The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-04-26
THINGS WENT WRONG


| Miss Edith took the keen interest in
things and people-particularly peo-
ple-that young ladies of eighteen of
| ten do So that accounted for her
going down into the basement where
Thomas Watts was clearing away the
ashes from the furnace and making |
his acquaintance,
Thomas was a sort Of odd job man |
of English birth, almost elderly and
of squat figure He had made his
appearance on the street early in the
summer with little push-cart. sickle
and rake and he trimmed the lawns
which are not large) on the street for
minimum consideration of fifteen
cents. With the approach of winter
he asked such of his patrons as had
furnaces to allow him to tend them
shake down and feed in the morning,
feed and bank at night. seventy-nve
cents per week, and ashes removed
an extra twenty-five cents. Miss
Edith's papa engaged him for the full
program and Miss Edith at the first
sound Of shoveling went down and in
terviewed him.
She asked him fine variety Of ques
tions. He did "fairish to middlin. as
you might say" with his furnaces.
mo, miss, / amt married. O COURSE
he said in response to the next ques-
ton. Not as yet 'ope to be. but
I'm not we'll enough orr. Hive got
, lydy back in the hold country as l
walked bout with, but she ses to me.
she SEES: Thomas. wen l marry Him
goin' to stop takin' in manglin. Him
!. goin' to ave ouse O me hown an
a 'usban as as got 'is bit O. money
: In the bank So l come hover ere.
' but some'ow never seem to ave no
luck"
n For some weeks the family heard lit
. tie else from Miss Edith than accounts
Of Watts and his touching romance.
) Her name is Sarah Jane iggins and
l. she as carroty air." said Miss Edith
i, Isn't it perfectly lovely? And they
have been engaged now for more than
Il seven years-as long as Jacob worked
{. for what 'sher-name,'
n She did help him according to her
e poor little means
"Thankee kindly. miss" he would
!! say, as he pocketed her donations. 1T
shows your feeling art an hevery lit
D. tie clips, as the sayin' is Him a-goin'
n to tell Sarah Jane about this
g Don't mind about that. Thomas.
said Miss Edith But you might give
'e her my love and tell her that ! think
you are-a--a nice man and that she
ought not to insist upon house OF
e her own il you could take her to nice
little fat
IN NO fear. miss Hill tell er that,
said Thomas
: One day very rich man came tc
- Miss Edith's house. He was SO ricf
70 that he owned an entire fiat building
80 all by himself Miss Edith told hin
about Thomas in her enthusiastic way
: and he seemed interested and wheI
she had finished he said We'll, m!
. janitor is going to leave me at the enc
:. of the week and wouldn't wonder l
=. this friend of yours suited me yer.
well, my dear He would have a nic
coy little set of rooms in the base
=, ment, big enough for Sarah Jane ant
= him, and he ought to save enough GU
na OF his wagel to put bit in the bank
Send him around to see me-"
10 or course, when Thomas became tn
janitor Of the Arethusa he could no
attend to Edith's fathers furnace an
no. more and Miss Edith had to go to Sc
id him about Sarah Jane. For some tim
np Thomas talked to her very freely, bu
a he said that he would have to wal
IN. and put by bit O money before
nv sent for his sweetheart Then as tim
hi. passed 1t seemed to Miss Edith tina
ro- Thomas rather avoided her. He wa
evasive in his replies when she did Sc
in him. She taxed him with his unfrient
NV liness and he protested fervently tha
ing it was imaginary on her part.
er. you see, MISS" he said, lows
nd. hever | might wish to ave bit OF
ce, chat I've got a Job O. work to do al
e." the work as to be done. Howin'
your kind Recommendation I've 81
this siterwation han I've got to sho
as 'ow | deserve 1t.
JN Miss Edith thought that was vel
nice of Thomas, but she was not SUI
"a" that it explained why he was SO re
icent about Sarah Jane. The explain
ton OF that came one morning whe
passing the Arethusa she saw Thomt
lm- coming out clad in a new suit OF glo
I'M sy black, stiff new hat and neckt
ice, as blue as his eyes. On seeing Nil
lar- Edith his face instantly became
ian red as the brick in the cottages opp
val site
$ why Thomas, how smart you a
ice, this morning." exclaimed Miss Edit
up You cant be working. You look
The most as if you were TO be married.
uni Thomas grew still redder in Il
raj face. We'll, miss. he stammered
nee last, that there is my hintentions
ned why. has Sarah Jane come? o
lev why didn't you tell me- said Mi
Edith.
as We'll, now, miss" said Thoma
mot to deceive you, il amt Sar;
Ugh Jane. It's young lydy Hive be-
walkin' bout with ere, 'er name bel
Ida Stromberg.
asst. Thomas" said Miss Edith, solem
on " and reproachfully. "Fll never spe'
to you again.
all why, thought as 'ow you want
ort- me to marry. miss" said Thomas.
ess, Il did" said Miss Edith, but | wal
ous. ed YOU to marry Sarah Jane, pc
10 m 70