The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-09-14
A Man Halter
How She Was Con-
verted From Her
Antaeonism
BY ESTHER vANDEvEER


MISS Clara Bedford was one of these. |
There was no ism too radical for her.
one of her idiosyncrasies was antag.
ohlsm to man. Man had kept woman
uhuer MS heel for centuries, making
iler What she IS, or, rather, what she
was, for. thank heaven, she is now
every day asserting herself.
How about children?" she was
asked, There must be fathers as we'll
as mothers. If women hate men, where
will the babies come inn"
MISS Bedford had no reply for this.
Unreasonable persons don't seem to
need reply 10 questions that tumble
their theories about their heads; their
confidence in what they believe is noy
whit lesSened from the want of rea-
son. They go right on just as if they
had an answer and a perfectly salts
factory one.
Nevertheless, Miss Bedford was
very human being. Down in the bot
tom of her heart she loved an imagi-
nary man ana yearned for a child
| However, acting upon her preiudices,
she arranged for her summer to get
away from men, She was wealthy and
bought tract Of land in New Hamp-
shire upon which she built a cottage.
There she went with servants and q
few companions of her own sex, re-
solved that If any man trespassed on
her property she would call upon the
law to eject him.
She used to get up in the morning
early and take long walks. One morn
ing on one of these walks she saw on
the border of her domain tent. What
was worse than the tent was man
walking away from it. Miss Bedford
started at once for the trespasser, but
before she reached him he had disap-
tent, she pulled back the canvas in
| front and peeped In.
| What was her establishment to see
lying on bed of boughs child-a lit
tie girl about two years old-asleep.
One chubby arm was thrown back
bedding-the other was under the COW
err The fine hair was tumbled, the
cheeks were round and rosy, in the
chin was dimple. The lips were
parted and showed few little white
teeth set in pink gums.
II Miss Bedford went into the tent and
approached the sleeping child. The
cover at the foot Of the bed was disar
ranged and showed five little toes
Miss Bedford could not resist temp
tation to take them In her fingers. TIL,
child gave little kick, opened its eye.
and frowned at the trespasser. Then
its brow smoothing, 1t said:
| Mamma"
il Miss Bedford bent over the little girl
who put out both arms to her to b.
taken up She lifted the infantile bur
den Of flesh from the rude couch, kiss
ing It as she did so, and, pulling 1t
clothes about it. took wicker Chair
the only article in the tent on which t
sit, and Rugged the baby to her breast
\ "Dindin," said the little one.
J "Dindin," repeated Miss Bedford
"How am to get you, dear little child
any dindin?' She looked about he
and went on, '"There's nothing here 70
grown person to eat much less for
child" There were cup and sauce
and spoon, but not a morsel to eat.
i "Dindin," repeated the child.
I'D like to know where that horri
man is who left you here to starve.
said Miss Bedford.
~ n n ,Sfo nd mo =
with cup of milk In his hand, threN
back the tent flap. Miss Bedford SAL
that he had gone for the baby's breal
fast and forgaye him.
"Where did you get the milk?' sh
asked.
Prom one of your cows | presum
YOU are the owner of the cow | MIXED
"Tbat's not enough. You'd better g
some more.
II The man poured the milk into anotl
Il or cup and without a word went ava.
while he was gone Miss Bedford gay
tho little girl milk to drink, which, b
inc warm from the COW, did not nee
to he heated. AS she sat holding I'll
4 white milk to the vermilion lips 81
wos wondering how the man came
4 bring a baby on to her property an
| feed II with milk from her cows. Tia
II not been for the innocent little bal
she might have upbraided him, thoue
no wore sad countenance. she T
III membered her principles and resolve
II 70 give him piece of her mind as soc
az no returned.
ID But by this time the child had draf
tbe milk and was ready for more.
"Is there not q morsel of bread In q
+ent9" asked Miss Bedford.
iii "Not a crust" replied the man sad
III go to my house and tell the COOK
III give YOU some Of the cereal she Is pr
naring for breakfast and such oth
Food as she can find that will do for
baby's food"
iii "You are very kind. l am surprise
iii was told that you would permit
III trespassing on your property, so O
iii NOT camp on 1t. I am just beyond 70
border =.
iii What do you mean by keeping Il
nj - n