The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-07-21
ARTHUR'S
WOOING
By ETHEL HOLMES

0PS A. was. IHeEe was something
about her that attracted men, whether
1t was intentional or not. A pleasant
smile lowered about her lips; there was
sparkle in her eye. When she said
anything droll she had way of cock.
ing her head on one side, like a bird.
that was very attractive. Jeanette
was an innocent girl in every respect,
and no word of scandal was ever spo-
ken against her.
But her fiirtations were very annoy /
Ing to her mother In the first place,
her daughter was too young to make
an intelligent choice of husband; in |
the second, she had not finished her
education. When she was nineteen
years old, having become entangled |
with three suitors, her mother resolved |
upon drastic measures. The spring |
was coming on, and the good lady. |
dreading the advantages that summer |
possessed for love affairs, resolved to |
take her daughter where q man could |
not get near enough to fall in love with |
her.
Mrs. Wild had no confidence in any
place of abode that was not isolated
A land fortress would need moat,
which was impracticable. No place
would do unless surrounded by wa
ter. So an island 1t must be.
In Casco bay, ON the Maine coast, are
a number Of islands. In the center of
one Of these islands is a cottage. Mrs.
Wild rented this cottage with a view
to removing her family and servants
there. But, alas, 1t is difficult for WON
en- to get on without men. Mrs. Wild
dared not live on the island without
one. Besides, she needed one to run
her motorboat. There was another
reason Aer mans presence. Mrs. Wild
desired to prevent any Of her daugh-
ters suitors from landing ON her re-
treat, and she needed some one strong
enough to keep them of.
Mrs. Wild advertised for q person to
ali this requirement. Several young
men answered her advertisement, but
the lady cid not engage any OF them.
She waited till an elderly one applied
, for the Job and engaged him.
John Doolan had white hair and a
white beard. But he seemed to be
, quite strong and said that he was per
, fectly able to hold the dock against
all corners. He went to the island q
. couple Of days before the family tt
!. make preparations. When they arriv
1 ed all was in order for their reception.
o AS Mrs. Wild had anticipated, they
n had not been at their summer hom,
Z long before one OF Jeannette's sutton
o appeared at the dock. He was refuses
n a landing by John Doolan. He sale,
J. around to another part Of the island
n but John was there with gun to re
ceive him. Mrs. Wild was so please,
' with this action of Johns that sh
s gave him FIVE dollar gold piece. 500
o after this another boat appeared, an
l. a handsome young fellow in yachtin
Il costume was about to step out on {
It the landing when John ordered hir
v off. He poked a card at his oppose
4, but John said that n he were the pres
1t dent himself he could not come ashor'
g Argument having failed, the visito
k tried bribery John proved incorrupt
IF BILE. There was nothing for the yacht
ID man to do but sail away.
IN Mrs. Wild, to whom John rep0rte
N all these noble acts Of defense, was d
s. lighted. On several occasions b
lg brought the cards that were given bill
to his mistress. Some of the men WI
e had left them she knew, and SON
lie were strangers to her. 1t made no di
N ference who they were. She had d
n termined to keep men away from b.
n daughter for that summer, and, havin
secured the services of man who Wa
d. capable and trustworthy, she gave he
re self no concern. She declared that
US was the first summer she had felt eas
III about Jeanette since she was fourtet
Ne years old.
4 But one day a thunderbolt came o.
= of a clear sky. The fond mother viii
le taking a stroll over her island, wal
y ing through thick wood heard voic
'e near her. She listened and recognize
~ Jeannette's voice. Then came man
~ deeper tones. The latter sounded nut
- like John Doolan.
Could it be that the flirt, deprived
: association with men, had cast q
! tolls about the old servitor? The 81
: picion brought a shock to the doth
al mother.
4 Advancing Dward the sounds. 8
- peeped through a break in the leave
~ and there, sitting on a log with the
he hacks to her. were John and Jeanneti
Johns arm around Jeannette's waist
Il. Mrs. wild tore through the und'
or brush like a fury. Hearing the mol
o of breaking brush behind them, I
or culprits jumped to their feet turn
and confronted the angry mother.
be While she was delivering TRADE
az reproaches John pulled OF his VIII
"a. heard and stood revealed as the m'
/ persistent Of Jeannette's suitors.
ed sWoe Is me, Mrs. Wild" he s.
,e- with head bent low. Il confess mys
Id a great sinner. Jeanette wrote
ed that Won were to remove her here, a
I seeing your advertisement for
fender. applied for the place IN
d. uniform of a veteran. have perfor
an ed nv duties to the best OF my abiiit,
ne Tt's all right, mamma. plead