The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-12-04

Cheic oeuiey Hdu leIC TO MIN with
; great deal of money. Dick had beer
very successful and had made mucl
! money for himself as WE'LL so he plan
ned many changes in the fine old man
sion which during Uncle Jeffrey's her
mlt-like existence had been greatly
neglected. Mrs. Phipps, the house
keeper he had brought from town will
him, was having all the carpets an6
rugs renovated and the lace curtains
which had been laid away in cedar
chests and closets, aired and mended.
Once he came upon a group Of chill
dren playing in his orchard. They
scattered at sight Of him, and he was
sorry, for Dick was fond Of children
The littlest one Of all, a fair haired
laddie of four, he caught and SWUNG
high in the air.
What is your name. young man p
he asked.
frankie Miller" lisped the child.
And my names Beth Miller" put in
fat little girl.
Dick gave them some money and
watched them scamper away through
the hedge
So these were Beth's children! He
guessed that from their names, al
though the name of Miller was com.
mon enough in Shropton.
AT dinner that night Mrs. Phipps told
him that the housekeeping would soon
be completed and the entire house
ready for occupancy.
"All but the lace curtains, Mr. Allen.
Some Of them need mending, and
nave had great deal of trouble in
finding some one who can do the work
properly. But there is young woman
coming tomorrow to help me. She does
very fine sewing for the ladies Of the
village"
Very WELL" said Dick, land when
everything is ready. Mrs. Phipps, you
should take few days off to visit your
sister. You have been working very
hard"
THANK you, Mr.. Allen" said the
housekeeper as she withdrew. You
are always SO thoughtful and kind"
II wish had more people to he kind
to-" smiled Dick wryly as he finished
his dinner. I'm lonesome beggar,
and no mistake"
The next day he drove his little run.
about over to the next town to attend
to some business matters, and 1t was
late afternoon when he returned home.
The house was very still when he CHI
tered it. He decided that Mrs. Phipps
was taking her daily nap, and he had
forgotten all about the sewing woman
who was to come until he entered the
big blue room and saw her sitting
there in the sunshine surrounded by
pillows Of filmy laces. while Mrs.
Phipps sewed in another window.
"Oh, Mr.. Allen" Mrs. Phipps hustled
forward. Were you looking for me?"
mo. came in to get some Matches"
he confessed. you are getting along
famOusly. I Sec" He wished that rud-
dy brown head would turn toward
him. He wondered what the face be-
meath 1t could be like.
"This is Miss Page, the young lady
who is mending the curtains" fluttered
Mrs. Phipps at last when she found
that Dick would not CO.
Now the girl turned and looked up
at him with Beth Pages warm, brown
eyes and her frank smile.
IL was wondering If 1t was the Mr..
Allen l used to know" she said de-
murely.
Dick was wringing her little hand in
his with unconscious energy.
Miss Pager" he repeated amazedly.
"Why, yes" she replied. blushing.
you'll think me rude, but thought
you married Frank Miller" he said
bluntly.
Impossible He married Ella Mans
field"
Dick checked sharp exclamation
md. turning. on his heel, left the room
and went into the garden.
His mind was in chaos.
All the beliefs he had harbored for
years had proved to be false. But he
could trace the falseness back to Ella
'"'i1'N' WIZ VII utI DlItuudy uISuL
had shown herself to be cheat Ella
had told him that Frank and Beth
we're engaged. and he had gone away
md had not troubled to come back ex-
'ept for brief visits to Uncle Jeffrey,
who never knew any of the village Cos
Zip. And the children who had played
n his orchard were Elias children and
lot Beth's Beth was still unmarried
md sewing for her living. She had
,een In his house mending his curtains
in the house where she should reign
IS mistress.
Suddenly his pulses leaped. Why 4
lot now? IL was not too late It Is
lever too late when the girl one loves
8 unmarried. He couldn't ask her
lere In his own house. He must go to
Ter home.
so he went away to the city for q
week just because Il was tantalizins
With Beth so near him. and he bought
wonderful diamond ring.
When he came home again the cur
aims were all hanging at the windows,
nd the house looked like home. So
e astonished Mrs. Phipps by kissing
er atop her gray head and got into bis