The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-01-01
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS.
PEACE IN THE FAMILY
BY KEITH KENYON.

shaped head and laughed Well, |
like that! Do you know I'm only for
ty-three? But l suppose that must
seem ancient to twenty
Dora loved her father devotedly. |
There was something in his tone that
brought food of red to her cheeks. |
We'll, not exactly ancient, daddy, |
but when | get married | want some |
one my own age who can play golf |
and tennis and dance and run an aero
plane, maybe, if he's rich"
An all-around athlete like yourself.
So you think because like books and
garden and write for magazines I'm
old and decrepit?"
Now, daddy"
1T sounds pretty much that wsy,
miss. But If you liked books and flow
ers better than anything else wouldn't
you like your husband to like them,
too, no matter what his age might
be-" anxiously.
81 suppose So" with q sigh. But,
daddy DEAR if she's accepted you
and you seem pretty sure of it or you'd
have been more anxious about the let
ter-please don't tell me. I'll know
that silence means consent. And
maybe some day mean I'll try to
get used to it," She kissed him and
went quickly back to the house to sob
her heart out in her room.
The days passed and Henry Harper
! never returned to the subject they had
discussed that morning in the garden
Dora dropped, knowing that her father
was to be married and that another
woman would soon be pouring coffee
at her place at the table.
Her friends, little guessing the trou-
BILE, did what they could to cheer her
Her father was worried. Dora" he
! said one morning with finality, Il have
| plan. I'm going to send you away
You need change of scene and air
If you go on this way l don't know
what will happen. You've got to CO.
I've made up my mind!"
But, daddy, promise you won't"
she stopped.
He guessed the appeal in her eyes.
mo- dear!" softly 81 won't be mar
ried while you're gone. know of
| place on the north shore of Massa-
| chusetts, Broxton, where a number of
| people have cottages. Some friends of
your mother live there-two in fact.
| Mr. Cyrus Fielding. bachelor, and his
sister Margaret. They have always
wanted us to visit them, but cant
! go just now. So I'm going to send
you alone. There. That's good girl
| knew you'd do it. I'll give you a
check for some clothes and try to be
ready by Saturday"
The Fieldings were at the station
with their car when Dora arrived at
Broxton Saturday evening Margaret
was clear skinned. dark eyed and
| quiet hammered. and her tender greet
ing of the girl won her at once. Cyrus,
tall and not too good looking, put
Dora instantly at her ease by remark
ing, How do you do, Miss Harper?
The last time l saw you you were
| cutting your first teeth. Someone sug
gested that I investigate, and you bit
me- still have the scar
Dora laughed. 81 have always won
dered why my teeth tried to grow
crooked. understand now. They got
wrecked in infancy"
Very likely you are right" agreed
Margaret Fielding, looking at her
| brother fondly. Hes as hard as
nails all over. And no wonder-he's
never in the house."
That sounds promising" returned
Dora, III you mean he's fond of
sport"
TRY me on anything you like!"
boosted Cyrus. but here we are at
home"
The cottage was low, rambling and
luxurious with every comfort. Sur
rounding it was a most wonderful
garden. ooh, if father could only see
it," exclaimed Dora. "He loves flow
ers so."
81 wish he could" answered Mar
garet. THE garden is mine. l take
care of it myself. Now, dearie, l
want you to feel that this is your
home. Do just whatever you wish
I'll see that you meet some charming
! people and Cyrus would love to have
you along on all his jaunts. boating
or otherwise, if you don't think he's
too DID,"
You're both darlings," exclaimed
Dora enthusiastically. ITS my own
fault if l don't have the time Of my
life For the time she had forgotten
about her father and her trouble
The days and weeks flew. The roses
of health and spirits again bloomed
on Dora's cheeks-and something else,
For she had fallen in love with Cyrus
Fielding and he with her. But dear,
you are sure you don't think | am
too DID," he asked her once anxiously.
I'm forty"
"Oh, hush. won't have you say
that" she laughed. You're just
right
One day Dora came into the library
where Margaret was reading On the
table was a bowl of roses that caught
her eye. why, those are Lady Thorn
roses, l thought father was the only
one in this part CT the country who
had them!"
He isl" answered Margaret, put
ting her arms tenderly around Dora
and drawing her close. He sent them
to me. Do you like me any better,
dear, than you did,"
You darling" exclaimed Dora $50
| - ho