The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-12-30
herDeliyerer
He Was Old and
Feeble
By AGNES g. BROGAN

Cdke uOtlce VI girls udU III lued LudC
love was kind Of disease that came
unawares on a person, but which was
incurable except by marriage with the
object that had excited 1t.
This idea never entirely left him.
But there comes to every young man
a period when he feels the necessity
Of a home, and he knows that there
cannot be a home for him without a
wife. Such period came for Billy.
But he had never become inoculated
with love; he had never found his at
finity. He was growing out Of his
youth and longed for companion and
a home, but he still chung to the idea
that he must yet meet his mate, that
he would know her the moment he laid
eyes on her and that the rest depended
on him. Romance had not faded with
his increasing years, and he still pic
tured winning his wife by some brave
deed.
One day Billy boarded a trolley car
bound for the suburbs. When he was
about to do SO young lady advanced
up to the steps, and Billy courteously
stood aside. She entered the car and
seated herself. Billy entered the car
and took care to seat himself on the
opposite side where he could gaze upon
her fir face. for she was good to look
upon. She was tastefuIly dressed,
which indicated that she was refined.
On the whole, Billy was much pleased
with her appearance.
Billy regarded the young lady with
admiring eyes from the time they
entered simultaneously the trolley sub
urban. She was such an unusually
nice girl. "Nice," in Billy's opinion,
was the all embracing word which
expressed her. And as they few on
through the ripening fields his fertile
mind was busy with possible schemes
for making her acquaintance. But the
girls absorbed aloofness forced Billy
to abandon these schemes one by one.
She was a most proyokingly compe-
tent person. The very car windows
moved obediently up or down at her
touch, and she was supplied with all
the evening papers.
"You can meet 'em," unused Billy aft
er another longing glance at the girls
perfect profile-"meet 'em by the score
observation-disclosures, dinners, theaters.
Some fellow who knows no more of
you than your name comes along and
says, Mr.. Towne, Miss Jinks,' and It's
all right. But here when the one girl
who seems worth while sits before you
your high standing with the syndicate.
your natural charms, count for moth
ing. You just have to let the miles
carry her on and on and out of your
life"
After which bitter reflection BiAy
whistled low and sadly.
The girl, whose face had been avert
cd, now turned 1t about, and there were
queer little wrinkles at the corners of
the long dashed eyes, bent in ostenta.
tious interest upon the paper.
"Jove," breathed Billy, and his heart
gave queer thump. ''its the real thing
with me for sure-1ove at first sightr .
His destination should have been the
stopping point just passed. Billy
Towne's business in that place was OF
some import, but unhesitatingly be re.
manned In his seat Whether or not
Cupid, the unreliable and facetious,
should see at to intervene, Billy deter
mined to give himself the rather un-
certain pleasure Of keeping his divin.
ity in sight until the last possible mo.
ment. But what place should he name
In asking for an extended ticket?
The girl herself settled the question,
leaning forward to speak to the con-
ductor as he came down the aisle.
"Will you please tell me-" she asked,
and her voice was mice" too, how
may best reach the d. and L. railroad
station when we stop at Sherman?
) am going on In the train to the next
town above"
Certainly" the conductor replied.
flake the short cut across the fields.
You'll see the red station roof"
"The same old way?" smiled the girl.
Same old way" assured the conduc-
tor.
Billy knew that short cut too. It led
to other routes than the one which the
girl was taking. The thick trees would
be all red and golden now. 1t was a
very romantic walk.
The girl, alighting with her suit case,
threw back quick glance of annoy.
ance as he followed her down the car
steps. But. swinging his own valise.
Billy trudged on IN apparent uncon.
Germ. He knew that she still came be-
hind him down the narrow path from
the constant stirring of the leaves be
heath her feet. Ridiculous little boots
abe was wearing fer a rough walk like
this, he reflected Billy wished desper.
arely that he might at least relieve her
Of the valise, but instinctively he real.
lied the cold snub this offer would oc.
casipn- So before him the long path
led. brown and dismally. to the red
rooted station.
1t was all very hopeless. There In
that second car he might sit, as before
ip seat behind hers to wonder at the