The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-01-17

wen, would have stopped it if I could
Inc letter was drawn up without the
intention of sending it, and it ran az
follows:
Dear Mr.. Wakefield,
i have worked many years for you
ana l feel that it is my right to be
frank You are an old bachelor and
l am an old maid. love you. Why
shouldn't we marry? Regard this as
serious and confidential"
Bessie dashed off Eileen Roberts
signature in hand that was marvel.
ously like hers.
/ Nobody was much afraid of Wake
heid. He was a mild, easy-going old
/ gentleman, and only once had any of
US seen him moved to anger. That
was when man who had insulted one
Oh our woman buyers came into the
once. l thought there was going to
De a fght-but the boys got him out
somehow and held Mr.. Wakefield back.
Still, it was a pretty serious thing.
II you'll all swear not to tell, I'll
mail it, said Bessie, feeling like Q
heroine.
We looked across at the unconscious
MISS Roberts. Don't do it," said.
Bessie stamped the letter, held it
suspended over the mail-chute, looked
at US, and-dropped it down. We sat
back aghast.
The next morning everyone was
very quiet. We were wondering
when the storm would burst. We
saw Mr.. Wakefield 60 into his Office.
somebody tiptoed near and reported
That he was opening his mail. But
nothing happened till noon, and then
Miss Roberts was sent for.
She came back ten minutes later, in
tears, and the boys looked sheepish,
for 1t was a pretty strong joke to have
played. Only Bessie, with the usual
pert look on her pretty face, went on
with her work.
Miss Roberts sat down in her chair
and wept without any pretense at res
traint. And then-we saw Wakefield
come striding into our room. In his
hand was the letter. On his face was
the look had seen once-only once
before. He held the letter out.
Unless the person who wrote this
thing confesses instantly" he said, Il
shall dismiss the entire clerical force.
The entire force" he Numbered.
He must have seen the involuntary
movement of our eyes toward Bessie.
But he said nothing till Bessie sprang
to her feet, white and trembling.
Il wrote it, and I'm sorry" she
cried. I'll go. did it, nobody else"
Mr., Wakefield looked at the girl in
something like horror. He turned to-
ward Miss Roberts. She doesn't
know, them" l heard him whisper.
Eileen Roberts looked up, and l new.
er saw a face so transformed. She
looked haloed in a madonnalike be-
nignancy She stood up proudly before
us all.
'I'll tell her now" she said in ring
ing tones. mo, I'll tell her before ev-
erybody. Everybody knew, every
body has always tainted me with be-
ing an old maid. 1t is true l have
never been married. but Bessie is my
child"
The pert look that had been on Bes.
sizes face was never seen there again.
We looked at the exporters face, and
knew Miss Roberts had spoken the
truth.
rs this true?" cried Bessie, clutch.
ing at his arms convulsively.
Mr.. Wakefield bowed his head. my
nephew is dead now" he said, and
there is no reason why the secret
should be kept any longer. His wife
knows. But for that" he continued,
turning to Miss Roberts, II should
have done more for you-more for you
both, always meant to- am going
to now"
The last thing that we saw as we
filed out was Bessie weeping in Miss
Roberts arms.