The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-08-08

Il hate the old theater!' she muir
INJURED once, for never had she had
any encouragement from the score of
managers and agents she had inter-
viewed.
She put on her hat and coat and went
out to mail a letter to her mother
Little mother mustn't worry about
me-" she thought.
Halfway down the first fight Of
stairs her heel caught in a hole In the
carpet, and she fell-fell straight into
the arms of big young man who was
coming upstairs carrying a plate. On
the plate was large. juicy lamb chop
and fresh roll.
The chop and the roll jumped from
the plate and landed on Linnie's muff.
She sat down violently on the stairs.
while the young man staggered to re-
gain his balance, succeeded and stared
helplessly down at her.
For Linnie had seized the chop and
was eating it with little purring sounds
of satisfaction while she tightly held
the roll in her other hand
"Gracious~ he gasped. What are
you doing that for7"
I'm hungry" retorted Linnie def.
antly. II know you think I am per-
fectly dreadful. but-but it's awful to
be hungry
"Jove! What are you doing in this
house-and hungry" he demanded
Linnie explained. Her courage had
all oozed out when she had grasped
the lamb chop. Her face was suffused
with burning bushes.
She did not look at the face of the
young man. She could not have told
you whether he was dark or fair. She
only knew that his voice had q IA
miliar ring as he explained that he was
merely taking the chop and roll up to
his pet dog.
what will you do?" asked Linnie.
with downcast eyes.
"Oh, get another chop" he said cheer
fully. Meanwhile take my advice and
don't stay in this town any longer.
Take your $3.50 and go home with It
| Homes the best place for you"
Il said wouldn't come back until
succeeded" protested Linnie.
| He laughed infectiously.
Rubbish! 1t takes more courage
and grit to go home and face the folks
and admit defeat than 1t does to strug-
gle on and starve to death. Go home"
Il will" said Linnie, holding out her
hand. "Thank you for your advice"
So they shook hands over 1t, and Lin
ME decided that she would not write
to her mother. She would appear there
herself. Would not her Homecoming
be better than any letter?
| The young man crossed the hall and
entered the large front room. A dogs
joyful bark welcomed him, and Linnie
heard him soothing the hungry beast.
| How horrid I've been! He must be
disgusted with me-" she thought as she
packed her trunk before going to bed
The next night she was safe at home
in her mothers arms and repeating for
the twentieth time her experiences In
the great city.
"How could have left such a heav-
emily place as thisT" sighed Linnie as
she looked around the comfortable
rooms and upon her beloved family.
Months went by, and Linnie grew
contented at home. Never more was
she lured by the attractions of the
stage, and she gave herself up to the
mysteries of housekeeping and home
making with such ardor that the viii
lage gossips limited that Linnie Way
land was going to be married
But marriage was far away from
Linnie's thoughts. If ever she thought
of a possible lover there came a
strange throbbing in her. breast and
the memory of that moment on the
stairs Of the boarding house when she
had eaten the lamb chop under the as
man in the world
II wonder she would murmur
blushingly, and then dream of a giant
youth with a mellow voice and kindly
eyes.
1t was one February day that Lin
MES dreams came true in the most un-
expected manner.
I'm going for a walk, mother" she
announced, putting her head into the
sitting room.
Every well, dear. If you're passing
Polly Smiths just take her glass of
currant jelly. She has been quite
sick"
Linnie walked across the hard crust
Of snow, pausing now and then to slide
over the shining surface, Polly Smiths
house was at the end of the village
street.
Come in" sounded Polly's cracked
voice, and Linnie entered.
"The doctors here, but you can come
right in," called Polly from the sitting
room, and in went Linnie.
The doctor arose and turned around.
Gracious he calculated, and held
out his hand. "I wondered where I'd
meet you again"
But Llnnie's lips were mute as her
hand was closed in that warm, firm