The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-06-03
A Gold Eagle
By F. A. Mitchell

young man who. in cutaway coat.
spats and silk hat. has plowed through
oxford street or the Strand in Lon
don or ridden in Rotten row, having
lost or spent all his money, will cope
to the United States and 20 to work
at the first job that presents itself.
One day Miss Laura Bainbridgc Of
Philadelphia while on a visit to New
York, coming out of the - hotel,
looked about for an auto. A chauf-
feur pulled up beside the curb. Miss
cambridge looked at him hard. There
In the uniform of chauffeur sat a
man she had danced with at a ball
among the smart set i'm London. In
decd, she had had bit of an affair
with him. but since she was not
wealthy and he came of family en-
joying one of the oldest British titles
nothing came of their limited associa
ton. Miss cambridge came home TO
America. and the Hon Ralph Scar.
borough danced on.
And now on calling for an auto he
had driven up to the sidewalk and was
reaching back from his seat with one
hand TO open the door for her lie
had recognized her while she was
Reckoning to him and had had few
moments to recover from the shock he
had received. lie looked straight
ahead at the place where the horses
would be if there were horses.
ITO the park" said the lady. step
ping into the auto.
The chauffeur put on the clutch, and
Miss cambridge sailed away, driven
by man whom she had often sailed
away with i'm the dance In London.
only ON this occasion he had dropped
from the social height of an honorable
to driving n taxi
Not word did Ralph Scarborough
say to his fare. She asked him few
questions about what was this build
ing and what was that avenue and
other questions for information. which
he answered politely when possessed
of the required knowledge, which was
not often
You are not New Yorker. eh?"
she said at last
"No, miss; Eve lived all my life in
Winnipeg, Canada"
Miss Bainbridge smiled. or. rather,
she chucklcd. There was at least
something attractive In the mans IL
morning his past and their former meet
ingS
She told him to drive slowly through
the park. since her object In being out
was to get the air. She made no ef-
fort to break through the barrier that
separated them. She longed to do so,
but 1t was evident he desired that 1t
should be maintained. Nevertheless
she kept him out for two hours. going
not only all over Central park, but up
per New York to the limits of Manhat-
tan Island. Then she directed him to
drive her to her hotel. When they
reached II he opened the door, as be-
fore, from his seat behind the wheel
When Miss cambridge stood on the
sidewalk she took out her portemon-
naie and paid her fare.
Pour boire." she said, handing him
ten dollar gold piece.
"Mcrci mademos-- Thank you,
miss"
The French PHRASE she had used for
tip had thrown him Off his guard. but
he caught himself before he had
spoken the last syllable
Miss cambridge turned and without
Inn I,n, Iy t,,fn hn
-Four years passed. Miss cambridge
was again abroad She had scarcely
reached London when she received an
invitation to a ball. During the even
ing. or, rather, shortly before daylight
I'm the morning, gentleman was
brought up to her by friend for an
Introduction. He was the Hon. Ralph
Scarborough, now with the addition
of a title which had come to him
through a remote branch of his fam.
fly.
"Why, Miss Bainbrldger' he ex-
claimed.
1--WE meet again after many years.
feel flattered that you remember me"
she replied
"Indeed, do Have we not danced
together In this very roOm?"
The lady did not seem to hear Her
eyes We're fixed upon charm attached
to the gentleman's watch chain II
was an eagle. an American ten dollar
gold piece. He saw the direction Of
her glance and, looking down, per
celved what had attracted her atten-
don.
"Will you dance?" he said
He put his arm about her. she laid n
hand on his shoulder, and they sailed
away as they had done six or seven
years before. They did not speak,
but doubtless both were thinking
thinking about that auto ride they took
in Central park, New York When
they had finished the dance they be-
gan to talk about their meeting In
London when Miss Bainbridge was
bud and he was the Hon. Ralph Scar
borough. A number Of episodes of
that time were brought up and changes
noted, but never word of the time
when he was running a taxi In New
York.
Six months later they were married
in Philadelphia. On their wedding trip
they visited New York The morning
after their arrival the bride emerged
from their hotel, her husband drove NJ
In a runabout, she got in, and they
STA rtpH for tho Tho bride cufJ