The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-06-26
Mrs. GrangefOrd
Fails
B y M. BELL

Patience is one of the cardinal vir-
tues" said Sarah Stevenson in any.
thing but patient tone Of voice. She
deposited her hat with very decided
bang on the hall table. But where
can go for fresh supply Of 1t when
my own is utterly exhausted?"
Why to mother, Of course" and
elderly woman answered. What has
been troubling you today?"
oh. mother, 1t does seem as IL |
need to be regular encyclopedia and
directory combined to fill my position;
so many questions are asked that
wonder where they all originate and
some Of them are simply impossible to
answer
Sarah's was apparently not such
strenuous occupation. She was second
assistant to the postmaster Of fair
sized country village.
Il am sure things will look brighter
after you have enjoyed the nice sup
per that is waiting for you," Mrs. Ste
venson said consolingly. at is a long
day, but 1t brings us lots of comforts"
Sarah followed her mother into their
pleasant little drawing-room to seat
herself before the repast that her
mothers own hands had prepared for
her, and with the perfect appetite Of
healthy young woman she soon
made serious inroads upon it. Pres
emily she turned to her mother and
laughingly declared:
"MOfhor Won ora aarfofnlu frno
prophet. / don't believe anyone could
feel cross after such a meal as that"
They sat and talked over the events
Of the day. Sarah told Of the numer-
Gus small worries and exasperating
happenings which had seemed so hard
to bear, but they all melted into in
significance before her mothers gentle
smile and helpful word.
Bread winning was a new expert.
ence to Sarah. Until her fathers death
a year before their home had been one
of comfort and luxury. But upon Mr.
Stevenson's demise his affairs were
found to be in such a state that, after
paying all debts, nothing was left for
his widow and daughter but small
cottage.
Sarah was a well educated youns
woman of twenty, and when vacancy
occurred in the postoffice staff she
secured the place through friends, an6
for nine months she had been work
: ing steadily.
Sarah was popular and at first II
seemed hard to settle down to the
routine of business life.
On the morning following Sarah'i
last declaration Of impatience," al
] Mrs. Stevenson called these little out
bursts, that young person took hei
way to the postoffice with the determi
: nation to see only the bright side o
! things.
All the morning she performed he
. work cheerfully and answered the nu
merous questions asked her to the YER.
best of her ability. At midday whel
she was alone at the office and jus
as she was putting the bunch OF let
tiers back into the IS" box after assur
ing an insistent youngster for tn
third time that there was really moth
ing there for Mrs. James Small, som
one entered the door with a quick
.. firm step and she heard a familia
voice asking for supply Of postag
stamps, but as the speaker came with
in sight of her face he exclaimed Il
: evident establishment:
. "Sarah--Miss Stevenson-what ar
. you doing heref"
.. 'T am trying to perform the dut.
Of a postoffice clerk, Mr.. Grangeford.
: answered Sarah, with slight smile
: ''In fact have been studying the par
! for nine whole months"
The bewildered expression upon tn
young mans face did not change unit
his eyes rested on the plain blacl
frock which Sarah wore.
3 you have lost your-fatherT
4 YES, a year ago, most unexpected
' ly; and now / am the bread winner 70
Q mother and me-"
81 am 30 sorry-I had not heard.
n have been gone over fifteen months
a and OF in the wilds Of Africa / hear
/ little Of matters here. reached HON,
hate last night, coming boat earle
than expected, and found the famil!
!. all away for the week, 80 have NJ
: chance to talk with anyone. Whei
! may / see you and hear what has hap
= pened"
we are living in the little May
wood cottage which Is mothers, yo'
remember, and our friends are Away
i welcome, there"
y ct shall come this evening. just aI
early as you can receive me-"
. People came in to require Sarah
II attention and with brief Good morn
[ ing" Ralph Grangeford turned ant
o passed out.
Mother" said Sarah at supper tina
evening, Ralph Grangeford came int
!. the office this morning. He had hearC
! nothing OF our troubles-don't yo'
!. think that is strange? He said h
: would come here tonight"
81 am hardly surprised, Sarah, TO
: you know we seem to have become in
= visible to his stepmother since thu
? trouble came; and his father is 81
; deeply buried in his books that
4 doubt il he would make good CORE
. spondent."
s But / should think Anna or Jane
>. would have mentioned it." persiste'
K Sarah.
n Perhaps their mother warned then
e not to do so. You know 1t was Away
a said that it was love Of money ant
II not love of Ralph's father that causes
l her to become the second Mrs. Grange
b ford-and sometimes | fear it ma
,e be true"
-. That the handsome but Denniles