The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-11-29

money for himself as well, so he plan
ned many changes in the fine old man.
sion which during Uncle Jeffrey's her.
mit-like existence had been greatly
neglected. Mrs. Phipps, the house
keeper he had brought from town with
him, was having all the carpets and
rugs renovated and the lace curtains,
which had been laid away in cedar
chests and closets, aired and mended.
Once he came upon a group Of chill
dren playing in his orchard They
scattered at sight of him, and he was
sorry, for Dick was fond of children
The littlest one Of all, fair haired
laddie of four, he caught and swung
high in the air.
What is your name. young mani"
he asked
frankie Miller" lisped the child.
"And my names Beth Miller" put in
fat little girl.
Dick gave them some money and
watched them scamper away through
the hedge.
SO these We're Beth's children! He
guessed that from their names. al
though the name of Miller was COM
mon enough in Shropton
AT dinner that night Mrs. Phipps told
him that the housekeeping would soon
be completed and the entire house
ready for occupancy.
"All but the lace curtains, Mr.. Allen.
Some of them need mending and
have had great deal of trouble in
finding some one who can do the work
properly. But there is young woman
coming tomorrow to help me- She does
very fine sewing for the ladies Of the
village"
Very WELL" said Dick, land when
everything is ready. Mrs. Phipps, you
should take few days off to visit your
sister You have been working very
hard"
THANK you, Mr.. Allen" said the
housekeeper as she withdrew. you
are always so thoughtful and kind"
II wish l had more people to be kind
to-" smiled Dick wryly as he finished
his dinner "Pm lonesome beggar,
ana no mistake.
The next day he drove his little run
about over to the next town to attend
to some business matters, and 1t was
late afternoon when he returned home
The house was very still when he en-
tered it. He decided that Mrs. Phipps
was taking her daily nap and he had
forgotten all about the sewing woman
who was to come until he entered the
big blue room and saw her sitting
there in the sunshine surrounded by
pillows of filmy laces, while Mrs.
Phipps sewed in another window
"Oh. Mr. Allen" Mrs. Phipps hustled
forward. Were you looking for me?"
NO, / came in TO get some matches"
he confessed You are getting along
famously, | see" He wished that rud-
dy brown head would turn toward
him. He wondered what the face be-
meath It could he like.
''This is Miss Page, the young lady
who is mending the curtains" fiuttered
Mrs. Phipps at last when she found
that Dick would not go
ANoW thc Slii IulIieu anu lOokeu up
at him with Beth Pages warm, brown
eyes and her frank smile.
81 was wondering If it was the Mr.
Allen ! used to know" she said de-
murely.
Dick was wringing her little hand in
his with unconscious energy.
Miss Page?" he repeated amazedly.
why, yes" she replied. blushing.
You'll think me rude. but | thought
YOU married Frank Miller" he said
bluntly.
Impossible. He married Ella Mans
field"
Dick checked sharp exclamation
and, turning. on his heel. left the room
and went into the garden.
His mind was i'm chaos
All the beliefs he had harbored for
years had proved to be false But he
could trace the falseness back to Ella
Mansfield, who on her birthday night
had shown herself to be a cheat. Ella
had told him that Frank and Beth
were engaged. and he had gone away
and had not troubled to come back ex-
cept for brief visits to Uncle Jeffrey.
who never knew any of the village Cos
sip. And the children who had played !
in his orchard We're Elias children and
not Beth's. Beth was still unmarried
and sewing for her living. She had
been in his house mending his curtains
i'm the house where she should reign
as mistress.
Suddenly his pulses leaped. Why
not now? 1t was not too late. 1t is
never too late when the girl one loves
Is unmarried. He couldn't ask her
here i'm his own house. He must go to
her home.
So he went away to the city for
week just because it was tantalizing
with Beth so near him. and he bought
wonderful diamond ring.
When he came home again the cur
tains were all hanging at the windows,
and the house looked like home So
he astonished Mrs. Phipps by kissing
her atop her gray head and got into his
little motorcar and sped away toward
Honeysuckle road. where Beth lived