The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-01-03
Sat in Deep, Somber Cogitation.

my mother, written mid tears of pride
and joy could trace that from the
stained pages. l dared not undeceive
her. had given them a modest home
out OF my earnings and savings. |
sent them comfortable remittances
regularly. let the old folks dream. I
want to entertain them on the basis
they believe me to occupy. | want to
send them home happy in the belief
that am as my dear mother has writ
ten me, a man among men,"
Dunn burst forth Mr.. Blair, you
amaze mel" There was a culver of
his stern lip, for he was touched. Take
the house. Right or wrong, for the
old mothers sake go ahead" Then in
his brusque way he bowed Robert out
or his private office. And then for
nearly five minutes he sat in deem.
somber cogitation.
The secret of the diligence and the
rigid economy of his employee was out
at last. He was not sentimental
man, but thought of his own mother.
who had not lived to witness his mate.
RAJ success, came back to him with
strange force. He figured in his mind
that on an average of one thousand
two hundred dollars a year Robel
Dunn Eight possibly save up the one
thousand dollars he was about TO ex.
pend, but not much more And vet he
envied him this opportunity of sacri.
hcing all he had to keep bright the
heart of his devoted father and
mother.
1t was peculiar situation. Robert
Dunn realized this as he left the office
That evening. He was about to attempt
a gross deception and yet he could not
decide otherwise than he had done He
pictured the delight his father and
mother would experience to see him
apparently surrounded bv the host tbot
wealth and position could give. He
would have them enjoy the time Of
their lives. He would send them back
home blissfully coutented. Where the
harm?
1t was after supper at the second.
rate boarding house where he lived
when Robert went to call upon Edna
Wilson. They had been engaged for
hve years, but he had never heo,
able, they decided to start cut unon
the sea of matrimony until he had az.
CURED a fair sum against the future
She was a true, loving woman. There
were no secrets between them. Cheer.
fully she had acquiesced in his mast Of.
forts to give his aged parents a com.
Portable home. She greeted him nm
this especial evening heart and soul in
accord with his dearest hopes and
wishes.
Edna, he spoke at once, and quite
seriously, Il have been wondering if
am doing entirely right in preserving
this comedy of deception"
She closed his lips with nrattv
gesture of her white, shapely hand
Not another word, sir!' she com.
manded playfully. why. have benn
singing to myself all the dav long no.
cause OF their happiness, over the tov
and pride the old folks will take back
with them to their far-away home"
1t will mean the deferring of our
own plans for home" suggested Rob
ert.
It will make you the dearer to ne
as the grandest man | ever knew"
insisted Edna. NO, move can wait, ,
dear Let US think only of them for
the time being"
And SO the strange. unheard-of plan
was formulated to perfection. the
at the stately Blair home let
far enough into the secret to insure /
no enlightenment to the deluded pros
peetiye visitors, and Robert Dunn en- /
tered upon the one wildly extravagant
epoch Of his life.