The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1917-03-08
An Eventful
Episode
By EDWARD t. STEWART

ing down upon me in wonderment.
had often seen her going out of and
coming into her house and had ad-
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
had got into the wrong house. was
about TO take to flight when, hearing
the front door open and shut. she
stopped short.
"What shall do?" 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 whetl or or not She
should escape the consequences Of be-
ing caught not only in n 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. W itli ltAAii hfh III int CNttilii-
she invariably came at once to my
room for a brief chat My mother was
an impulsive person, and | knew that
if she had come In and found young
lady in my room she would be very
hard person TO manage.
Within half 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 MN other" / stammered, this
young lady has made a terrible mis-
take"
81 should say So" snapped my
mother
What use to stick to the truth-at
any rate, for the moment? l must
find some way Of legitimatizing 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
deal which would enable me to &C.
knowledge my dear Susie as my wife
1t was absolutely necessary that she
should see me for few minutes about
very important matter, and she ran
-, h., Nnnr anpainU
us thus suddenly has simply resulted
in your obtaining a knowledge of our
relationship a trifle 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 to tell me-" she said,
that you are really married.
There was no escape for the moment.
Leaving mother, | went to the young
lady, put an arm about her and said.
"Yes, | am married to the dearest girl
on earth. one YOU will be proud. when
you know her. to call your daughter"
"And you have married my song
! asked mother of the girl.
My supposed bride. doubtless TO cs-
! cape the gaze of one TO whom she was
constrained to tell lie hid her face
ON my breast. but made no reply.
"Oh, Arthur" said my mother to
me in panied voice, lit was bad
enough to Introduce this person into
your mothers house Without
Yes" cried the poor girl.
My mother stood looking from one of
us to the other without speaking.
Backing against my room and not
twenty feet IRON it was an apartment
house facing on another street NJ.
window and one directly facing mine
in this house were both open, and an
elderly woman was looking in upon this
episode with an expression of intense
interest My mother caught sight of
her, and whatever of discretion there
was in her came TO the surface. She
gave me hasty kiss, then went to my
supposed bride and repeated the per-
Torrance.
Better so downstairs to the library"
she said. And while we obeyed her
command she went to the window and
drew down the shade.
"Oh, heavens. cried the girl when
we were alone. I'VE are undone. That
horrid woman in the other house saw
and heard the whole thing"
You're right" l replied.
Now we have another to explain to-"
"An explanation will do no good. l
could have explained to my mother. but
this other person hearing me acknowl-
edge you as my wife aud You acknowl-
edge me as your husband makes great
difference"
What difference"
I'VE are legally married"
The girl covered her face with her
hands. l went to her and, putting an
arm about her. removed her hands.
/ Marriage is a lottery" said. How
do we know but that this mistake of
yours may bring us great happiness?
l propose that we let fate work it out
for us. For the present let Us do moth
ing. Your good name, at least. is safe
What we may do hereafter let us de-