The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-08-30

bOrds.
Il think" Miss Bedford went ON.
tnat you had better let me take the
baby to my house"
Il don't care to part with all that Is
left which l and my wife loved to-
gether."
A tender cord was touched in Miss
bedford's breast. She forgot her mo-
tion OF hating all men In this un-
Ion Of a living man with a dead wo-
man, cemented by their child. She said
In kindly voice:
1t need be only temporary sojourn
II you prefer 1t, till you can make other
provision. You can come IL you like.
Have you had breakfastr'
"No."
do you know where to get oneT"
mo"
Il can give you one"
you are very kind, but can man.
age without your help. think. The
baby
Yes, the baby. You win not let your
pride stand In the way Of your baby.
Certainly you viii carry her to my
home"
"Of course"
He took the child from her arms and
together they started for the house.
On the way he gave her a brief expla-
nation of the situation. He was an
artist and, like most artists who have
not made name, very poor. Not being
able to keep up home, he and his wife
and their child started on a sketching
tour, camping here and there, the hus-
band painting landscapes. The wife
had died, and the husband, not having
any other abode, stuck to his tent. 1t
was a pathetic story, and Miss Bed
ford's horror for man-at any rate this
particular man-melted before It.
When they reached the house she said
to him:
1T Is in your power to do me a kind
ness. Sit down to the same breakfast
table with me and your child. 1 shall
enjoy every mouthful you eat more
than you can conceive"
He gave in to this way of putting it.
Miss Bedford placed herself between
him and his child, and it Is question
able which she the most enjoyed help
ing, the man or the child. He had
managed to get the simple food re-
| quired for his little girl. For her he
would take what did not belong to him
or accept 1t from strangers, but not for
himself. He was very hungry and ate
a great deal, his hostess pressing him
\ to do so. After he had finished she
said to him:
"You have done me one favor; now
I wish you to do me another. Leave
the child here with me while you make
your sketches. You are welcome to
come here to see her whenever you
like, and you may feel privileged to
take her away when you can provide
for her"
The artist could scarcely conceal the
relief this offer brought him. "Since
have only tent for her." he said, 81
have no right to deprive her Of the
comfort you can give her"
"And you have no right to deprive
me of the happiness l shall have in
taking care of her."
| An hour later the artist kissed. his
child and took his departure. The tent
disappeared, and nothing vas seen Of
man or tent for several weeks. Their
he came to Miss Bedford's home will
number Of sketches. One of them, {
water vista. the original being on hel
own ground, Miss Bedford very mucl
fancied. She offered the artist goot
price for It, He declined it on tht
ground that through charity she woult
pay him more than It was worth. Blu
when she proposed that he should sen'
it to a dealer in New York to fix 1T
value he accepted the proposition. Mis-
Bedford privately wrote the dealer t
fix a price she named herself, and thi
she paid the artist.
Now and again he came In from hi
sketching tours to see his child, ant
every time he came he offered to re
lieve Miss Bedford of her charge. Sh
invariably declined to be relieved IN
less he insisted on his right to take hi
baby to himself. and the longer the re
moval was put of the more difficult
would be for Miss Bedford to give u
the child. But the father would no
accept of the lady's hospitality, AM
; this made It awkward. II he woul
have made his headquarters at tn
house when not out painting 1t woul
. have been much pleasanter. for tn
child was constantly fretting for him.
; Finally when he began to get som
return for his pictures Miss Bedfor
proposed that If he would make he
house his lodging place when not on
: sketching she would permit him to pa
. a nominal board. After much has
Cling as to the amount, the lady dt
: claring what he proposed to pay notf
ing less than robbing him, a compCS
mise was made, and for the rest Of th
summer q room in a wing Of the hous
!, was at his disposal whenever he chos
! to use f.
The truth Is nature was working !
l Miss Bedford, the artist and the httl
!. girl to make the three one. They wei