The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-05-12

sobbed. Il don't know what to do.
my poor little girl" he said.
don't believe | should run away with
you. am going into the house to ask
your father and mother to let me
marry you"
Phil"
81 can't go home without knowing
something certain. Come"
AS the two young people entered the
sitting room Marjorie's father and
mother stared at them in astonish-
ment. The girl, cold and wind blown,
slipped into chair. Phil walked up to
the table.
"sit down, won't your" asked Mr..
Brant, hesitating, as he looked at the
young mans stern face.
mo" said Phil, "Fll stand. Mar
iorie and were going TO run away.
Run away" exclaimed Mrs. Brant |
and her husbands fist came down on |
the table heavily. But as Phil told OF
his love, the older man gazed at him
| intently, visions of his own youth and
! courtship stirring him deeply. When
Phil had finished he said:
81 understand that If 1t had not been
windy tonight and Marjorie had not
thought it was wrong you would have
run away?"
II think So"
And what them"
The young mans gaze met that OF
the older mans squarely.
Il should have taken care OF her
and kept her safe. l love her"
He was very earnest. The father
seemed stirred by his uprightness and
he turned to his wife. We'll,
mother?"
1T is out of the question" she
. fiared. Marjorie is only twenty
shall not let her get married for eight
: years"
"Oh, mother!"
Yes. and by then. Marjorie, you
. will know your own mind"
81 do know it." pleaded the girl
"You were married when you were
I twenty"
r YES; but was older You are only
a child. Now you run up to your
room"
j
T who stood looking stern and deter
q mined, she left the room. Her moth
II er turned to the young man.
e Il thought when l consented to tht
engagement that you would be satis
, fed. Now you are trying to coax tn
a. child to run away"
re 81 might have taken her." was Phil
answer.
II The father, noting the set mouth Q
\ the young man, perceived the heces
sity of compromise.
vi perhaps we had better talk 1t ovel
mother" he said.
MI NO" was the firm response,
III shall not let Marjorie marry until sh
s is twenty That is youn
~ enough"
El but we were married when
M were young and have been happy.
what we did has nothing to
M with Marjorie 1t is no good your :
nm king their part; shall not give n
consent"
II Her husband saw that it was us
M less to argue, and held out his hal
to Phil.
III 81 guess we shall have to do VIII
u mother thinks best. After all, she
i right"
~ He accompanied Phil to the dot
q The wind had abated and through
: scurry of clouds the moon sho
brightly. The young man stood loo
ing at 1t for moment then stifiiy sal
"Good-by," and went down the pa
y. The horses hoofs had died away
y the distance when the father return
! to the sitting room.
AS Phil drove slowly homeward,
GEL modify gazed out upon the mig
The vagrant wind caressed his che
and the salt air filled his nostrils. l
@nS little white spire of the church In v
low Point silently beckoned to him
- the moonlight.
Suddenly his horse reared and ca
-. to a sudden stop.
Ae" "Marjorie!" he exclaimed az
girl stepped to the side Of the {
rage.
=, She laughed nerVously. as
~ climbed in beside him.
NC. Quick" she urged. Here IL
ross bag. They are arguing In the stu
oon. room. took the short cut across
how lots. They will not discover this
am gone for awhile, and, oh, Phi
mar climbed down the grape arbor!"
He urged the horse to run
her one hand while with the other
tucked the blanket around her.
not II can't believe it," he said as
nestled close to him. Il can't bell
eight that you are really mere
airs. Well" said the girl, 'father wal
face most ready to give in and mother
see soon make up, she always does, al
hind wasn't going TO wait until | was t'
ty.eight to get married, Phil-espe
she | ly after | looked out of my win
nnd | onh ann thai glorious moon