The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-05-04
MISS PELINA
BY MABEL KNIPE.

I voice call: Are you home, auntie!
ITO be sure I'm home this time OF
morning" replied Miss Pelina in her
brisk manner, but with a fond look
in her keen old eyes as they rested
on pretty Mary Harvey.
What is your mother doing this
morning." she asked as the bright
haired, bright-eyed girl dropped kiss
on her wintry old cheek.
She's making new girdle for my
yellow party dress. There's a dance
at Elliott's tonight. "And"-almost
timidly-"I came to borrow your little
gold chain, IL you don't mind"
| Surely. surely. Who is going to
take your"
Good old Joe. auntie."
Fool old Joe, I'd call him." snapped
Miss Pelina. ANY man that will let
little chit like you make him miser-
able and still won't marry him is q
fool for lack Of sense"
The little chit threw her head
back and laughed delightedly.
Who's going to take Cora Davis?"
Miss Pelina asked shrewdly.
Cora Davis was Mary's dearest enc
my and the girls face darkened trifle
as she replied, "Mr. Brown, think"
THE one who came here a few
months ago to open his real estate Of
fee. Old Joel Browns grandson?
Hum-well, II he's anything like his
sporty old granddad he'll soon have
you girls Quarreling over him"
Mary's face famed consciously as
she replied:
He really is very exclusive, auntie.
He hasn't called on any of us girls
except Cora"
She's the only one whose father
has an oil we'll" drily commented Miss
Pelina.
"Auntie. you're unfair" burst out
the girl
There, there" soothed Miss Pelina.
You look just like your Aunt Sallie
when you are angry. Poor, poor, Sal
lie, how l did love that child"
Someone is always saying I'm like
her." pouted Mary. And they're al
ways prophesying some kind of bad
luck for me just because she eloped
with that cheap actor and made such
a mess of things"
After the girl had gone, Miss Pelina
shook her head sadly. Il mustn't let
the poor contrary child muddle her
life as Sallie did," she unused aloud
A few minutes later, she was at the
telephone asking Mr.. Brown IL he
could call at her house that after
noon.
1t was very pleasant-faced young
man who waited in the old-fashioned
pleasant, Miss Pelina considered him,
as she took swift, appraising glance
at his too-candid blue eyes and his
too-smiling full lips.
"Smirky." she whispered disgustedly
to herself.
Let us get down to business. hear
you have the selling of the lots in the
new city addition"
The young mans eyes cleaned
shrewdly as he volubly explained the
desirability of the lots.
Miss Pelina casually remarked: 81
wouldn't want Mary to have any trou-
BILE with my investments after I'm
gone-Mary Harvey, my niece,
mean"
When the young man went, he car
ried with him the conviction that Mary
Harvey was to inherit her great-aunt's
wealth, which was exactly the impress
sion Miss Pellna wished him to have.
Early the next morning. Mary came
running In.
"Auntie DEAR" she cried, you we're
unjust to Mr., Brown. He didn't look
twice at Cora Davis last night, and
he was perfectly devoted to me. And
everybody knows her father has ever
80 much more money than blessed old
dad"
How did good old joe appreciate
his devotion?"
Mary tossed her head.
Il gave Joe to understand that he
cannot dictate to me And I'm going
driving with Mr.. Brown this after
noon"
Miss Pelina nodded her head, as II
this were no surprise to her.
The afternoon seemed very long to
the nervous little old spinster, and
she sighed with relief when she heard
Mary burst in at the front door.
"Auntie," she cried. I'm upset"
What upset your" asked Miss Pei
ina jocularly Not the automobile, |
hope"
Don't joke, please" begged Mary
1T was that odious toad | was driv-
ing with
What did he do?" asked her aunt
oh, he didn't do anything. He just
looked, and he was so soft, and-and,
OH auntie, can't explain it, but his
J hands seemed to paw over me so, even
, when he helped me into the car.
never could bear to have a mans
hands touch me. I'd like to slap his
silly, smirky face,' she fumed.
Exactly as | thought" commented
Miss Pelina. But you never would
have believed he was cheap and re-
pulsive If anyone had told you You
needed to make your own discoveries.
There's the bell. | told a man to stop
here. Go let him in, honey"
AS Mary threw open the door, she
gasped. The man" was Joe.
Did you want me, Nary" he asked
in his kind voice, which sounded a
trifle tired.
Yes, Joe," with the tears very near,
and her sweet face uplifted. Il want
vou all the time"