The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-12-11
He Laughs Best
Who Laughs Last
By SADIE oLcoTT

Dan Eversham entered railway sta
ton, bought his ticket and, satchel III
hand, climbed the steps of parlor car.
His seat was next to very pretty girl,
Outside on the platform was party
Of Youngsters who had been seeing OIL
n newly married couple. Passing by
Dan Eversham's window, where he sat
near the pretty girl, one of the party
threw a handful of rice against his
windowpane. Then all of them waved
gooubys and laughingly passed on.
This bit of fun did not trouble Dan
much; but, seeing the pretty girl beside
him blush deep red, he felt sorry Tor
her.
II suppose" he said to her, that
those persons think that they perpe-
trated very good joke"
at was horrid Of them
This was the beginning of CONVEX
sation that lasted till long after the
train started. Meanwhile those in the
, car who had seen the rice throwing
did not doubt that they had a bride
and groom aboard. Dan was got up
with sufficient resplendence for
groom, and the neat travelling dress OF
the girl was appropriate for bride.
Then, too, Dan was altogether too po-
, lite and attentive to have been long
married, and since they were travelling
together they were not supposed to be
bachelor and spinster.
In the seat opposite the girl sat
woman from New England. There is
nothing more interesting to woman
, than q bride, and this person was
motherly creature who felt her heart
60 out to the young thing who had
but just embarked In the sea of matri-
mony, sea that the Yankee had
found a troubled one. She entered into
conversation with the supposed bride.
mice day." was her entering wedge.
4 "Quite So" was the laconic reply.
: "Going far?"
II shall travel ali day."
"YOu must be tiredW
"Why do you think so?'
"Oh, there's a lot to be done in prep
4 aration for weddin'."
v, The girl saw at once that the party
: who had thrown the rice had given a
wrong impression. But instead Of cor
recting it, which would be embarrass-
:, ing, she looked down at an open novel
In her lap and said nothing. The wo-
Il man was not to be put off.
e you're the image Of girl knew
e in Salem. l wonder If you're any rela-
f ton to her. Your name amt Twitch-
q ell, is it?"
mo, 1t isn't Tw1tchell."
y "Or Salisbury"
. NO." and to shut off further inquiry
: the girl told her her name was Effle
= Trobridge.
:. II guess it's got somep'n else to It
Is now"
, Something else! What else can 1t
need"
. "Wall, I guess 1t don't need nothin'
else, but our laws, made for men, force
us women to give up our own names
and take on man's-that is, when
>, we tie ourselves up to one Of 'em. II
=. ! was you wouldn't do 1t, You've
=, got nice name, and wouldn't take
on any more. What's your married
l. name?"
am not married"
The woman looked at her surprised
~ then said In low voice:
N II know that brides the first day OF
Is married life don't like to own up to it
'e They think nobody spots 'em fur bein
# jlst married. But, laws, any one would
O. know that you two was jist married"
Dan, who heard this dialogue, was
y trying to keep from laughing and was
s. now obliged to swing his chair to face
IL the window, presenting his back to the
id inquirer. The supposed bride, seeing
,r a number of persons who sat near hel
enjoying her discomfort, blushed to the
roots Of her hair and said sternly tC
q, her tormentor:
:. Madam, you have made mistake
The gentleman is stranger to me-
u never saw him before he took his chat
at in this car"
e. ooh, land!' exclaimed the Yankee
throwing up her hands. "I've known
lots o lynn done by brides to hide tina
they are brides, but never heard any
q thing like that"
: The girl turned to Dan as much al
to say, Help me out of this.''
III II regret" he said CALAMITY. ito con
Mt firm the young lady's statement"
A dozen persons sitting near laughe,
outright
Dan lost his equanimity, maxim.
: matters worse. "Ill bet any one here
| he said, that I'm single man an,
that | never saw this young lady be
| fore today"
| He drew forth a fat pocketbook an,
| began to count out ten dollar bills
| Not person interested but thought b.
was bridegroom determined to stay
| of being recognized as such. The,
| laughed all the louder. 1t was yer,
amusing. Dan looked at the girl. an,
the girl looked at Dan. He tipped tn
| wink and said to the others:
| Il suppose Wen have to own mr.
Now for wedding present"
| Taking off his hat, he passed throug-