The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-09-30
A Way Around a
Difficulty
BY EllNOR MARSH

the world to tie to; that was Alice
Nell. The old lady had the usual self
shness Of one OF her age and condition
and would not on any account consent
that Alice should marry.
But, grandma" argued the girl
suppose marry and you continued to
live with me?"
That wouldn't do at all. No house
Is large enough for two families. No.
Alice, you can't marry as long as l
live. took you when you were Mt
tie girl, and but for me you would have
had no home. Now that l have no
home but with you, 1t is your duty to
remain single and take care Of me-
That ended the dialogue. Alice sigh.
!, ed, for she had lover who was argu-
ing on the other side Of the question |
He admitted that Alice should con-
tinue to make home for her grand |
mother, but he offered to take upon |
himself case Of mother In law or.
rather. Of MISUNDERSTANDING. which |
was worse. and argued that the old
woman should be satisfied with this.
But SO long as she would consent to
nothing but Alice's spinsterhood there
was nothing for it except that Alice
should remain a spinster
Fred Martin, Alice's lover, finally
persuaded her to a marriage which
should be concealed from her grand
mother The old lady was so feeble
that the couple did not expect her to
live very long. and while she did live
this plan would enable Alice to take
care of her on her grandmother's own
:, conditions. OF course 1t would be
hard on Fred and Alice, but after all
wouldn't 1t be better than for both to
t grow old separated or better even than
, q case Of grandnother-in-law. for so
far as the old woman was concerned.
Fred would be nOnexistent.
So the couple were married, and
y Fred fitted up house near where his
! wife lived. he taking up his abode in
single blessedness, except when Alice
could visit him. The old lady went to
bed at 8 o'clock. and when she was
l asleep Alice would slip out and go to
r the home where she really belonged.
o They kept a maid, SO that II Mrs.
Haskins woke up and Alice wasn't on
hand the maid could say she had step
ped around the corner to buy some
thing.
This was not exactly home life. but
$ as Fred was at work all day, not re-
Il turning usually till after 7 o'clock, 1t
n = oh T.
gatory on his wife to hurry home. BY
:. and by Alice told her grandmother
that she must go to a hospital for a
10 few weeks. and the old lady was
il obliged to remain in care of the maid
II After Alice was discharged from tho
N hospital there was n period when she
was continually running out for some
thing. But she could not 20 Offer
;, enough for her purpose. so one morn
ing when she was away and the mait
IL was engaged the old lady answered 1
d. ring at the doorbell, and there on thu
I'd step was n three weeks old baby.
ks Mrs. Haskins took the little thing VI
in in her arms. and when Alice cam
home she found her grandmothe
" handling it on her knee In YER
motherly sort of way. The old lad
wouldn't consent that the child shoul
is be sent away, so Alice was obliged
m. divide It's motherhood with her.
or. wasn't long before the one wOma
=, was as fond Of the child as the other.
- Then one day the postman brougi
up note signed by man who elaine
Try TO be the baby's father. saying that !
lin regretted parting with it and askin
ge. that It be sent to him. This put u
ito old lady I'm great distress. Alice wro
a letter to the father-at her gram
mothers dictaton- begging the ra'h'
TO leave the child where 1t was.
- being permitted to come and see
:" whenever he liked.
This brought a man who gave u
name as Frederick Martin, and art
conference In which he insisted TN
unless they would take him 10 board
would take the child away, Mrs, liz
kins consented and the family w
my increased by one man.
attic After awhile Fred began to pour
Val tale of woe into Mrs. Haskins ct
,eet His wife had deserted him ana
d;s. child for her grandmother. the
lady was so indignant at the (
crone." as she called the grandmoth
inc that she could scarcely contain u
VI self. -,
all Meanwhile the old lady noticed u
oing Fred and Alice were together &c
As deal and she wished Freds W
would die so that he could marry Al
and the baby could have mother
ateu we'll ms a father When the pear
the ripe Fred came home one evening
inter- announced that his wife was
NTH more"
,eful He tried hard to appear respectiu
,o,, his wife's memory, but found IL d
cult This was not remarkable 81
Il W the departed had treated Do'h
e es- husband and her child so badly.
Will Haskins averred that no respect WI
So ever was due her; that she mad pee
soulless. shameless creature. and
sooner Martin forgot her the pe'
zba In n mod disc