The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-02-11
HARMONY FOR MILDRED
BY IzoLA FORESTER.

And later on, after the nations have
decided to settle down and act de-
Gently among themselves. we'll take
you to Germany and Paris, Mildred,
and you can finish up there on your
harmony and whatever you may need.
Father says he won't stint you one
particle. You know how he Is once
he takes hold Of an idea. Hear me.
Mildred?"
"Yes'm," answered Mildred passive
~, regarding the lake shore drive and
gray lake waters beyond without in
terest. She was a tall, slender girl.
who gave the impression of being over
grown, probably because she was
dressed too young even for eighteen.
She hated the future and the plunging
around in search Of the best teachers.
Il suppose we ought to run down
home for few days." went on Mrs.
Tankerville happily. Your grand.
mother'll expect US. You can get
back in time for your January course
all right.
Mildred said nothing. Her dark
blue eyes we're gray with anger. No.
body knew how she had always re-
belled against being genius.
Her father had owned the Sioux
Rapids City bank back home, and had
given up his active share in it Just as
soon as the family was sure Of Mil.
dred's marvellous powers.
"Tve worked hard all my life," he
had said comfortably, land now
mother and I'll Jog around the world
with the little girl and give her a
chance"
''But don't want to go, father" Mil
dred had declared tearfully, even at
thirteen. II don't want to study so
hard. love home"
well. you can come back to it
some day. and there'll be the town
band to the depot to welcome you.
and the mayor with a speech of well
come" he had laughed at her. kid
die, you don't know what 1t means to
reach middle life and find you've not
had a chance to make a single dream
come true. That was me. / wanted
to be a great musician Well, we were
country folks, and large family,
down in Kansas, and I went out to
work, herding cattle on my uncle's
ranch. Not much chance there for
musical study, was there, unless /
read the notes of the heavens by night.
and caught the music of the spheres.
Then I met your mother, and she was
from Chicago. All she wanted me to
do was get rich Just as quick as l
could, and did. She's satisfied, but
you came into the world with the love
of harmony in you. and. by the ever
lasting Jimmy crickets, you're going
to have all you can swallow Of what
I missed"
So for four years Mildred was trot-
ted around from city to city in the
new world and parts Of the old, seek
ing the perfect teacher for her music.
and always with the memory Of the
little home town warm In her heart
and OF one boy sweetheart there who
had asked for lock Of her hair and
post card now and then.
They had spent the last year in
New York, and now had stopped over
at Aunt Annals in Chicago. After the
drive, Mildred followed her mother up
the steps Of the big, gray stone house
There would be guests for dinner, and
she would have to play. She set her
teeth and went into the shadowy hail.
| Her father was standing in the recep-
ton room, talking and laughing with
somebody, and the mere sound Of that
somebody's voice sent the blood rae
ing to her cheeks.
you remember Hal. Mildred, Of
course" her father said. Little Hal
Thurber-used to live in the old white
house back in the pines below the
church."
Il remember" Mildred said. looking
into Halls eager eyes. II never for
get anything or anyone back home"
Aunt Anna's face was radiant. She
was Mr.. Tankerville's sister, and to
her Mildred was never q possible
genius-just dear lovable girl at the
mercy Of her parents loving kindness.
She invited Hal to luncheon the next
day, and ordered him to take Mildred
out for a walk up the drive every
morning to get the color in her cheeks.
Lunch time came and passed with.
out the two returning BY five. when
the early winter twilight fell, Mrs.
Tankerville was ready to phone the
police, but her sister-in-law held her
back placidly. It was not until seven,
when dinner was served, that she
sprung the news at the dinner table.
beaming happily on the others.
Now, I suppose you'll blame me ter
ribly, but couldn't help it. Hal asked
you the first day he came, didn't he,
Ned, for Mildred's hand in marriage.
and YOU told him she was dedicated to
her music? So I think you deserve
everything They were married"
Mrs. Tankerville cried softly into
her napkin. Her husband stared down
the table at his sisters happy face,
and his own cleared He raised his
glass.
God bless them both, anyway he
said. Il guess I've been an old fool,
Ell, mother? Stop your crying and
help me fix up telegram for them
that will make them happy"
Copyright, 1915. BY Mcclure Newspaper
Syndicate)