The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-12-04
When Dick
Came Home
He Discovers His
Mistake.
By CLARISSA MACKIE
By CLARISSA MACKIE

DR.. Mansfield stood in the doorway
and beamed kindly upon the merry
dancers who were tripping over the
polished floor. 1t was Elias birthday
and this dance given by the doctor for
his adopted daughter had been talked
about in Shropton for many weeks be
forehand. Ella herself, tall and fair.
with restless blue eyes, that seemed
always seeking Dick Allen when he
was not beside her, was dancing with
Frank Miller. Frank would gladly
have married the doctors pretty daugh.
ter, but every one knew that she was
only waiting for Dick Allen to make
up his mind
Her rowing eyes saw Beth Page
smiling up at Dicks downbent face.
The two were standing together--Dick
so tall and Beth so tiny and so very
charming In spite of her cheap. home
made dancing frock, which had cost
twenty times less than Ella s rose pink
Grape
Beth was saying something now In
her frank, open manner, you haven't
danced once with Ella. and 1t is her
party, Dick
TN going now" he said guilty
Save another one for me, Beth"
you've had your SHARE" she retort-
ed as he moved away.
Ella greeted him with a naughty tilt
of her chin, and when he asked her to
dance she shook her head "You are
too late. Dick she said coldly, al
though her voice was very near to
tears.
"Then you will talk with me until
some one comes and takes you away?"
he urged. for now he was under the
magic sway Of her beauty.
Il cannot, but l have the supper
dance. saved 1t for you. Dick" she
cried hastily.
"For me? Oh, you have honored
met he cried contritely. And he was
SO remorseful that he would not go
near Beth until after supper.
DR.. Mansfield. watching his young
people, saw Elias unhappy face and
wished in his laundering way that he
could help matters along He liked
Dick and would gladly have welcomed
him into the family. He wondered
why Dick was holding back the i'm
portant question.
Dick himself was wondering that
while he danced the supper dance with
Ella and afterward led her into the
dining room, where supper was spread
at a great round table with many lit
tie flanking tables.
The birthday cake was placed be.
fore Ella, and when the time came
she was to cut 1t.
There is a ring in 1t and thimble
and coin" she told Dick
"A ring? What does that signify?
he asked carelessly.
"Oh. wedding for the lucky finder"
"And the coin?"
Riches"
And the thimble?"
Spinsterhood-alas!" she sighed.
Now Ella was cutting the cake.
There was much laughter and gay
chatter. Dick noticed that she watch
ed the slices closely as they fell be-
meath the silver knife.
He saw the ring in its twisted waved
paper plainly imbedded in the cake.
Ella saw 1t too. The silver knife
poised, trembled and then went swift
ly over to the other side Of the loaf
and began to cut.
Dick felt dizzy for q moment, and
then he was glad that he had seen II
in time.
Ella had cheated. She had seen the
ring and was saving 1t for herself.
All the while Dick was shocked he
was thinking that Beth Page never
would have done such thing. Beth
would have taken whatever luck came
along and gone blithely on her way.
What is the matter?" Elias voice
broke through the gale of merriment
about him.
"Why = why = nothing" he STAN
mered.
why don't you look happy?" asked
Ella. Don't you see what has hap
pened?"
Dick looked at the bit of waxed pa
per In one of her hands and the
sparkling sapphire ring on her right
hand.
II drew the ringw she exclaimed.
You drew the ring" he repeated
And Frank Miller drew the coin.
Frank will be rich"
"And the thimbleT he asked. not be
,ause he cared, but because he was
rying to readjust his thoughts. Ella
had cheated. and he had thought he
owed her
Now he felt only contempt for her
md pity.
"The thimble," she was saying care
essly. "Oh, Beth Page drew the thin
lie! Isn't it odd that she should draw
he symbol Of spinsterhood Just when
he is going to marry Frank Miller?
It least that is what every one says"
The next day Dick went away. A
God opening had been waiting for him
a nearby city, and he had delayed
cceptfng 1t because he had been play
lg with Love. And now that Love