The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-08-19


at the ball For this he mutely thank
ed Mowbra
In the evening as the lights were be-
4 ing switched on the nurse announced
4 the return OF his visitor.
! A few moments afterward she ap-
peared in the doorway. Harmon rec
ognized her in one sweeping glance as
she approached his cot-the girl at the
ball
| "Wellr' he said, REFRESHING his as
constituent She looked timidly down
at him.
You know meT she asked in a
frightened tone. He nodded and smiled
to put her at her ease. There was an
embarrassed pause.
Il felt / ought to come and thank
you" she broke In. He made a care
less gesture.
quite unavoidable, Miss
"Rogers-Sadie Rogers" she prompt
ed, touch of color appearing In her
thin, white cheeks.
Harmon lifted his head and bowed
an awkward acknowledgment.
What happened to mer' he asked.
mo one seemed to know anything
about It," she explained, except that
you Were hit with a bottle. They
couldn't find out who did it. I'm glad,
anyway, nobody was arrested. I'd
have gone, too, suppose"
Harmon nodded comprehension.
How did you find meT he went on.
Your friend told me who you were
and where they had taken you" she
replied, smiling.
She had been standing with her
hands behind her as they chatted
Suddenly she made an impulsive little
movement and thrust forth a small
cluster OF roses.
"Will you take these? They help me
say thanks" she said.
Harmon looked at her In surprise
and for the first time observed closely
her appearance. There was no health
In her cheeks. and she looked worn
and weary.
The cheap finery of the previous
evening had vanished, and in its place
had come a coarse black skirt, an i'll
fitting blue jacket and a broad, fat
hat that seemed to accentuate her pale.
blue eyed usefulness.
TITS nice of you" he said at length.
A queer little smile flashed across
her face. and she placed the flowers In
his hand
Sadie. faint voiced and difident,
called at the hospital each day there
after. Her visits were brief and un-
eventfuL She remained for few mo-
ments to exchange the usual common
places with Harmon. Always, despite
his protests. she brought cluster Of
J fresh roses.
In the beginning Harmon had decid-
ed not to permit her to continue to see
him, but she sounded a sympathetic
note In his nature, and he found him
self unable to send her away.
Though she seemed a poor, pitiable
bit of drift, she revealed traces Of I'M
cultivated intelligence and refinement,
and he became interested In her. In
the end he resolved to learn more
about her and, IL possible, to help her
| You are going home tomorrow" she
asked on the evening of the last day.
Not really home" he replied, laugh
Ing. II hail from the country" Her
tired face frightened.
"Indeedl I'm from up state myself"
You're all alone here?" he inquired.
She nodded slowly.
Tell me about coming here-every-
thing" he invited.
She plucked at a jacket button and
seemed reluctant to answer, but after
a moment said: well, father wasn't a
much account man, so when mother
died l hired out. We had folks up
from New York, and heard so much
about the city thought It was a great
place. So l came.
I'm not a fool" she continued, with
dispirited smile. up In the country
l went to school as long as l could,
but when got down here 1t didn't
help me any.
What could / do? l didn't know
anything about offices. wasn't type
writer, and there wasn't much time to
decide, so | went into one OF the big
stores.
What l make just about goes round
for room and meals and something to
wear. Once In awhile there's a NOV
ing picture show.
"Clancy's ball was free, SO me and a
couple of girls went there But I'll
know better next time.
you know, I'd like to do better, to
learn something that'd help me. tried
night school. but | couldn't stand 1t
after working all day. And 1 can't
learn from library books" she conclud.
ed, signing.
Harmon was intent upon every ex-
preston Of her face.
Wouldn't 1t be better II you married
soon7" he asked.
She shrugged her shoulders YEARLY.
rive thought q lot about that" she
said slowly, land l don't think can
marry the kind o. men meet"
Harmon looked at her IN thoughtful
silence.
Suppose could help you in a way"
he said directly. would you let met"