The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-12-15

This, for child, great responsibility
that was thrown upon me added sew
eral years to the few had lived and
made a woman Of me earlier than
would have been without it pre-
sumo my papa, as | continued to call
him, was told that l had stumbled on
the family secrets, but he never men
toned the matter to me nor l to him
There was no change Iii our treatment
of each other except that, having learn
ed that he had treated me as his daugh-
ter who was not his, daughter, my af
lection for him increased rather than
diminished.
l have since been quite proud of my.
self for giving mother free rein Us to
what course she should take with re-
gard to giving George his part of the
family secret. From the day-I gave
her the promise to keep it never men,
toned it to her or asked her when she
would tell him. This think was more
than was to be expected of child.
Month after month, year after year
passed, and the matter was never men
toned.
But time came when the relation
ship between George and me became
a matter Of importance. When he was
In his eighteenth year and l fifteen he
was treating me as q sister, while
knew he was not my brother. The
statement Of the lady through whom
had learned the facts that boy looks
without rather than within the home
circle was verified in this case. George
seemed to me to be very stupid about
1t. Nevertheless there were times
when l wondered If he had not fallen
upon the secret and was keeping his
knowledge of it from me as was keep
ing mine from him.
On his return from an absence when
l was sixteen he took me in his arms
and kissed me. Then, holding me off
and looking at me- he saw a blush on
my face
"Look at the redr' he exclaimed, and,
drawing"me to him again, he gave me
another kiss. Naturally this served to
deepen the blush. playfully boxed
his ears, which, instead of making the
matter appear more brotherly and sis
terly, had tho reverse effect.
1.-THE last ear box | got for kiss
was for another fellows sister," he
said and, givil.: ENn a second kiss, re-
leased me. stood for moment pant
ing, not knowing what to do or say,
then walked away in dignified man
ner, followed by laugh from George,
which made me feel that I had come
very near a giveaway.
But worse one followed. A friend
Of mine, Bessy Lawrence, made me a
| visit, and George seemed to me to be
| very much struck with her. This was
the first revelation to me of the fact
| that I did not relish any other girl
| stepping in between George and me-
I tried not to show jealousy, but did
+, not succeed. Bess ended her visit in
| a huff, and George asked me what In
( the world was the matter with me
Since l could not explain, I walked Out
Of the room, leaving him to put his
own Interpretation on my action.
There seemed to be plenty of funds
in our family, and, since George was
not in a hurry to settle down to bust
ness, he concluded to spend a year In
travel. He asked me to go with him
but, knowing what did, of course
declined. He urged me for some time
insisting on my giving him a reason
for my refusal. gave him number
Of them-all trumped up-and he laugh
ed at me. When he started on his
| journey he called out:
isis, don't you pick up fellow while
I'm gomez
Il won't promisep' l shouted. And
he drove away, waving his handker
chief till could see him no more.
He returned In six months, and aftel
the first welcome, when he and were
alone together. he came to me and
! said:
isis, do you know the reason why
came home sooner than intended?"
mo. Why?"
Because l couldn't stay any longer
away from my dear sister,"
you'll be saying that to some other
fellows sister pretty SOON"
| Have you brotherT
"What question:"
IF you have I'm saying 1t to some
other fellows sister now"
l wondered If he could have got the
secret.
i "Sit down here" he added, drawing
me to an easy chair big enough for us
both. Then he continued:
"You and l were betrothed the day
| you were born. l have not known
these things as long as you have, but
l have known more than you. l have
long known that papa and mamma are
not my real parents. My real parents
l never saw. My real mother arranged
with my second mother that I should
come into this family and be brought
up with you, hoping that we would
make a match. When 1t came time
for me to come here mamma settled
| oyervthtpp In bar own NOV opd oop