The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-10-06

So he submitted with good grace and
the next afternoon picked all the chrys
anthemums in the parsonage garden to
bedeck the Immediately neat but rath-
er severe rooms
AS he wandered about Arthur Frake
was conscious that his home lacked the
feminine touch. Mrs Wells was an
excellent cook and housekeeper. but
she was not home maker.
He thought rather ruefully that It
might he many years before he had a
wife. Certainly he had never met the
girl OF his dreams, and he was not like
ly to find her in this remote village.
There was not speck Of dust to be
seen In the parsonage when the kero-
sene lamps were lighted. It would be
an hour yet before the donation party
would arrive, and some one was talk
ing volubly to Mrs. Wells in the sitting
| room. Their voices reached the minis
ter in his study. Mrs. Wells wheezy
tones were punctuated by another wo-
mans shrill utterances.
"Millie Rhodes says it's the first time
they've never been able to give FIVE
bushels Of potatoes to the new minis
ter and says TO her, says: Don't
cry. Milly. Mr.. Frake will understand
how 1t is-your pa being sick SO long
and your ma dying, and ALL But she
only said she wished she had some.
thing to give, because she had to stop |
putting anything into the plate at
church. Seems to me. Mrs. Smith, |
says she, seems to me poor folks are |
just squeezed tight to the wall The
Bible says not to place any value on
money, and yet it's the only thing that
seems TO count in this world" The
speaker drew long breath.
Poor child" sobbed Mrs. Wells. 81
hope she amt going to stay home Just
because she can't bring anything"
Il told her she would lave to come
anyway Ann Dent is going to stay
with Mr.. Rhodes for q SPELL"
The doorbell rang, and Mrs. Wells
hurried into the hail. Arthur Frake
heard her exclamation Of pleasure.
why, Mile, child, am glad to see
your she cried Come right In and
meet Mr. Fmke. You've never met
him. your pa being sick ever since Mr.
Frake came. Oh, Mr.. Frake, here's
the first one, Miss Mile Rhodes. from
the Hollow farm
In this disjointed fashion Arthur
Frake met parishioner whom he had
never seen. Mile Rhodes was tall,
fair girl. with soft blue eyes and
sweet mouth. She was dressed in
black. and he recollected that they had
laid she had lost her mother. Her
rms were filed with 1owers-chrys. ,
lnthemums of every color, great ,
branches Of crimson dogwood berries :.
railing lengths of orange and scarlet :
'ittersweet and bunch Of pink gera. =
liums with sweet smelling leaves. =
1T was all had to bring" she said =
little wistfully as she dropped them ,
n the study table. =
"And a beautiful donation, Miss a
'hodes. l thank you," said the minis. y
er sincerely as he took her hand.
VIII you add another favor-arrange I,
hem about the rooms9 No, only in 9,
lis ROOM" he added whimsically. e.
80 Millie Rhodes stepped lightly to 8,
I'd FRO, arranging vases and bowls of "
overs on mantelpiece and tables. OF
alling the dogwood and bittersweet Of
erries over pictures and mirrors and b
the minister's request placing the OF
'wl Of pink geraniums on his desk. v
Rose geraniums are my favorite in
'wers," he said gravely. And they p'
ere from that instant. oil
Then came the sound of laughter fC
ID loud ringing at the front door. Cd
he house was filed with a merry 1T
ovid of the minister's flock, all push. tr
g forward to shake his hand and ut. &c
good wishes. Each one brought II
bag or bundle or basket tn
ID soon the kitchen tables were heap q
with bushels Of potatoes, apples, 70
led fruit, bags of -four, jars of pre-. tn
rves and pickles. toothsome layer sc
kes and pies and all the goodies that
rmers' wives know how to manufac. tr
re. Al
Mile Rhodes sat quietly in a corner w
18th group Of friends, and there was 50 ..
quiet happiness in her face that no ui
10 save Mrs. Wells and Sarah Smith III
i'd. Of course, the minister quite nm.
rstood. III
Miles donation beautified the min.
Iers own room, and unconsciously g
r fingers had given the deft WON. ~,
lily touches that the room needed. ~
by and by some asked her to sing IS
ID she arose and, unaccompanied. -.
ng In sweet, fiutelike voice many az, .'
4 ballads that brought tears to the sN
es of the older people li'
Il should like my wife to sing like au
at thought Arthur Frake as he us
owed among his people. .n'
This donation was not exactly like 'n'
her donation parties. Even Emma an
els admitted that. To begin with. wa
ere was such an abundance of gifts
at the company could not possibly &c
'pose Of them at the supper. which 10Y
rs served at 10 o'clock. nut
IT,