The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-07-08
GOLDENHAIR
By LOUISE MERRIFIELD


It was a warm Indian summer
night She decided not to light the
gas The view of the city was too
enthralling at that late hour to spoil.
She threw her cloak and hat on the
hall settle. and went on into the re-
ception room.
Yes, 1t was just as she had left It.
two months before. The janitor's wife
had been up and cleaned for her, and
left the windows open, she noticed.
The couch was not in it's usual place.
She turned around and nearly fell
over chair placed at a new angle,
laughed. and dropped down on the
couch.
Just for a minutes rest" she told
herself, after the long day of travel.
and even with that thought Weighing
on her, she fell asleep. exhausted but
happy.
The closing Of the outer door was
what wakened her. She heard 1t far
on In her dreams, and wakened listen
ing. Steps sounded through the hall,
quiet, rather slow, but steps. As she
propped herself on one elbow, and
looked cautiously out beyond the
hangings at the arch, she saw the
| figure of a man outlined distinctly
against the half light. He was tall
and young, she could tell that much
even as she stood with averted face
before the dining-room door. He en-
tered the inner room, after pause,
and she caught the scratch Of a match.
It was daring burglar. More, he was
whistling softly under his breath as
he moved about.
Leslie rose determinedly. Packed
under the sideboard was full tea
set OF silver, and various precious
family odds and ends that she had
taken from the family home in Yer
mont to brighten her city abode. They
should not fall into the sack Of any
Rallies IL she could save them.
What are you doing here?"
He turned at her voice. 1t was a
trifie. shaky, but determined. Her
wavy blond hair was rumpled. her
cheeks flushed from her short sleep
and her blue eyes very wide and start
lingly bright. She was figuring the
distance to the telephone In the hall
even while she watched him.
Yet his answer was an old one, and
most touching In his simplicity.
I'm hungry" he said, gently.
"Oh, you poor fellow" she ex-
claimed before she thought. Cant
you find any employment at all? Do
you have to follow this life? You
don't look-that kind"
TITS bully OF you to say So" he re-
turned warmly. hands in pockets,
leaning across the table toward her,
with eyes full OF frankest admiration
I'm awfully hungry. don't you know
"And there isn't thing to eat In
the icebox. I've been away for two
months"
II know It,"
"And you thought was still alb
sent" she flashed back. please don't
think I'm nervous. I'm not hit, but
won't you take your hands out of
; your pockets? l keep thinking YOU
are going to leap at me-and brass
knuckle me-"
"By Jove, I'm sorry" His hands
came from his pockets instantly
Honestly. haven't anything desper
ate on me-"
Haven't you? Because you didn'
expect to meet anyone. ! suppose
, Cant we compromised Truly, In
/ shivering tacks. | never even saw |
, burglar before. Couldn't you TAX
, what cash have on hand-its abou
twenty dollars, think-and call !
on: That would get you something
, to eat, and grubstake you to the town
} 90 to speak"
? The two faced each other, the broa'
] dining table between. He looke'
straight into her eyes until the gaz
wavered and dropped.
You're the pluckiest girl eve
; saw" he said, fervently. Il didn't tel
YOU at first because 1t was such riI
, ping joke. you know. but you're In tn
] wrong apartment"
l. At ann" gasped Leslie. Why, nj
, I'm not. I've been asleep on the couc
:. in there
] ct is my couch" he murmured nal
ply. I'm glad you slept on 1t, Coli
enhair. Did you also drink from m
bowl, and eat from my table, and 8
In the little bears CHART"
y isn't this number twelve?"
. ct is number twenty-five, direct
? above number twelve"
= "But the pass key fitted the lock
"They usually do at all lock
). Please don't be disturbed. I'm awfu
: " glad you came in. If you ha
l opened the icebox you would haN
p found something to eat, honestly.
70 hacked away a couple of lobster
d against this fatal hour Of eleven m
self. and there's salad stun to NJ
up. or we can broil them. ! on
came in ahead Of the crowd to sta
things going. We've all been spen
" ing the evening at friends on u
e square. and now we're going to have
70 chafing dish feast. Won't you sta
nj Goldenhair? There are some bull
ID sisters and cousins and aunts in Il
he crowd. and we won't bite you
or you're the boy who builds things
In She felt bewildered, but vaguely !
es called hearing that young Pomer'
on Seward was her distinguished neig
DO bor. Seward who at twenty-eight hi
ne won more awards and architectur
prize contracts than any other nj