The Lakeland evening telegram., 1916-07-03
Cicely's
Blunder
Story of q Girl and q
Chauffeur.
By cl.ARIssA MAcNR

Mrs. Deimaine smiled across the
hearth at her husband.
Il wish she began, and then stop
ped short at the glance Of his twinkling
eyes.
''Go on. Jeanl OF course your wish
has something TO do with Cicely.
What are you wishing for now.
titled foreigner to fall in love with our
girl and carry her away to his feudal
castle. where she win be miserable
ever afterT
-0f course not, Daniel was wish
ing that II she must fall in love with
some one It might be one OF the Blair
boys. They are delightful"
"She has never met them"
II know 1t, but in visiting Aunt
Agatha she Is sure to see a great deal
OF the Blairs. They are next door
neighbors and very intimate with
Aunt Agatha"
II thought they were abroad now"
"Mr. and Mrs. Blair and Betty are
In Norway, but the boys are home.
Peter Is writing a book, and Bobby is
cramming for his final examinations"
Peter sounds the most eligible to
me-" Mr.. Delmaine dropped his news
paper and grinned broadly. "Cicely
doesn't want a husband who is too
lazy TO graduate with his class. Why,
Bobby Blair couldn't earn his salt.
wouldn't have him in my office, not
even II he was Cicely's husband! Don't
worry about our girl. Jean, she shan't
be hurried, and l trust her to pick out
the right kind OF man to marry, Blair
or no Blair, money or no money!
But Mrs. Delmaine shook her head
II know Cicely," she murmured pes
simistically. "She will be perfectly
sweet about it, but she will fall in
love with Aunt Agatha's chauffeur
''Fiddlesticksl The man may be
married. He may be as old as the
hills. He may be anything but at
tractivel If you have such forebod-
ings why let the child go at ALP
Aunt Agatha wants her." was the
conclusive argument.
So when Daniel Delmaine took his
pretty daughter into his arms and
bade her farewell he looked deep into
her gray eyes.
''Dear," he said, 'don't forget that
you are a Delmaine and that we love
your
And Cicely gave him back her
straight, clear glance and smiled
frankly. Don't worry about me,
Dads" she said.
As the train threaded the Long Is
land countryside Cicely wondered a
little at the gravity Of her fathers
face when he uttered that farewell
warning. So far as she knew, she
had never caused her parents an
hours anxiety unless 1t had been
when she had been secretly helping
the invalid wife of her music mastef
and her mother had believed she had
discovered a filrtation between the two.
Afterward, when the truth was out,
Mrs. Delmafne had been only too
eager to help little Herr Frickel and
MS sickiy wife and send them to a
more congenial climate.
Cicely suddenly remembered the lit
tie note her mother had tucked into
her hand at parting.
Read this ON the train, dear" her
mother had whispered.
Cicely took the note from her pocket
and read with amused eyes that grew
misty with tears:
Dearest daughter" wrote Mrs. Del.
maine, don't. don't fall In love with
Aunt Agatha's chauffeur. Some of them
are very attractive. and you will break
our hearts. Mother"
'The dear thingP' whispered Cicely
as she tucked the note away. "As IL
q Delmaine could fall In love with
chauffeurr'
A handsome limousine car was
! drawn up at the platform Of Rose
wood, and the smart looking chauf-
feur came forward and touched a fin-
ger to his cap.
For Oakwood, miss !" he asked.
Yes" Cicely stepped into the car
and handed the man her baggage
checks.
Thomas win bring the trunks later"
said the man as he placed her dressing |
bag beside her and closed the door.
Cicely saw him walk down the plat
form, a fine. manly figure in the pale
bun livery Of Aunt Agatha's servants.
he was young, with dark, clearly cut
features and firm, resolute mouth.
He handed the baggage checks to
Thomas. who was a ruddy faced little
Englishman. waiting beside yellow
trap.
Presently he returned and took his
seat
AS they giided over the hard roads
Cicely found herself watching that pro-
flle through the window instead of re-
Joicing in the charming panorama of
rolling hills. dusky woods and spar
king blue sea.
: Now they were within the gates of
0akwood; and Cicely was looking for
the first glimpse Of Aunt Agatha's alert
little figure. Miss Agatha Delmaine
was Cicely's great aunt and had spent
80 many years abroad that now she
had returned Cicely found to her sur
prise that Aunt Agatha was almost a
stranger and Oakwood an entirely new
discovery.
my dear child" murmured Aunt
Agatha as she gathered Cicely into her
arms. and over Cicely's shoulder she
called sharply to the chauffeur, who
was bringing Cicely's dressing bag: