The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1917-01-27
AnEnor Brings
an Error
BY MARYLAND MALTBEE

sehhle Hatch for more than ve.r
and. since his salary was not sutIiciap,
10 warrant marriage and his prospect,
o1 raise We're poor, the two reluc.
tantiy determined TO give up each 9th.
er. calling their engagement off.
Jennie had an aunt. an old woman.
VINO lived alone. She was very moor
at least she was supposed to be-and
Jennie devoted great deal of time TO
her. the old lady being very feeble
ABOUT the time that Alan and Jennie
decided there was no hope for them
the aunt grew worse and died sud
denly. On her desthbed she told Jen.
nie that she would find In creyice in
the chimney enough money to bury
her and what Was left over would be
| hers.
Inc day after the funeral Aim re.
ceived q note from Jennie asking him
10 meet her at the aunts house. She
had surprise for him Alan went TO
the house ut the time mentioned and
FOUND no one there. On table was a
little pass book showing deposits OF
some $1,000 The book bore n mum.
Der, but not name.
In turning oyer the leaves OF the
book bit Of paper fell out of it.
Alan saw the words Dearest Jennie"
written in "A mans hand Yielding TO
desire to know who was thus ad-
dressing the girl he loved in such en-
dearing terms, he overcame his scru-
pies against reading what had been
written. The writer. who signed him.
self Dick, broke with Dearest Jennie"
on account of a story he had heard re-
tecting on her good name.
Here was terrible revelation. Alan.
not wishing to see Jennie again until
he had made up his mind what action
to take with regard to her, went away,
leaving the book and the note Just as
he had found them.
Now. Jennie just before her lovers
entrance had gone upstairs and was
busying herself putting the house to
rights, FOR 1t was hers as well as the
deposits recorded In the pass book
which she had found in the chimney.
She had laid the book ON the table to
show Alan when he came, but q will
she had also found SHE had put In a
desk.
When Alan came In Jennie did not
hear him. nor was she aware Of his
going. Noticing that the time she had
asked him to come had passed, she
concluded to go downstairs and wait
for him there. She waited an hour.
and since he had not come. she sur
missed that he had not received her
note. She was greatly disappointed,
for she had counted on showing him
her Inheritance
Since Alan did not put in an appear
ance, Jennie sent to his home to learn
the reason. She was told that he had
gone out about the hour she had ex-
pected him and had not returned, nor
did he return that day or the next or
at all.
His disappearance at time when
their marriage was not only possible
but the wherewithal for their future
comfort had been provided, was ter
rible blow to her. Moreover, 1t was
mystery. Had Alan been spirited
away, or had he been killed? Their
was no answer.
Jennie concluded to live alone In tn
house she had inherited. She ha'
faith that some day Alan would com
back to her, and she would receiv
him in the home that had been provid
ed for Them But year after year pass
ed. and he did not come.
One day an old man came to tn
house and asked for Jane Hatch. Jen
ME told him that Jane Hatch had beef
dead several years He appeared t.
he very much cast down. Jennie in
formed him that she was Jane Hatchs
niece and had been named for hel
aunt. At this the man opened his hear
TO her. telling her that he had beer
betrothed to her aunt In their youth
and had wronged her, having listened
TO a story to her injury.
Meanwhile Jennie on taking the
NESS boo, 10 tho bank had discovers
the note that had driven Alan away
though il had not occurred to her tha'
If was the cause of his going. she now
produced the note and returned II t'
,ha visitor. This led to her telling MN
Tho story of her own bereavement
What had not occurred TO her occurred
To her visitor. lie suggested TO mel
that Alan had come into the mouse
while she was upstairs, found the not'
in the PASS book and. supposing tha'
n was for the living instead OF th'
dead Jennie. had taken himself away.
",fy mistake" he said. has emoit
.erad the lives of two generations
This paper shall do no more harln'
And he threw it into the fire. liner
h. added: Il have brought this trouoi'
nnon rou. | will make 1t my bushes,
70 find your lover. If he Is awe
will return him to you" =.
The stranger began systeniaui'
.orrsa Of advertising for Alan FORBES
and Mt last one OF the notices reacie,
Alan's eyes. He communicated wiz