The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-07-08
A MISTAKEN GOAL
BY MELLA M'cALLuM.

/ q
S~s~e~~~~ese~e~~r~~~s~Ne~~~~esssssS
Mary Moon was bitterly disappoint-
/ ed. AS she laid down her daughters
letter, the one hope of her life seemed
frustrated. And all because pretty Con-
stance Moon had written home from
college that she was engaged to a
certain young rhetoric instructor. 1t
sounded harmless enough. surely, but
| to Mary it spelled tragedy.
| For Mary herself had married young
and rashly. Five years she had lived
with John Moon. Then, after a mark
edly protracted spree, he had merci-
fully died. Then and there. she had
vowed a manless existence thenceforth.
She had three dollars in money and a
two-year-old baby girl, but she had
something else as well-a fierce de-
/ termination.
At first she worked at anything she
could get to keep them alive. But she
had fair education. and, after a
while. she managed to secure a dis
| trict school. She made an excellent
teacher. She saved money fiercely.
For by that time she had made up
her mind to climb high in the teach
ers' profession.
After three years Mary had saved
enough to pay for one year at a nor
NAL school, and thither they went. At
the end of the year, although her
money was nearly gone, Mary had
made up her mind to stay.
Three years more, and Mary had fin
ished her course. She got her life
certificate and good position.
Years passed-happy ones. Mary's
corners were all smoothed down now.
She had independence, social position,
and beautiful, sunny-natured, quick
minded daughter. Constance finished
high school easily, and was at last sent
to college.
Mary answered the girls glowing let
ters, telling of her engagement, in a
manner which she fancied thoroughly
diplomatic. But when Constance
finally came home, even Mary gasped
at the vision. Always lovely, the girl
was now glorifed with a mist of
dreams. But that did not deter Mary.
She made up her mind to break off
the match, and save Constance from
what she firmly believed would prove
| disaster.
| But for the first time In her life
Mary ran against an impossible
snag. Constance was well-nigh i'm
pregnable, enveloped In the armor of
| dreams.
At last Mary's cautious campaign
collapsed, and she lost control of her.
self.
For twenty years 1 have fought to
put you where you are. You have edu-
cation, culture, and good looks. You
are better equipped to earn money than
most men. Your future is insured. And
this is the thanks / get"
II want more than money, mother.
I want home of my own, and-hap-
piness. The cares that come with 1t
I'm willing to accept"
And that was all. Mary pleaded in
vain against the wall of reserve the
girl built around herself. Vacation
passed distressfully. Constance went
back to college for her final year. The
year dragged through YEARLY toward
June and the hateful wedding.
Constance was to graduate on the
fifteenth and be married on the twenty
fifth. Mary made up her mind to 20
on for the events If IT killed her.
But Mary Moon was game. She had
some unusually pretty dresses made
and paid an extravagant price for a
suit and hat. For she had been In
vited to stay at the home of the groom,
and she resolved to make a creditable
showing in spite of the grief in her
heart She knew that Leonard Ames'
father was old Doctor Ames of Latin
textbook fame, and that Mrs. Ames
was prominent socially in the college
town. They should not be ashamed of
Constance's mother.
They were not ashamed. Mary made
an excellent impression, with her at
tractive toilets and her vivacious intel
ligence.
Then the wedding guests began to
arrive. New people to meet-to play
up tol
The night before the wedding, Con-
stance inquired guardedly. How do
you like Leonard, motherT'
Very much" replied Mary sincerely.
II am proud to, have you know and
be known by such people, dear"
(which do you like best of the wom-
en-, mother-the married ones or the
old maids?" Constance inquired mis-
chievously.
why, l think the-the married
ones" said Mary, uncomfortably
aware that Constance was taking adj
vantage of her inability to bubble.
"You don't dislike Leonard, do you,
motherT"
"N--no." 1t was more a choke than
a spoken word.
Constance saw Mary's agonized face
in the glass. She whirled around with
a little triumphant laugh. Better own,
up you're beaten, mother, darling" she
said.
Mary began to cry, although she was
not crying woman. Constance's arms
went about her softly. Mother, pre-
cious," she whispered, don't you see
that without your training 1 never
could have won Leonard and his nice
family? The training was all right,
mother, only you mistook the goal, /
think"
II takes more bravery to accept and