The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1917-04-02

should not hear"
u may tell her that you will call
again, | supposeF
Please do so. will come in u few
days"
she will naturally be interested to
see you"
Chandler walked away. perhaps bet
ter pleased with his visit than If he
had seen the lady lie had called ON
Mrs. Atherton's secretary was not only
attractive in appearance. but had del
icate sense of what was not proper for
her to say in such conversation
Chandler was bit dissatisfied with
himself for having implied that she
had been an eavesdropper. He wishe.!
for an opportunity TO remove any I'M
pleasant impression that his mistake
might have occasiOned.
When he called again he did not ac
knowledge to himself that he would
like to have another tete-a-tete with
the secretary He was received by hel
with message from Mrs. Atherton
that she was indisposed and begged
him to excuse her.
Mrs. Anterior has especially charged
me to say to you. she added. THAI
you are not to regard adversely her MOI
seeing you today and that she hopes
you will come again soon. She expects
TO be presentable within few days"
Chandler did not hurry away lie
called at ) O'Clock. and at 6 he was still
occupied with Mrs. Athertons secre
tary. Then the butler came in with
an invitation for him TO remain for
dinner. Mrs Atherton herself could
not be present but her secretary woull
do the honors for her Chandler ac-
cepted the invitation with alacrity. lie
did not leave the house until IL o'clock
that night
Fate seemed to he against Chandler
meeting the widow. The next time he
called she had again gone to the city.
and the next after that she had had
fall that had necessitated her remain
ing in bed for few days. Chandler
was enjoying SC well his visits with
the secretary that he didn't care il the
mistress remained bedridden for the
rest of her days. Then one day when
he called he received a message from
the lady through her secretary that
she had been considering the matter Of
joining the estates by their marriage
and had come to the conclusion that
the difference In their ages would be
altogether too great an objection.
On receipt of this communication
Chandler stood looking very disconso-
late.
81 am sorry for your disappoint-
ment," said the secretary.
1T isn't that" replied Chandler dole
fully.
Not that? Then what is it,
why, have no excuse to come here
any more"
And why should you come when
the object of your coming has ceased
to exist?'
How am | going to get on without
seeing your
To this the only reply was a drop
ping Of the girls eyes to the floor.
II have pan." said Chandler
"Since ! cant marry the mistress I'll
make proposition to the secretary.
1t is not to unite two estates, but two
hearts"
She looked up at him with charm
ing expression
'Sit down." she said, "and I'll tell
/ you story. Your uncle and Mrs Ath-
erton were very anxious to unite these
| estates, as you know. Neither of them
had any idea of n marriage between
you and her. And now | have con-
/ fession To make. ! am more than Mrs
Atherton's secretary; am her daugh-
! ter. Your uncle suggested to mother
that the property be united by mar
riage between you and me. But such
proposals usually miscarry. Their plan
was to bring you and me together, you
thinking that you were opening nego-
tiations to marry mother They were
obliged to let me into the secret.
agreed TO carry out their plan-that is
well. provided liked you"
And you do, don't you" said Chan.
J der In Il pleasing tone.
Well $685." VAS the answer
Then the plan is To be carried out r.
What PLAN"
why. the one you have just refer.
red to"
"Oh, | meant the plan of making
you think you were opening negotia-
tions to marry mother"
OH
That's all | had to do with it."
/ Il think you had a great deal more
to do with it,
Il don't see what"
We'll. while you have been receiving
me in place of your mother you have
got me used TO being with you. Be
sides. think how advantageous 1t will
be to unite the estates"
Il care nothing about the estates"
"0r me:"
Il didn't say that, but I shall not
marry for the purpose of uniting two
properties"