The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-04-03

he set 10 WOTk 10 wear I'LL uo"h
with insidious means. Saying no
more about the matter. he employed
him on one or two minor cases.
Meanwhile he made q close friend OF
the young man. John was constantly
at Wade's house, and from each visit
he went away with a deeper impress
sion of Helen.
An only daughter, reared in an at.
mosphere Of wealth. her father had
denied her nothing. John knew the
folly OF his aspirations. But he felt
that Wade would not have invited him
to his house unless he regarded him
as his equal.
The day came when love could no
longer be denied. John told Helen
that he cared for her, and asked her
whether she was willing to wait until
he had acquired fame and fortune.
To his surprise, the girl. who had
heard him silently, with downcast
eyes, suddenly burst into tears.
81 am not worthy to listen to such
words from you," she sobbed.
ut is l who am not worthy" John
began.
She turned on him with flaming
cheeks. Listen and l will explain to
you," she began. Father was very
eager to have you take charge OF q
certain case for him. What 1t was
, l don't know, but l do know that you
are the only man he thinks can handle
it. Father told me you were puritan
/ ical, that you had not seen much OF
the world, and had not understood the
art of compromise. He thought that
after two or three months Of mixing
with our class of people your pre1u-
dices would disappear. He asked me
to be nice to you"
"And 30 it was all pretense," said
John bitterly.
NO" cried the girl. After / had
begun to play the part he assigned
me II grew to care for you. Then
it was real. l love you. John, and
and don't care anything about IA
Tiers old case"
Then shall 60 and speak to him"
answered John.
But, to his surprise, the railroad
magnate was at the door. He had
seen his daughter in Johns arms, and
came forward, his face red with an
ger.
80 this is how you abuse my conf.
dence," he began; but the look on
Johns face checked him.
| 1oyo your Iouuhtor cir ha an
swered, "and l have every reason to
believe that she cares for me. The
fact Of your admitting me to your
house gives me the right to hope tt
make her my wife"
your wife!" cried Wade contemp
tuously why. the girl was simpl!
being kind to you. l told her to, i
you want to know, in the hope tina
you would stop holding up our opera
lions with your internal pigheaded
ness"
stop. father!" cried Helen furi
ously. do you think would go tina
far, to let a man kiss me just for tn
sake of your old railroad? l knov
John loves me. and don't care whetf
er he handles your case or not"
III you marry him." her fathe
shouted, II shall call you no daughte
of mine Not even II he takes tn
|. case. Takes it! don't want to sc
( your face again, sir" he shouted
John.
J Helen placed her hand on John
| arm. III you 60, l shall 60 with yo
DEAR" she said.
For a moment Wade struggled wit
his emotions. Then, suddenly, b
70 face cleared.
John" he said, holding out h
>" hand, forgive me. l guess l didr
mean all that Take her. And you
?" take the case?"
mo, sir" said John. Il have look
lg further into it, and it Is infamol
n l am going to oppose it to the utmo
of my power"
u Then" said Wade quietly, I'VE
have q battle royal over that. A bait
no royal-in the family"