The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-02-22
LOVES WAYFARERS
BY lola FORESTER.

witness, with Selma, the Swedish
cook. hurriedly routed from slumber
to act as a second one.
The old-fashioned Evangelical church
stood on Brook avenue, convenient to
the railroad station and to the old city
hall. Within its quiet Enclosure was
also the parsonage. built in quaint
Dutch style, of stone with ivy over it
and double-peaked roof. There was
a very small study to your right as
you entered and here the ceremonies
took place.
But this particular night there was
a different character to the couple
who presented themselves for holy
wedlock, as Pastor Van Kirk liked to
speak of the bonds.
The man was about thirty, good
looking, well dressed. without a trace
of nervousness in his manner. And
the woman was past girlhood, with
a rather worn face that had been pref.
ty once. She had the look in her
face and eyes of one who has gazed
at fear SO long that it has lost its
terrors.
When the ceremony was over, and
they stood for the usual conventional
chat before leaving, the man said sud-
denly:
You don't remember US, do you.
Pastor Van Kirk? And yet you mar
ried us here in this same little room
nine years ago. We came back to you
for that reason. l had not seen my
wife for many years until a few days
ago. You don't even remember the
name. and yet we caused you trouble
and notoriety at the time
And suddenly Mrs. Van Kirk leaned
forward, her brown eyes full of in
terest and sparkle.
Il know, know now, and I've been
wondering all this time. You are the
rich young man and the little nurse
from Bellevue, aren't your"
He laughed, and laid his arm around
his wife's shoulders, and the pastor
eyed them intently. Theirs had been
the only exciting romance Of all his
years at the parsonage. And she had
been SO pretty. 1t was not until the
day after the wedding that he had
known who they were. Then it was
spread over the front pages Of news
papers and the little gray church had
been subjected to notoriety. Names
meant nothing to him. He had not
recognized Spencer Morton as ia
nous name, he had not known he was
uniting the only son of one Of New
Yorks greatest millionaires with Dora
Bishop, probation nurse at Bellevue.
And when the father had visited
him, all he had made answer in his
proud, calm way. was this:
II pray God l have brought them
to the gate Of happiness.
Now he gazed at the two faces and
asked
What happened? You have come
back again. What for?'
Because l was coward" answered
Morton quietly. MY father threat.
ened to cut me off without a dollar,
and agreed to give up my wife If he
would take me into the business as
a partner. | believed | could make
good and win him around, but when
to the place where had left her, She
had gone. did not find her again un-
til three nights ago
Perhaps you remember how we
met. l had been in an accident, and
was taken to Bellevue. where no one
knew me. l was unconscious and, la.
ter on, delirious, and Dora was my
nurse. When my mother found me
there and had me removed, asked
for the Nurse to accompany me until
l was we'll, and we loved. That was
all. did wrong to persuade her to
secret marriage. l was a coward.
But for nine years kept up the search
for her. And all these years while
have been searching for her she has
lived in seclusion, cared for, yes. but
believing l had died abroad. My ia
Their told her this"
Your father?" repeated Mrs. Van
Kirk eagerly HE found herr"
Yes, he found her." answered Nor
ton slowly. He died month ago.
l must not speak Ill of him. but only
this: Believing that she was acting
as private nurse in a sanitarium out
West, she was really prisoner there.
My father secured divorce for me on
the ground of insanity"
He paused. Mrs. Van Kirk. plump
and impetucus, crossed the little room
aad put her arms around the little
bride and kissed her on cheek and
brow.
There are so many years ahead
she said. See. Rupert and myself
have been married forty years"
She followed them out to the side.
walk. A limousine waited at the curb
"Ah, love. how pitiful wealth Is
Mrs. Van Kirk said. as they went back
pain just because he feared the loss
Of money-all his life he cannot wipe
that look from her face"
The pastor shook his head doubtful
ly.
She loves him greatly. Did you
see her eyes? A woman's love is oil
God, all pitiful. all forgiving, all heal
ing. They will find peace first togeth
er and then JOY"
He drew a chair to the old-fash
toned heater. and drew the shades, al
but one. There must be a beacon t.
guide loves wayfarers to the RICH
house through the darkness.