The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-10-26

tAdt was tnreWn upon me added sew
eraf years to the few | had lived and
made woman of me earlier than
would have been without it. | pre-
sumo my papa, as l continued to call
him, was told that | had stumbled on
the family secrets, but he never men
toned the matter to me nor to him.
Ehere was no change in our treatment
| OF each other except that, having learn
| ed that he had treated me as his daugh.
| ter who was not his daughter. my af-
lection for him increased rather than
diminished.
have since been quite proud OF my
| self for giving mother free rein as to
what course she should take with re-
gard to giving George his part of the
family secret. From the day l gave
! her the promise to keep it never men,
toned it to her or asked her when she
would tell him. This think was more
than was to be expected of a child.
Month after month, year after year
| passed, and the matter was never men
toned.
But n time came when the relation
ship between George and me became
a matter of Importance. When he was
in his eighteenth year and l fifteen he
was treating me as a sister, while |
knew he was not my brother. The
statement of the lady through whom
had learned the facts that boy looks
without rather than within the home |
circle was verified in this case. George |
seemed TO me to be very stupid about |
it. Nevertheless there were times |
when | wondered if he had not fallen !!
upon the secret and was keeping his
knowledge of it from me rs was keep !
ing mine from him
On his return from an absence when
was sixteen he took me in his arms
!, and Kissed me. Then, holding me off
and looking at me, he saw blush on
my face.
Look mt the red" he exclaimed and,
drawing me to him again. he gave me
another kiss Naturally this served to
deepen the blush. | playfully boxed
his ears. which, instead of making the
: matter appear more brotheEly and sis.
terly, had the reverse effect.
:, THE last ear box | got for kiss
was for another fellows sister, he
:. said and, giving me second kiss, re-
leased me- stood for moment pant
ing, not knowing what to do or say,
then walked away in a dignified man
ner, followed by laugh from George,
which made me feel that had come
very near a giveaway.
But a worse one followed. A friend
:, Of mine, Bessy Lawrence, made me a
;. visit, and George seemed to me to be
=. very much struck with her. This was
4 the first revelation to me of the fact
:, that | did not relish any other girl
% stepping in between George and me,
:, l tried not to show jealousy, but did
not succeed. Bess ended her visit in
a huff. and George asked me what In
the world was the matter with me
=, Since | could not explain, | walked out
= of the ROOM leaving him to put his
:, own Interpretation on my action.
There seemed to be plenty of funds
la in our family, and, since George was
70 not in q hurry to settle down to bust
m ness, he concluded to spend year II
o. travel. He asked me to go with him
but, knowing what l did. of course
I'D declined. He urged me for some time
VS. insisting on my giving him n reason
ne for my refusal l gave him humble
re- of them-all trumped up-and he laugh
ad ed at me- When he started on hi
lis journey he called out:
as isis, don't you pick up a fellow Will
nd Pm gone"'
Ter 81 won't promfser' | shouted. AM
ng he drove away, waving his handker
chief till could see him no more.
Tut He returned in six months, and afte
up the first welcome, when he and | wer
alone together. he came to me an
IN said:
~ isis, do you know the reason why
came home sooner than l intended"
- mo. Why?"
mr. Because | couldn't stay any longe
a away from my dear sister"
.on you'll be saying that to some othe
ing fellows sister pretty soon.'
Have you brothcrE
Re What question"
rye IF you have I'm saying 1t to som
up other fellows sister now"
rue wondered if lie could have got tn
old secret.
out "Sit down here" he added, drawn
ask me to an easy chair big enough for
to both. Then he continued:
FOR "You and | were hetrothed the da
You were born. | have not know
MS these things as long as you have, bu
you | have known more than YOU haV
eep long known that papa and mamma ar
Tue not my real parents. My real parent
never saw. My real mother arrange
on with nv second mother that shoul
come into this family and be brougf
,o, up with you, hoping that we woui
-, make a match When it came tim
IN for me to come here mamma settle
mo everything in her own way, and COZ
og- slider IL the rlsht way o,ie = nv