The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-02-11

tears. She put her arms around his
neck. She kissed him on both cheeks.
She told him he must go before his
escape from the schoolhouse was dis
covered and he left her. looking back
ward till he reached the deep forest,
a leafy arcade framing picture of
the only friend he ever had, and one
that he would never forget. But as
the years passed on Juttie forgot. Life
did not bring her the joy and serenity
her radiant nature deserved Her
parents died, she married a man who
turned out to be a gambler, and
worse. When he died her only regret
was that he had left her penniless.
At twenty-four Juttie Roberts found
herself alone in the world in the heart
Of a great city, with little twoyear-
old child, sewing at starvation wages
to keep body and soul together.
All these years Neal Morse had
cherished her memory devoutly. The
gloom of his boyhood life had cloud
ed his early manhood. making him q
silent. lonely being, but, in a certain
field. he had made his way success
fully. The FOOLS cap that had fitted
him at school seemed to have a fatal
ism about it. Once he had stolen back
to his native town to find Juttie mar
ried.
One evening Mrs. Roberts was seat.
ed in her poor, bleak room sewing,
her little one playing with some scraps
of cloth on the floor, when there came
a knock at the door.
you are Mrs. Roberts, l assume? ?"
spoke the man whose summons she
answered, and, as she wonderingly
nodded assent, he continued: Il have
tried to find you for some time. l
have a peculiar mission, Mrs. Roberts.
Many years ago a member Of your
family loaned me some money. l have
become able to repay it at last, and,
as the only surviving member of your
family, ! have brought it to you"
Into her lap he dropped a package
of bank notes.
There is thousand dollars there"
he said, lamely evading any further
explanations, and bowed himself out
of the room.
Many time after that she marveled
that she had accepted the money
without learning more of the giver
and the avowcd debt, and then one
evening month later she had taken
little Ida to a vaudeville entertain
ment to make a startling discovery.
One act was the star presentation
of the program, and it's exponent of
fun was the mirth of the occasion. A
clown wore a clowns fools cap. In
the midst of his act Mrs. Roberts sud.
denly recognized the man who had
brought her the thousand dollars, and
as well her early schoolmate, Neal
Morse.
Like fash of lightning the past
came back to her. With concurrent
suddenness the thought flashed
through her mind that the story OF
the debt was in part fiction. 1t was
possible that this man cherished her
| words and kindness through all the
| years!
She knew this to a verify the next
day, for she made sure that a note
| got to him. In confusion and con
fession the story Of his fidelity came
out.
Her heart opened to the man who
had accepted fate uncomplainingly
whose crushed spirit had been driven
to seek a singular employment.
| Neal Morse read her soul Alright
When he left her his heart was aglow
with new hope and new plans. He
would win her and happiness, he re
solved. He had some means. Fol
Jutties sake he would seek new EN-
ployment.
So he resigned from the stage, and
that night burned the fools cap that
had been his badge Of servitude-and
10! in its place Juttie fancied she saw
substituted the halo of the love and
goodness and fidelity Of a true man.
| Copyright, 1916. by w. G. Chapman)