The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-05-26

ing to let the Grays meet the Lent
hleds, and then let the heavens fall"
Lydia looked round their expensive
apartment. and the memories came
hooking fast She thought OF their
struggle in New York ten years be-
lore, of how they had resolved to sue
coed, of her husbands position. given
MIN through business association with
Mr.. Lentfield, for whom he now ran a
branch of the firm uptown. which, with
his own business. brought them in
twenty-five thousand a year. And then,
perhaps because she was a real sport
at heart, she suddenly capitulated.
John, she said, I'll do it."
What, Lydia?"
III give a snob party. Well have
the Lenttields and the Grays. and the
oRegans, the real estate people, and
the Dawsons. who've just put up that
million-dollar bungalow on Long Island
And we'll let them fight it out to-
gether. And do you see the end, John?"
New friends, and warmer old
friends" .
Or bankruptcy. But I'll do it, John.
Trust me-"
And with the decision a vast relief
came to both of them that they were to
sail under true colors at last.
Mile and her mother were the first
to arrive. The girl lad never looked
so sweet, John thought AS for Lydia.
she was sure that young Bertram Lent
field would soon forget his present en-.
| tanglement in her presence. Mrs.
Plunkett, dressed like a dowager in
stiff black silk. lent an air of refined
old age to the assemblage. John. who
watched his guests every action al
| most as keenly as his wife, saw that
! the Lenttields looked about them ap
/ provingly. And with a relic of her
| past fears, Lydia had contriyed to 81 al
the ORGANS where they could do nc
real harm
1t was obvious from the first that
young Bertram, who had taken MiliC
in to dinner, was engrossed with her
Everyone, in fact, noticed the mutua
interest OF the young couple. Mrs
Lentiield, in the drawing room opened
her heart to her hostess.
Il don't know how to thank yol
enough, she said. 1T is perfect.
clear that they are fascinated Will
each other. And that girl is so sweet
faced, | should like nothing bette
than for him to take to some simple
innocent girl like that, If he won
have Miss Milliondecker"
ALLOW me to introduce you TO Mrs
Gray said Mrs. Stevens diplomatic
ally.
And it turned out that in girlhoo
Mrs. Lenttield had lived within a fey
miles of the Grays-and had see
them, too, and swung or the sam
fence with Mrs. Gray's elder brother
Lydia was enraptured
John" she said, when the me
came up, Il never could have believe
il would be so successful Mrs Ora
and Mrs Lentfield are chatting lik
old friends"
We'll, why shouldn't they" growle
John.
He watched Lentfield's face. II wa
evident that the rich man was also II
terested in the process of the very o.
vious Irritation He liked Mile 9
much as everyone did al first sight.
fact, when the party broke up II
Stevens felt a sense of triumph.
And just as the I4entfields wei
about to leave Mrs. Lenttield can
rushing back from the elevator. ST
rang a wild peal at the bell. Lyd
opened it, to see her and her husbar
and the young fellow standing outsid
The boy looked sheepish enough, Il
father hardly less SO But Mary Len
field fell upon Lydia's neck.
you never told mel" she cried.
WHAT"
THAT that was the girl! His faith
would never let Bertram bring her
the house, and just as he was askil
Bertram why he didn't look for a nj
girl like that Bertram turned on hi
and said it was the same one. Al
you knew! Don't tell me you didI
know! I'll never forget it,"
Lydia Stevens face was study
, she went to break the news to John.