The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-05-15


basin and, pouring some water into
1t, knelt down by the bed and awk-
wardly began to battle the girls fore
head. So troubled was he that he
forgot to wonder why he had been
sent for, until his eyes fell on pic
ture that hung by the bed. To his
utter establishment, Willy Ben found
his own image staring at him from
an ornate gilt frame. Then he looked
about the room and saw that he was
everywhere. When he won the big
tennis match from the champion OF
the Enderby Athletic association every
paper in New York had printed his
photograph, and here they all were.
on walls and tables and dresser, the
only pictures in the room.
His address was printed under one
of them and Willy Ben could now cas-
lily understand why the landlady had
sent for him. But he had never seen
| the girl on the bed. he was sure OF
that, and why had she lined her walls
with his photograph? There could be
| only one explanation. Willy Ben was
! strong, well-built, six-footer, but he
was not handsome, and to find that his
rough hewn, freckled countenance had
appealed to one feminine heart was a
wonderful thing. A deep crimson
dyed his tanned cheeks.
The stairs began to creak and a
wheeling sounded regularly from be-
low. Mrs. Lorgey and the doctor. he
supposed it must be. They pulled into
the room, large oily woman and a
large untidy man. While the doctor
examined the girl, Mrs. Lorgey sank
into a chair, oozing over the sides and
began a grumbling explanation.
"She came yesterday, and twas bad
luck l took her in. | gave her the
room most reasonable, and this morn.
ing she goes and gifts run into by q
cab"
"A concussion," murmured the doc
tor, soothingly, only a slight concus
sion"
The landlady pointed to the picture
of the young man. Il didn't Know
where she come from nor anything
about her, but | seen you was frienc
of hern, so sent for you on a guess.
Willy Ben was about to admit his
ignorance, but he looked at the pic
lures of himself and then at thu
pretty little girl on the bed. Beneath
his tailor-made New York clothes hi
homemade Bologee heart swelled will
pride.
"She is very dear friend OF mine,
, he answered tenderly, land | 1nten'
to have her moved to the hospital a
, once"
=, At the hospita Emily Walton cam
back to consciousness to find clean
looking, red-headed young man si'
ting patiently beside her. For lon
time she regarded him in silence, the
she spoke wonderingly.
"William Benjamin Bibb, the TENN
champion, however. did you com
here?"
Never mind" answered Willy Bel
for the doctor had said she must nc
talk. "I'll tell you tomorrow. Wer
playing that I'm your big brother"
She was asleep when he left, an
like a big brother, he kissed her
friendly, respectful kiss--just as
she were Bess or Evelyn. But all tn
time he knew that she was not; h
knew she was the ideal come to lif
Tomorrow came. and for the tu
q great many tomorrows. She tol
him all her sorry story, how she he
run away from her home to go on tt
stage, and how, though she cou
cook and sew and recite Hamlet's s
liloquy better than any girl In boar
ing school, she could not act. Ha
ing a stubborn kind Of pride whit
> took the place of courage, she hi
gone on trying and trying. "Al
when the cab struck me-" she to
him, II was glad to think the fig
was over"
Is He in turn told her about his hon
IN his mother. his brothers and sister
I'd how he used to steal away from scho
re to visit the swimming pool, how
le mad dog came through town and
OF had to kill his faithful hound, how
% rattlesnake bit him in the leg O.
| udy. Ilc tOlu ~ Oil oo AGA VOnshJ "a
az little Emily, who was born In boal
VI ing house and brought up in hote
70 grew homesick.
as When the wound on her forehe
90 was we'll and the time came for h
10 to leave the hospital the young m
made a brilliant suggestion.
30 why go back to that horrid plac
IL Let's go right out and be married"
e. And spend the honeymoon in DO
Gil geo." she added.
en- So it was settled, and Willy b
ss who knew that marriages are ma
81 In heaven, fell to wondering. =
ny think" he cried rapturously, I'll
hs you fell in love with my picture
TO fore you ever saw mel"
But the little Emily was truth
co. and practical. Il didn't" she
~. swered. leaning fondly against hi
ed II cut your picture out OF the pal
NE because you looked like a man l us
or. to be in love with out west"