The Lakeland evening telegram., 1917-07-27
'om anxiety concerning his expected

from anxiety concerning his expected
bride.
Miss Withers went to Overaker's
room, knocked gently at the door and.
receiving no other reply than a snore.
pushed the door open sufficiently to
enable her to look i'm at her slumber-
Ing dance. He seemed SO dead tired
and was resting so comfortably that she
had not the heart to awaken him. Go.
ing downstairs to her friend. she said:
II don't know but that weAhad bet
ter permit him to remain in ignorance
of the fact that he is in a private
house. He is very sensitive as to his
treatment of others, and to know that
he had spoken to my friend and hostess
as landlady would dampen his spir-
its for the wedding so soon to follow. ;"
II have been thinking Of the same
thing and quite agree with you." re-
piled Mrs. Chester. "There will be no
necessity to make an explanation.
You can tell him about it at some
future time
At the end Of two hours after Miss
Withers' arrival the time appointed for
the wedding arrived, and the butler
was sent to Overaker's room to awak-
en- him and announce Miss Withers' ar
rival. The announcement tended to
arouse the lieutenant, who completed
his toilet and. going down into the
drawing room, embraced the girl who
was soon to be his bride. She ex-
planned the delay in her arrival. and
her presence uninjured did away with
the shock that might otherwise have
been expected.
II think we need some refreshment," 4"
said Overaker and, stepping to an elec-
tric button, pushed it. The butler en-
tered, and Overaker said:
Bring us in bite Of anything you
may have in the larder and let me have
a wine card"
The butler had been coached and re.
tired with. simple "Yes, sir" The
bride to be was about to inform her
lover that he was making a mistake,
but changed her mind, concluding to
let the matter take its course. There
being some delay In serving the re-
freshment, Overaker rang the bell
again. intending to give the butler a
piece Of his mind for being so long.
But the man brought with him a tray.
on which were dainty luncheon and a
bottle of wine.
"All right" said Overaker. "Where's
the wine card?"
"The landlady says that it will be In
the BILL" was the reply.
Lieutenant Overaker and his bride
to be enjoyed very delicious luncheon
together. Overaker, 1t must be admit
ted, was more in condition to make
merry than his flancee, who was be-
! ginning to feel somewhat concerned as
to the treatment the friend who was
permitting the use Of her house for
the bridal was receiving at the hands
of her lover. This belief that Mrs.
Chester was landlady and was to
receive pay for what she was giving
was becoming embarrassing. Some
thing must be done to change the
' status.
Don't you think" said Miss With
ers, that since Mrs. Chester has been
so kind as to make the arrangements
for our wedding we should invite her
to lunch with us?'
Certainly. Bring her in"
Miss Withers went out and returned
with Mrs. Chester, who played her part
as landlady admirably and treated the
bride and groom with the respect due
them from one Of her station. Over
aker drew the line between his land
lady and an equal, much to her amuse-
ment. while his fiancee was trifie en-
barrassed at the situation.
The wedding was set for o'clock in
the afternoon. Overaker was to leave
to reJoin his regiment at 5, while the
bride was to remain for a brief visit.
When the parson arrived the house
hold entered a room that had been
properly decorated and awaited the
coming Of the bride and groom. The
latter was somewhat surprised at the
richness Of the decorations and voted
the landlady who had prepared them a
trump. But what surprised him more
was to find her gowned and jeweled in
a manner not befitting the landlady of
the Chester inn. There was still an.
other surprise-a necklace that only a
person Of wealth could afford which
Mrs. Chester gave the bride for a we'd
ding present
By this time Overaker began to sus-
pect that something was wrong. But
he did not communicate his suspicious
to his bride. Shortly before leaving the
house he said to her:
II suppose am In for some expense
in this matter"
mot at ALL" was the reply. "Since
! we could not be married in Chicago,
where all the expense would have
fallen on my father, the bills here are
all paid, the same as. II the wedding
had taken place at my home"
"But"@ began the groom and paused.
But what?"
How about the luncheon and wine I
orderedT stammered the lieutenant.
The bride broke into laugh. called
her friend, 'the landlady," and all was
explained to the groom.
vyfc rl- -,