The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-06-07
MISS AMABEl' sOEsIRE
BY BRYANT L. ROGERS.


Copyright. 1915. by the Mcclure Newspa-
per Syndicate.D
MY greatest desire?" repeated Miss
Amabel Walton I'm afraid all of my
wishes have been gratified."
Miss Walton looked dreamily at
the gray old college buildings wear
ing their ivy green nantes with dig
nified submission to the passing years,
and q tender smile touched her soft
lips.
There is one unfulfilled wish that
haunts my hours" she admitted at
last.
Il knew It," triumphed Stella.
DO you mind telling US about IT."
asked Marion.
1T Is such q simple wish that you
will wonder why / have not graft
fed IT. am dying to wear pink
soft rosy pink gown-there, am
not perfectly idiotic?"
The little teacher of music at Fen
ton college looked appealingly at the
sympathetic girlish faces Of her ia
vorite pupils.
why don't you wear 1t, them" mar.
veled Stella Mayse.
Miss Amabel Watson touched her
beautiful snowy hair. Because 1t
would be SO absurd-at my age. But
how I longed to wear 1t when I was
a child! lived with q maiden aunt
who looked upon pink as frivolous
color and 80 It was banned from my
wardrobe. I've worn black and white
and blue and brown and lavender. but
never bit of pink-and there is my
ungratified wish"
Miss Walton's soft blue eyes were
very bright when she finished and
there were two pink spots in her un-
wrinkled cheeks. With her snow
white hair she was beautiful and the
hair which might have added weight
to her years, also lent q freshness
and bloom Of youth which was not
very distant.
But that is no reason why you
should not wear pink now. dear Miss
Walton" insisted Marion Reeves
Do, pleased"
"And you look very. very young in.
deed. Won't you wear pink frock to
the October reception"
miss Walton hesitated. II must
have new frock." she admitted.
do let us 60 to town with you and
select 1t, urged the girls, and at last
Amabel Walton consented.
The night Of the October reception
Amabel regarded her reflection in the
mirror with mingled distrust and de-
light.
In this delicate pink creation she
looked o slender, girlish figure-like
one Of those Dresden china bits on
her mantelpiece.
There was a murmur OF surprise
in the room when Amabel entered
with Stella and Marion. Mademoiselle
Drouet. the French teacher, elevated
her sandy eyebrows and whispered
ironically to Professor Hanford.
Professor Hanford frowned, and his
eyes followed Amabers pink.clad
form with such a mixture of admira.
ton and usefulness in their depths
that mademoiselle turned quite yellow
with jealousy. She swept away, and
Professor Hanford, glad Of his release.
wandered aimlessly around until he
came upon Amabel sitting alone in the
deep bay window. q roll of music in
her hand and her brown eyes shining
with unshed tears.
The professor looked down at her
with infinite tenderness in his eyes.
"You--you are distressed" he asked,
shyly.
The tears fell. Il am foolish" quiv.
cred Amabel. II have worn this ridi.
culous froek-"
"Ridiculous!" interrupted the pro.
lessor. 1T is charming. I am won.
dering why you do not wear 1t al
ways"
II am too old to wear pink" sighed
Miss Walton. without coquetry.
"A woman is never too old to wear
what is so infinitely becoming" pro.
tested the Greek instructor eagerly.
1T is pity that more women do not
understand the art of dressing be-
comingly. Now. pink-pink is my ia
vorite color.
Something in his tone made ANA
bel blush.
1T is mine, too" she said hurriedly,
and then she went on and told him
the pathetic little story Of her drab-
colored childhood.
When she had finished he nodded
his head sagely. you are quite right
to wear 1t, and predict that 1t will
always be charming upon you-it is
the color Of hope and youth, Miss Wal
ton. and even to dry old bachelor
like myself It seems to brighten a
rather dull future: it emboldens me to
tell you secret-about myself-and
my love-for you!"
When Marion Reeves came to find
her accompanist. there was no mis-.
taking the situation. The quiet-eyed
girl read 1t in the faces of Amabel
and the professor. and a charming
smile broke the sweet gravity of her
face.
Can you spare her to play for me,
Professor Nanford?" she asked.
For only a little WHILE" admitted
the happy man. as he relinquished
Amabel's trembling little hand. you
shall be the first to hear the good
news Of our engagement-and / would
never have found courage to ask her
II 1t had not been for the pretty rose
colored frock!"
Blessed be pink" laughed Marion.
and as she went away with her arm