The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-03-18
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
5 MISS BETTY'S 5
) B r AVE r Y 5
By VIRGINIA BLAIR

Midget"
Yes"
Il am going to make fudge. Miss
Beulah has gone to town. and there's
nobody but Miss Betty on guard Su-
zanne has the chocolate. and am go
ing to contribute the milk You
needn't bring anything but your sweet
self"
Midget came trailing out into the
dinIness of the hall. her pink kimono
gathered about her shvering figure
I'm glad" she said wistfully.
that We are going to do something
exciting. This school is the limit.
Margaret. I'm so blue could weep
on your shoulder if you weren't SO un-
sympathetic"
I'm unsympathetic because you
haven't any real woes" was Marga-
rets calm response You needn't
pose as an ill-used heroine simply be-
cause you cant spend the week end
with Mary Tempest"
1T isn't just that" Midget hest
tated. IF you only knew. Marga-
ret"
i do know. Arthur Tempest is to
be there and your heart will break
If you don't see him"
Perhaps his heart will break"
said little Midget. with dignity
which made Margaret stare at her.
We've are engaged. Margaret"
Margaret took her friend by the
shoulders and shook her And you
haven't told u.s." she cried; "yol
haven't told Suzanne and mech.
Midget"
We'll. you see." Midget explained.
hastily. 1T didn't happen until today"
But you haven't seen him and you
didn't get any letters. for brought
up the mail"
Il know. But-Arthur proposed by
telephone"
'Of all things." Margaret clutched
Midgets arm. How perfectly ro-
mantle, Midget Middleton"
1T wasn't romantic at ALL" Mid
get declared. miserably Il wanted
1t to happen in a garden among the
roses. or out in a boat in the moon
light"
Well. wouldn't care where 1t
was, so that the pan was Arthur
Tempest" said pre-, tcal Margaret.
You're lucky girl Come on up and
tell us about it"
Curled up comfortably "a the foot
of Suzanne's couch, Midget told her
story Il used to know Arthur when
! was tiny little thing Our fam.
lilies lived next door to each other,
and that's how | came to be so init
mate with Mary Tempest Arthur
was educated abroad. and | haven't
seen him for years He came back
month ago and Mary invited me
down to help celebrate his homecom-
ing. And-he fell in love with me,
and he's going back to London this
week. and Miss Beulah has chosen
this time of all others to 90 away, and
Miss Betty doesn't dare give any of
us permission to leave the school
while Miss Beulah is gone-and So
II shan't see him"
Couldn't you write to your mother
and get permission" Suzanne asked
There isn't time. I've told Mum.
sic all about 1t. and | know she will
say bless you. my children but that
won't help me out-Arthur leaves to-
morrow morning"
Why don't you meet him some
where and have 1t over?"
Midget shook her head Mother
wouldn't like it, She hates anything
clandestine, and man can't think
much of girl who suggests a thing
like that"
Margaret. who was stirring the
fudge energetically. suggested why
don't you go down and explain things
to Miss Betty?"
DO you think II would do any
good?"
TRY It."
When Midget entered the big
school room she found Miss Betty
sitting alone. her big yellow Cupid In
her lap
Midget, standing in the door. asked,
In a meek voice. May | speak to you
a minute. Miss Betty"
Certainly" was the gentle re-
Spouse
Il don't want to do anything" Mid.
get began with great embarrassment,
that would be against the rules.
But-but were you ever In love. Miss
Betty?"
The pale little lady opened her
mouth. but not word came
Il suppose shouldn't ask such a
question" Midget apologized. but II
did seem that if-if-you had ever
cared very much for any one that
you-youd sympathize with me now.
Miss Betty" And Midget. whose feel
ings had been much wrought upon by
the excitement of the day. broke down
and wept
There. there. dearie," little Miss
Betty quavered patting the girls
hand: tell me all about It."
Midget told her. sitting on a little
stool at Miss Betty's feet. with Cupid
smuggled between them.
"And-it seems as II must see him
lust once before he goes" she wbi.