" he
answered slowly.
am so glad to hear it," answered
ne girl. You have no idea how hor.
Ia people are. but l suppose I
houldn't be saying it," ii
He pressed her to tell him .yo,
smember how We used to tell each
Their everything" he pleaded. i
Nettie colored slightly. Well" she /
'ntlnued. Mr.. Boyce said he sun. \
osed you had come back to trv IN GOT Il
Joo IN town, and were dressed up To L
axe a blum. And he said you'd neye, X
u anything in his place, and NJ.
aunders agreed that it was the same X
FAR as he was concerned. I felt 81 Il
and l am so glad to learn L
at 1t isn't SO at ALL" If
Merritt was thunderstruck. So tbeso is
ople had never heard of him at all is
mad ascribed their coldness to the lie
'tural reserve Of a little community, IL
stead OF which he was, in their ewes Il
. same ne'er-do-well. the same in IL
paoie. And Nettie did not know IL
'Nettie," he said, taking her hand II
o you remember that time we found e
lime IN the road and split it in two :
d we divided it,"
Perfectly. Mr. Merritt" she renlied
fling.
And do you remember what ;s
you them"
NO. William. That part has escaned
memory altogether"
Would you like me to remind you,"
me girls eyes. which had been
Vncast, were suddenly raised to bis
l told you that that made us sweet.
WIS., anu tnat some day | should
try you," said the man.
ie saw that she was trembling and
tnat moment he knew that he had
avs loved her. and that IL w,s
violence which had kept him aloor
uncontaminated by the world, for
emo only. And she did not know
thing of him, of his wealth.
VIII you marry me, DEAR" he
Gu can support wife in com.
!, ne continued whimsically.
le drew her into his arms and
'ed her. You see, have alw,v.