The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-09-08
A BALKY cinderella
BY lola FORESTER.

=.
And now it was over, the five weeks
of travel through France and Nor
mandy, old Brittany and Holland Phil
hardly heard what the count was say
ing as she leaned over the rail and
looked ahead at New York's skyline
of tall buildings shaping out OF the
morning haze. She knew perfectly
we'll that Aunt Isabel was watching
them from her deck chair even while
she discussed custom troubles with
the commodore and Larry.
The whole situation had been ex-
planned to Phil before she left her
stateroom.
We've done everything we could
for you, Philippa," Aunt Isabel had
said plaintively. Here we have the
royal suite or bridal suite, or what
ever they cali it, and everyone thinks,
of course, you are your uncles heiress
haven't denied 1t, for it helps i'm
mensely, and both the commodore and
myself are really quite fond of you.
You've been very sweet during the
trip and clothes have done wonders
for you, too. and there's no reason
why you shouldn't marry the count.
I have no doubt but what your uncle
would do the right thing by you.
though l do hope the castle is well
ventilated. He hates stuffy ruins, so
I'd never get him to visit you. I'm
sure your mother can't say but what
I've made you success"
Yes, ma am" Phil said mildly, turn
ing around ON her little finger Larry's
boyish silver ring. Plain it was, just
a band of silver worn thin, with his
monogram engraved On it, but it had
been on her hand since a certain eve
ming the third day out. She regarded
it thoughtfully. Larry had not been
definite. He had not made any sort
of proper prosposal, as Aunt lisa
bel would have put it. He had only
slipped the ring from his own hand to
hers as it lay beside him on the rail
ing, and had tried to tell her how
much she meant to him. and how
some day when he had made a sue
cess he would go to the commodore
and ask him to give her to him.
Larry had been the unknown guam
tity in Aunt Isabels reckoning. The
commodore had met him in Paris,
stranded after trying to Impress the
continent with the value of a certain
make of spark plugs. AS salesman
hn fnil h,f n1y
had made him private secretary, cour-
Ter and general major domo, and he
had won his regard and the surety of
work in the big general Offices out
West.
Somehow there didn't seem to be
anything real excepting the little sill
yer ring. She hated the Cinderella
clothes she wore and even the string
Of pearls the commodore had given
her. AM. IS she !se ss.Y !.ayry's. cheerful
boyish face she AID" what Ted back
home called "Phil's trick" She
baked.
I'm awfully sorry" she told the
little, courteous count, giving him her
hand. but ! cant do al you wish
I'm not the c0mmodore's heiress, you
know. I'm just his niece by mar
riage, and they had both been kind
enough to give me this trip. haven't
500 Of my very own. Won't you go
and talk to Aunt Isabel, please, and
forget all about me?"
"Mademoiselle, II honor you" he
faltered over her hand. And Phil
knew he was grateful to her for her
frankness. Then she turned to Larry,
and they leaned over the railing to.
gether happily.
You turned him down, didn't your
Larry said
She nodded her head 81 told him
the real truth, and l want to tell you
too, Larry" And she did-far more
completely than the count had heard
It.
What are you going to do?" asked
Larry.
Stay home and look after things
and mother. I'm the only one that
likes home life," she laughed. Aunt
Isabel said the only home for me was
either to dress me up and make me
social attraction, or else marry me off
to some adjacent farmer. We haven't
any adjacent farmers down our way
though, and I'm not a social success
a bit"
Larry's strong young hand closed
over hers. His face was close to her
fluffy windblcwn hair.
Can ! go and tell the commodore
he's got to raise my salary because
III have wife to look after soon?
Can |, Phil? know you care, sweet
heart You're blushing like fury. II
you don't quit it, I'm going to lean
over and kiss you before everybody
Can ! tell him, Phil?"
After we dock" said Phil, content
eddy. Il don't want Aunt Isabel or the
little count to faint away just this min
ute THEY'LL think we're nerfactlv