The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-09-14

GOQ KNOWS.
There was something woeful In the
lords.
81 think" Miss Bedford went on,
that you had better let me take the
baby to my house."
Il don't care to part with all that is
left which l and my wife loved to-
gether."
A tender cord was touched in Miss
Bedfords breast. She forgot her no |
ton Of hating all men in this IN
ion of living man with dead wo-
man, cemented by their child. She said !
in a kindly voice:
1T need be only temporary sojourn !
II you prefer it. till you can make other
provision. You can come If you like. |
Have you had breakfastr
mo"
do you know where to get one?"
mo"
Il can give you one"
"You are very kind. but ! can man
age without your help. l think. The
baby
Eyes, the baby. You will not let your
pride stand in the way Of your baby.
Certainly you will carry her to my
home"
"Of course"
He took the child from her arms and
| together they started for the house
On the way he gave her brief expla-
nation Of the situation. He was an
| artist and. like most artists who have
not made name, very poor. Not being
able to keep up home, he and his wife
and their child started on a sketching
tour, camping here and there, the hus.
band painting landscapes. The wife
had died, and the husband, not having
any other abode, stuck to his tent. 1t
was pathetic story, and Miss Bed
ford's horror for man-at any rate this
particular man-melted before it.
When they reached the house she said
to him:
1T is in your power to do me a kind
ness. Sit down to the same breakfast
table with me and your child. l shall
enjoy every mouthful you eat more
than you can conceive"
He gave in to this way Of putting it
Miss Bedford placed herself between
him and his child, and 1t is question
able which she the most enjoyed help
ing, the man or the child. He had
managed to get the simple food re-
quired for his little girl. For her he
would take what did not belong to him
or accept it from strangers, but not for
himself. He was very hungry and ate
great deal, his hostess pressing him
to do so. After he had finished she
said to him:
"You have done me one favor; now
I wish you to do me another. Leave
the child here with me while you make
your sketches You are welcome tC
come here to see her whenever you
like, and you may feel privileged t.
take her away when you can provide
for her"
, The artist could scarcely conceal thu
, relief this offer brought him. "Since
have only tent for her." he said, :"
have no right to deprive her OF tn
, comfort you can give her"
. "And you have no right to depriv
me of the happiness l shall have Il
! taking care Of her"
!. An hour later the artist kissed hi
a child and took his departure. The ten
= disappeared. and nothing vas seen 0
, man or tent for several weeks. The
he came to Miss Bedford's home wit
number Of sketches. One Of them,
water vista, the original being on he
q own ground, Miss Bedford very niue
> fancied. She offered the artist a goo
price for it. He declined 1t on th
9 ground that through charity she woul
, pay him more than 1t was worth. Blu
q when she proposed that he should sen
: It to a dealer in New York to fix IL
value he accepted the proposition. Mis-
! Bedford privately wrote the dealer
! J fix price she named herself. and tn
,r she paid the artist.
~ Now and again he came in from b
n sketching tours to see his child, an
,r every time he came he offered to r
lieve Miss Bedford Of her charge. 81
invariably declined to be relieved Ill
ID less he insisted on his right to take h
;" baby to himself, and the longer the r
moval was put Off the more difficult
n. would be for Miss Bedford to give L
W the child But the father would m
W accept of the lady's hospitality, ar
k this made it awkward. II he won
have made his headquarters at t.
he house when not out painting 1t won
have been much pleasanter, for Il
ne child was constantly fretting for him
!. Finally when he began to get son
ct return for his pictures Miss Bedfol
proposed that if he would make h
u house his lodging place when not o.
J. sketching she would permit him to pf
'e a nominal board. After much ha
e Cling as to the amount, the lady d
~ claring what he proposed to pay not
~ ing less than robbing him. a compr
:. mise was made. and for the rest of Il
"a summer a room in n wing Of the hou
"a was at his disposal whenever he cho
~ to use il.