The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-05-22
DONNA NATHALIE
BY IzoLA FORESTER.

. d
belligerently. Down on her knees, she
was diligently wedding out the sweet
pea rows. Her hands were soiled and
unseemly looking. her face was !
flushed and freckled, and altogether
she looked absolutely unpresentable, !
as her mother would have said.
1T isn't everyone who has such a |
lovely mother. Can't you appreciate |
that?" asked Santangelo, amusedly. !
He leaned over the fence from his
side of the garden. a large flexible
Panama shading his dark, strongly
lined face. How old are you, Babette
fourteen"
"No. I'm sixteen, going on seven
teen. And I'll naver have the ghost of
chance, Sanity. She takes every last
fellow away from me that comes to
this house"
You mean your youthful compan-
ions admire your mother more than
your own self" Santangelo's eyes were
/ trimming with enjoyment of her in
dignation. you know the remedy for
that-marry her off,"
Then a gray and silver car slipped
into the curving drive around the
house and Babette jumped up.
There she is now. And Doctor
Romley with her. He's an explorer,
Sanity, with medals all over him and
scads Of money"
He watched the slim figure in the
linen skirt and MILDLY speed away to
the car. His eyes glowed, watching
her alight, the lady mother, as Babette
loved to call her. She was hardly old
err than thirty-four, slender and beau
tiful as an artist mind counts beauty.
Santangelo had painted her portrait
: twice and yet he felt unsatisf1ed. He
had never caught the infinite, tender
charm of her after all. 1t eluded him
even as she herself always had in the
years of her long widowhood.
, And now her child Rabette was
growing into womanhood. And the
time was drawing near the limit that
: he had imposed upon himself when he
! would ask her mother again for heI
love.
t The shadows were beginning to fall
b along the far horizon line Of the sea
when he heard Nathalie call him al
the little opening between the two
!. gardens.
Are you very busy"
Never. never too busy" he called
. back cheerily.
a. "You know l am almost tired to
a. night" Nathalie said.
% He glanced at her quickly.
le Once long ago she had told him hal
in Jest, half in earnest, that IL sh
: ever accepted him 1t would be whe1
=, she was very tired. Why? Becaus
10 he rested her and gave her a sens
of peace and well-being
LET us walk down through the ga
den to the beach" he said taking he
lightly by her wrist. And he kne'
IN suddenly that she wanted to brea
W. some news to him.
n DO you like Doctor Romley?"
m very much" he said heartily. III
n, is splendid chap"
ny HE Is twenty-six," she hesitate
le- "but he has really accomplished
= much one never thinks OF his age. +
is leader now in all lines Of scie
tiflc research"
Undoubtedly" agreed Santangel
"And he is well liked and prospero'
Ter and very good looking. What els
es Donna Nathalie?"
aot II wonder II he will make a go'
Wo husband, Santangelo," she said soft
nd He drew in deep full breath Of Il
out keen air and smiled at her.
an. And I was Just considering how
OF could warn you in the tenderest ma
ely per that should ask you but on
more, and, 10, comes the conquer
and bears you right out from my sig
ah, my Nathalie
"You mean the doctor seeks m
90. Oh, Santangelo, how funny; yes, hi
~ droll. That l should even think
>,,t such a boy-oh, my dear" She HI
49, out her hands to him laughingly. :"
~ has asked me for Babette. and ca
-. say yes. She is so young"
~ Santangelo looked down at her, he
:, ing both her hands in his, his di
80 | eyes full of whimsical reproach.
~ ~ "And have been betrayed"
cried. 81 have asked you again,
at least, have once more showed =!
how patient I am and how l dare
ways to hope"
Always" she repeated, smili
DO you remember when l first !
you in Rome years ago, and you W;
ed to paint my portrait? Those d
On the coast at the quaint little
villa? And afterward. four years
er that, when you came here,
painted me again. and you liked
location, you said, and the island
so you built your studio only I
door"
"Babette begged me to help
with her gardening"
"And l begged you to help '
everything-the flowers. the rea
of Babette-was there anything l
not trouble you about?'
"Then perhaps you may even !
me. All" as she tried to speak
man, even a man like myself, cal
stand 1t always to gaze at the
he may not reach. | shall sail
summer for homa"
u Not this summer, Santangelo
81 next" she laughed softly.
Behind them Babette and the
tor strolled. but turned back at {
of the figures in silhouette against
sky. Babette whispered happily:
"Santangelo is a barefaced fl
LII He wanted her himself all the tin
~ Copyright. 1916 by the Mcclure Ne7