The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1917-03-15
An Eventful
Episode
By EDWARD 7. STEWART


mad often seen her going out of and
coming into her house and had nd
mired her She had long known me
by sight and nothing but the absence
OF an Introduction had kept us from
an acquaintance. But what was she
doing in my room: From me she
looked about her wildly and. having
evidently become convinced that she
mad got into the wrong house. was
about to take to flight when. hearing
the front door open and shut she
stopped short
What shall | dog she cried
| took in the situation at once Her
house and mine were exactly alike
She had come into mine thinking that
she was in her own. on me depended
the question as TO whether or not She
should escape the consequences Of he.
Ing caught not only in mans house
but IN his room My mother had gone
out, and had been told on my return
that she was expected home any min
ute When ! returned in the eycuin.
she invariably came at once 10 my
room for brief chat Ny mother was
an impulSive person. and / knew that
If she had come iu ana found a Young
lady in my room she would he % very
hard person To manage
Within half a minute of the closing
Of the front door my mother stood on
the threshold of my room. looking at
the young lady and me standing like
two guilty creatures before her The
girl cast an appealing look at me.
"M-m-m other" | Stammcred. this
young lady has made a terrible mis-
take"
~ should say So" snapped my
mother
What use to stick to the truth-at
any rate. for the moment? | must
find some way of lesitimatizing the
girls presence in my room and con-
fess the truth later. when | could get
my mother alone and convince her that
there was no criminality in it.
Mother" said. "let me introduce
my wife"
"Your wife,"
Yes. mother have kept this from
YOU, expecting soon to put through a
deal which would enable me to ac-
knowledge my dear Susie as my wife.
1t was absolutely necessary that she
should see me for a few minutes about
very important matter, and she ran
in for the purpose. Your coming upon
us thus suddenly has simply resulted
in your obtaining knowledge of Qua
relationship a trifie earlier than you
would have otherwise received it
Mother. congratulate me-
went to her. put my arms about her
and She suffered me to kiss her.
DO YOU mean 10 tell me. she said
that YOU are really marsiedt
There was no escape for the moment
Leaving mother. | went to the young
lady. put an arm about her and said
"Ycs. am married to the dearest cir
on earth. one YOU will he proud, when
you know her. to call Your daughter
"And you have married my SOM
asked mother Of the girl
My supposed bride. doubtless to IS
cane the gaze Of one to whom she was
constrained to tell lie hid her face
ON NV breast. but made no reply
"oh. Arthur" said my mother tf
me in panied voice. 1T was bae
/ enough 10 Introduce this person Int
your mothers house without
"Yes." cried the poor girl
Nv mother stood looking from one o.
rs 70 the other without speaking.
hacking against my room ana IL"
twenty feet lrom it was an apartment
house facing on another street NJ
window and one directly facing mine
in this house we're both open, AMI al
elderly woman was looking in upon thi'
enisole with an expression Of intense
interest. My mother caught sight q
her. ana whatever of discretion ther'
, was in her came TO the surface Sh'
gave me haslv kiss, then went TO nA
supposcd bride and repeated the per
Torrance.
"Better 90 downstairs to the library
she said. And while we obeyed hel
command she went to the window ah'
arew down the shade.
ooh. heavens" cried the girl whei
wa were alone. I'VE are nndone. Ina
horrid woman in the other house saw
and heard the whole thing.
"You're right" | replied.
Now we have another to explain 10.
AN explanation viii do no good,
could have explained to my mother' ou
his other person hearing me acknowl
adra Won as my wife and You acknoWi
o., me a, your husband makes grea
difference.
What difference
w. are legally married"
The cirl covered her Zee with ne
hands. l went to her aud. putting al
arm about her. removed her hands.
Marriage is a lottery | said. Low
10 Ne know bnt that this mistake 2
..,..~ r. great happiness