The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-06-26
A DOUBLE
MISTAKE
By ELINoR MARSH

MI L4dAnOIdcs AAdPRJ " SCI
you. But confess that am sur
prised."
at what, may ask"
Mother wrote me that you were
very young looking for your age, but
! did not expect to see man who can
not have reached middle age"
"And have been told that you, too,
do not look your age"
II? Why, how old do you think meT
"a man has no right to think at all
about a lady's age. was given to I'M
derstand. that you do not look forty"
Forty
THAT'S what was told. To me you
don't look over twenty. But perhaps
there are two of you about twenty
each"
you speak in riddles"
"Did you never hear of the man who
said that a woman Of forty should be
like a bank bill that may be changed
for two twenties? Ha, har'
Mr.. Edmonds was the only one of
tne bWV VIM iduSncu at MS "h JonC'
Miss Fielding looked at him, wonder
ing IL he were not trifie daft. Her
mother, who was a widow, had writ
ten her that she was engaged to be
married to Mr.. Edmonds, who would
call upon her; that he was Of suitable
age for the mother and she hoped
Gwen would be pleased with him.
Was her mother to marry a man who
appeared to be fifteen or twenty years
younger than herself, who cracked
jokes about changing the woman he
was to marry for two girls? What did
1t all mean?
As for Edmonds, his father had
written him of his engagement and
had asked him to call on his fiancee
who would be at home after a certain
date. He supposed he was calling on
his future stepmother, and Gwen sup
posed she was receiving her future
stepfather.
II must confess, Mr.. Edmonds," said
Gwen coldly, shat you are quite diff
ferent man from the one expected to
see."
"And l confess" was the smiling re-
ply, that ! am very agreeably disap-
pointed in YOU"
Gwen looked at him with a blank
stare. what kind of a person did
you expect to meetT she asked.
"a woman twice your age"
"And expected to find in you man
from fifty to sixty"
"My father in that case would be
from eighty to hundred"
Il am not considering your father.
I am speaking of a man Of suitable
age
"But would you consider a man
three-quarters of century old suita-
BILE match for girl
"Girl! Do you consider my mother
a girl?"
It was now Mr.. Edmonds' turn to
be astonished. 81 was given to under
stand that both your parents were
dead" he said.
"My father is dead, but l assure you
that II you are to talk as nonsensically
to my mother as you have been talk
ing to me you'll find her very much
alive. l assure you she will not brook
a proposal to change her for two young
girls"
Gan have to say" rejoined Mr.. Ed
monds, with puzzled look on his face,
'is that, while l know nothing what
ever of the prospective mother-in-law.
the bride to be is very charming"
what mother-in-law"
my fathers. fear that II she Is
disposed to be cranky there will be
trouble in the family. My father Is a
well disposed man and am sure will
be able to get on with his bride, but
as for a mother-in-law, IL she is like
the most of them 1t will be a monkey
and parrot business between them"
Miss Fielding stood looking at Mr..
Edmonds with amazement and grow
ing anger for a few moments, then
swept out Of the room, saying as she
went that her mother must have gone
stark. staring mad. Reaching the
front door she went out. shutting It
behind her not over carefully.
/ WOh0CA nat the 6VN nCoIlSp
said Mr.. Edmonds to himself, "by ty-
ing himself up to young thing like
that and evidently with a fine temper.
And won't she make 1t hot for mer'
/ He waited until Gwen had had time
to get some distance from the house.
then went into the hall. took his hat,
crammed 1t down on his head, and
went his way.
The next day Mrs. Fielding returned,
learned that Mr.. Edmonds had called
and asked Gwen If she was pleased
with him.
PLEASED with himT' said Gwen.
Mamma, have you gone mad to en-
gage yourself to a young fellow who
says he would like to change you for
two girls, each twenty years oldr
"Gwenl What do you meanY'
why, mother: he's young enough to
be your son."
HE is sixty-two."
Mother and daughter looked at each
other without speaking.
Are you sure that 1t was Mr.. Ed.
monds who calledT asked the mother
Gwen went to a dresser, took card
from it and handed it to her mother.
why. this is Harry's card"
Harry"
Yes. stupid Didn't you see the
junior on it? Harry is Mr.. Edmonds
only son. He is worth $250.OO0 In his
own right and would make a good
catch for you"
"Catchl" cried Gwen in dismay. q
expect he considers that he has caught