The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-09-14

t1avaSance, nothing more. yet Racket
cheyiahed 1t as the apple Of his eye
He went past 1t at least once . day
He had columns describing 1t in thu
newspapers. He ruled, the money
bags nabob Of the town, and foolishly
believed that he was the envied Of al
men.
He was sadly disappointed when, II
the end Of a year, Felice came home
from boarding school and settled down
Into the cheerless life he had marked
out for her. She had no heart In the
big sprawling mansion, the mausoleum
cast grues0me spell over her spirits.
The stern decision Of her irrational
father that she should not even notice
the Barrys. chilled her as would q win.
try blast delicate, lovely flower.
Twice she met Arnold Barry. Her
father learned of it. He exacted .
promise from her that she would dis
continue all communication with the
Barrys, and her gentle heart nearly
broke.
1T will stand forever!" Wanted
Hackett one day to fellow townsman,
the sweep of his hand proudly taking
In the grand mausoleum.
Dunno. Hackett," dissented the
practical neighbor. They tell me it's
got floating foundation, as they call
1t. Used to be quicksand where the
river sweeps around Just below 1t"
"Nonsense!" declared Hackett, rasp-
ingly. TITS built for the ages!"
The weeks went by. Poor mourning
Felice grew paler and more quiet. Her
father wandered Yneasily about the
lonely mansion. Then came three
days deluge. Just at dusk, as the
weather cleared, he crossed the turbid
swollen stream to view the monument
that had cost him fortune.
solid as rock-they won't soon for
get the name of Hackett!" he tried to
console himself by saying.
Then he started back, Mortified. He
saw the cliff side crumble He saw
the great mausoleum swerve. its un-
dermined foundation give way, and 1t
seemed to disintegrate and slide into
the roaring stream below before his
appalled, vision.
He had built on the sand-mausoleum
and happiness. He was chilled, fright.
ened. He turned his back upon his
wasted labor with hollow groan.
Was heaven reproaching him; was
fate hooking? How hollow the gains
Of all his pride and scheming! He halt
cd. trembling, as the sound Of . Joy
Gus hymn Of praise was borne to his
hearing on the evenings breeze.
He saw the children's home all
ablaze with the glory of the setting
sun, he heard care-free juvenile voices
chanting gratitude and content. All!
how completely had the Barrys car
ried out their great life dream to make
'thers happy!
He was shivering like leaf a. he |
home. There the sad, 70
'igned face Of his lonely daughter
,hfded him anew. He was overcome
With remorse. all grew dark
It was month later when, looking
'lder by twenty years, he tottered
bout the garden. leaning on Felice's
lrm for support. She was the kind,
thoughtful daughter In every way, but
Ter wearied eyes told of hopelessness
4 her life. Someone passed by.
who was that?" inquired her
ather.
Arnold Barry, father" replied Fs-
Ice. meekly.
Call him In. Felice, IL have
hanged my mind. II you are mourn
~ over my past unreasonable stern.
ess. forget, forgive"
ooh! father"
And tell him-tell him l will be
lad to give half my fortune to enlarge
be children's home"
The sun burst forth brilliantly from
ehind passing cloud as he spoke-
he harhinger Of courage and hope for
a erring soul that saw the true light
t last.