The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-03-24
FRdIIHE b DEAD RI FIST
Dy GEORGE ELMER coBD.

Blind. deaf. dumb-that's Marvi'
Thearle!"
why. the man seems to possess al
his natural senses"
Il mean socially and morally"
Thus. two men at the club discussed
the member who performed his socta
functions a. though they were . pen
ance. and cast q chill over all those
with whom he came In contact. The
first speaker went on:
1T was Is years ago. when he A.
rived at age. He lived In town sew.
eral hundred miles from here. and
was engaged to marry . beautiful girl.
Her name was Elsinore Dayton. There
was another sutton. His name, too.
was Dayton-Horace Dayton, but he
7 was no relation to the fiancee. Young
1 Thearle had inherited some money.
He had built rare nest Of luxury for
his bride-to-be. It was filled with the
costliest furnishings. Life never
seemed more roseate to a man. One
night Elsinore Dayton disappeared,
Horace Dayton, too. They have never
been heard from since"
"Eloped?"
Presumably 30. From that hour of
perf1dy and heart-break Marvin
Z Thearle has been as you now see
Understanding all womankind, tyrant
as an employer, not a real friend in
the. world"
"And the residence he built?"
with all its rich belongings went
up in smoke one night, and the next
day he left his native town forever"
Into the store of this misanthrope
there came two days later a tall, slen-
der boy Of tender age. He was neat
and clean, but his shoes were patched
and his wellbrushed suit was thread.
bare. Mr.. Thearle gave him q mere
passing glance. The manager hired
the boy, who became known as Paul.
A week later the lad was called into
the Office of Mr.. Thearle The latter
barely nodded to him.
Hang those pictures Of the new fac.
tories" he ordered gruffly.
Paul obeyed As he stepped from
the chair after hanging the last pic
ture. however, he stumbled. His pen
ell, q knife and a cheap silver watch
he wore fell from his pocket. With a /
murmured apology of embarrassment.
the lad started to pick up the scat. I,
tered articles.
The case Of the watch had opened. !,
It had landed directly against the foot /
Of the employer. who stopped to pick ,
Il up. Az he did 80. he could not help
but notice the photograph Of a wom-
ans face pasted inside the case.
With = start, with . thrill. almost
with IN involuntary cry. Marvin
Thearie stared askancs 1t the fac, BE-
fore him. II
"Who--who is this~ no ground out
hoarsely. I
my mother. SIR" answered Paul.
You live with her."
Not here. not now. sir. She 10 IN
another city. but a. soon 40 I earn
enough hope to have her with me-"
And your father!'
Il have NO father. SIR" replied Paul
Iadly.
VERY we'll. you can CO."
Marvin Thearle sent for his man.
lger. Briefly. he gave his orders-to
discharge Paul at once. !,
Two weeks after that, 40 Marvin
rhearle was turning Q corner, he al.
most ran into . woman coming from
he opposite direction. He came to a
tandstill. his face turning almost .
hastily. 1t was Elsinore Dayton. He d,
'ould have passed on. She grasped ,
10 arm.
Walt" she spoke tumultuously. T =
hould have found you elsewhere. 30 !,
may speak here and now. You are !,
he man who employed my boy. and =
asst him adrift without q character, ),
nd broke his courage. and he IL =
wing. But that his kind-hearted land. =
ldy sent me word. should never
ave seen him again. He constantly
ives OF your inhuman treatment q
my was It done! How you must +,
tie me and mine-but Why. y
Why! Even on the open street =
hearle burst forth with his soul bur. !" =.
N OF years. In amaxement Elsinorc -
ayton listened. He almost cursed
v openly.
Il eloped with Horace Dayton!- she =!
led. why, after he had proven 20 "
BY written evidence that you were d
ready welded TO another and I aed
DIN my misery, never sav him n
ain" N
Howl" cried rhearle sharply-"ths 81
y. Paulf" NJ
10 poor. homeless child I sdoute6 tn
assuase my loneliness and Danish. 1u
mt" %
Marvin Thearle trembled, q strong
IN unnerved. The woman. still fafr co
nod humbly by his side. as
He stood beside Elsinore Davto, sp
o days later. listening to the low. ey
'sical humming Of a sweet home 80
,e nom the lips Of the recovering pr
aid In an adjoining room. di,
You have brought my boy back to sit
," she said gratefully. But for an
lr timely. generous aid he wouid
70 died." fel
Elsinore." he said. can you forxet,. "v
NY wicked lack Of faith in you," rig
faltered-"oh, never, never."
Then let me teach you to forget" me
said. and his arm encircled her, ana he
"a
tly. ..
l have the present, and II 10 price
B.. ne added. Give mo q future en-,