The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-05-24
A powerful
Stimulant
By OSCAR COX


de hospittle dis AFTERNOON.
Miss Brown. a colored girl twenty
years of age said she wouldn't mind
obliging Mr.. Jones. II occurred 10 her
that if Mrs. Jones should die she might
be Mrs Jones herself Jones was
well TO do darby on the shady side OF
forty ana had three pickaninnics. Miss
Brown supported herself by washing
and ironing ana thought that if she
could permanently change her occupa-
ton to taking care of Il family it would
be an advantage.
when do yo' want me to come. Mr..
jones'" she inquired.
Ma wifc'S gwine TO de hospittle
about o'clock. Reckon 20 mought
come round about half past A.
"All right. Mr. Jones; I'll be dar.''
Mrs. Jones was removed in the hos
pital ambulance on time. and half an
hour later Miss Brown. who was com
monty called Sue by her employers,
settled herself down in her place. The
children were playing in the street.
and Sue did not disturb them. She
was taking an eye inventory of the
premises and making mental rear
rangement of the furniture when Mrs.
Jones would he removed from the hos
pital to the cemetery. Mr.. Jones, whose
name, stripped of euphony, was simply
Nose, returned from conveying his
wife with solemn countenance to
find that Sue had prepared cup of
tea for him and had it set out on the
table with piece of corn pone.
Il thought yo'd come home needin'
somcpin to brace yo up, Mr. Jones"
said the girl.
Her thoughtfuness braced up Nose
rs much as the refreshments.
How did yo' leave yo' po' wife?' she
asked.
"Porely"
is she gwine to pull through"
Don know; she's powerful sick"
Mrs. Jones lost instead of gained
She was worried about her children,
and Nose found 1t necessary to tell her
that he had secured the services Of
some one to take care of them. He did
not tell her that he had got young
woman, for he had seen evidences al
ready that she WAS expecting TO step
into his wife's shoes, and he knew that
this would worry her.
Perhaps it would have gone wei
with Sue had size curbed her impa
thence. Though Mrs. Jones was report
ed getting weaker every day, she huns
on In a very aggravating way. Sue go
tired asking Nose after his visits t
ta1 l,,h .t n Iy,t IL 4 =,
hearing only the repetition, "Porely
very porely; she's gwine down hill pow
erful fast" So 1t occurred to the cir
to go to the hospital and ask question
on her own account. She bought tv
cent posy and, appearing at the hosp
tai door, was received by an attendant
Tell Mrs. JONES'" she said, offerin
the posy, dat frien' oh de famil
brought her de flowers and hopes she
gettin' better"
The attendant took the flowers an
was turning away when Sue asked:
Mrs. Jones mighty sick?'
"She's very low
Not long to ill.,. | reckon?"
Not long.
Bout how long she gwine to las
THE doctor doesn't expect her to liz
the week out"
Sue took ler departure, greatly cor
forted Tie attendant took the posy
Mrs Jones with the message. Mr.
Jones was too Ill TO appreciate the kiI
attention, but the faculty Of curiosit
had not yet deserted her, and she ask,
if the friend of the family had left
name The nurse said she had nc
whereupon Mrs Jones asked for a d
scription of her and was told that 81
was trim colored girl about TWEEN
years old.
That night hurry call was sent 4
Nose to come to the hospital to see b
wife before she died. Nose obeyed Il
summons and found the invalid In
state of collapse. When told that h
husband was there she rallied. al
Nose went to her bedside.
'Mose." she said. TAX good care {
de chillen when I'm daid."
"Sartin."
"Gib all my frien's my Tub, al
thank de Guild gal fo' de flowers 81
brung me de udder day"
"wha' Guild gal?"
Dunno. She said she was a frie
OF de family
IL wond'r''-
Nose checked himself, but too lat
Urged to tell what he wondered at,
admitted that Sue might have left Il
flowers, and when asked who Sue WI
he admitted that she was the woms
who was taking care of the childre
Perhaps it was Noses evident desl
TO keep something back. At any raj
the mother took fright She raised he
self with marvellous strength cOnsi
ering her condition and between Il
nurse and her husband got the stor
including some admissions from 4
latter as TO Sues kind solicitude in /
behalf
"Yo' Nose" she said, 20 wait
TO- me to die to marry dat gal!'
81 hain't no sech thing
de gals waitin' 70 me to die
marry yo' Yo' s'pose gwine to tn
my chillen ober to Il gal like dat? ;
sab. Is gwine to get well. Call
ambulance is gwine home right of
She was not permitted to carry
her assertion. but she rallied m
that moment and a week later "
back in her own domieile. Miss Bro
was warned by Nose of her conn
and departed in time to avoid seen
MANY NOTABLE CHANGES
IN MAJOR LEAGU