The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-08-12
OLD MANS DARLING
BY MARTHA M'cUiloch-Wil-
liAMS.


advice Mrs. Berwick shot at Caro-
Ign, who gszed meditatively in the |
fire.
She had just put the case to her
friend and social mentor-the case
of Reul Norris, Esq, widower, aged
almost seventy, long on wealth, short
on grammar. alone In the world ex-
cept his sundry grandchildren. who
regarded him in the nature Of an in
vestment.
He had fallen violently . victim to
Carolyn's charms-Carolyn, . daugh-
ter of the gods. divinely tall and fair;
also poorer than poverty from the
come she had q position demanding
truffles and champagne; also. again.
conscious that her charms were at
apogee - henceforth change must
mean their waning.
That is to say, she was on the edge
of thirty. Many men had loved her
half Of them well enough to propose.
But the suitors who had been in earn
est had not been the right sort. Well
enough, perhaps-if she had loved
them-but, lacking love, out OF the
question.
There had never been q question
with regard to Henry Alban, who had
said in the beginning, I'VE dare not
love, being paupers. The saying had
, not hindered his hanging about Caro-
Ign until Mrs. Berwick was in despair.
Then suddenly Melva Lane, with q
| million on hand and several others in
prospect. had been thrown in his way
with the result of sudden secret
wooing, and an astounding runaway to
Paris, where still the pair abode.
Don't you want a wedding trip to
Paris?" Mrs. Berwick went on, little
to speak to Carolyn of Alban. She
did it now with malice aforethought
and the best intentions.
Carolyn frowned the least bit. Il
was thinking of that" she said, sud-
| denly sitting straighter. Il can go
If l choose. l can have half the
world II choose"
Then say yes! Dol" Mrs. Bor-
wick entreated.
Carolyn smiled more family than
she had frowned. Il would-if had
not troubling sense of fairness,
she answered. my captive, poor old
fellow, is as amazingly decent over
everything, almost apologize over
his wealth-it is very much greater
than anybody knows. Told me-but
not in the way Of making q price
just let me know he could do right
by the grandchildren-that is his
very phase--yet leave me royalty
rich"
He doesn't talk thus early Of leav
ing you!" Mrs. Berwick cried, as
founded.
Carolyn nodded. 'He has lost his
head-not his reason" she said. smil
ing bitterly. Ten years at the out
side he measures my bondage. Aftel
that, with millions and the world be
fore me, know he hopes, although
he does not say 1t, will find the
bondage to have been worth while
That's fine. I've no patience with
you-splitting hairs and haggling,
Mrs. Berwick exploded.
Carolyn got up slowly. In such fash
ion that all the slender yet opulen'
charm Of her was manifest. II an
his latest craze; he has come to re
gard me as other men old and ricf
regard their hobbies. He asks 81
little of me-only to endure him. lei
him worship me and give me the set
ting he thinks I deserve. lit hurt
me-here-" putting q slim hand t.
, her long, white throat. III coult
either love him or hate him, I'd TAXI
him in q minute"
You'd take him anyway II you hat
never known that wretched Henri!
Alban," Mrs. Berwick flung back fret
fully. HE is one reason I'm 80 wilt
, to have you make this match. Hav'
you heard that Melva's fortune wa
all but wiped out in that railroad re
! organization?
mo! Poor thing! 1t must be dread
full to lose your charm for an adore'
husband" Carolyn answered refee
lively. Then, as a big dark blue ca
, buried up to the door, she shut he
, teeth and said through them: "Elinol
|, you may congratulate me before tn
fact"
The wedding was like the socis
, event Of the season. All the grand
, children came to it-bearing gifts lik
!, the Greeks of old. They went ava
, appeased In a sort, but unsatfsfiet
!. Grandad had spoken out through hi
!, lawyers. Each heir presumptive ha
|. got a rich portion delivered In hant
. All that remained was settled mailer
!. ably and in fee upon the new wife
Mrs. Carolyn Enderby Norris-thi
after her husbands death; while b
!. lived she would have only large II
| dependent income.
. II was all like a dream come tru
!. 20 Carolyn-she who had been force
, 70 count her pennies could, lit please
! ner. spend thousands. She had, ful
q Their, a husband who delighted t
: shower her with the richest gift!
who was always listening intently I
find out the things she cared mos
about and tossing them into her laI
i. iguratively, Of course-one canno
thus toss a country place, hunter
carriages with pairs and coachmer
pony cars completely equipped, tow
. houses, opera boxes and all that goe
With tbom Carolvn seemed to be