The Lakeland evening telegram., 1917-07-31
rom anxiety concerning his expected

bride.
Miss Withers went to Overakers
room knocked gently at the door and,
ieceiVihg no other reply than a snore,
pushed the door open sufficiently to
enable her to look In at her slumber.
hg lance. He seemed SO dead tired
anu was resting so comfortably that she
nao not the heart to awaken him. Go.
Jug downstairs to her friend, she said:
DON'T know but that weshad bet
Ter permit him to remain In ignorance
VI tne fact that he Is in a private
nouse. de IS very sensitive as to his
treatment of others, and to know that
ne mad spoken to my friend and hostess
as landlady would dampen his spir-
its TOT the wedding so soon to follow"
Il have been thinking Of the same
thlng and quite agree with you," re-
plieu Mrs. Chester. There will be no
necessity to make an explanation.
lou 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 Overakers room to awak.
Ell MN and announce Miss Withers' ar
rival The announcement tended to
arouse the lieutenant, who completed
MS 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.
Il think we need some refreshment."
sad Overaker and, stepping to an cleo
tric button, pushed 1t. The butler en-
tered, and Overaker said:
Bring us In bite of anything you
may have in the larder and let me have
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 mistake,
but changed her mind, concluding to
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 tray,
on which were a dainty luncheon and a
bottle of wine.
"All right" said Overaker. "Where's 8
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 fiancee, 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 ut the hands
of her lover. This belief that Mrs.
Chester was a landady 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 trife EN-
barrassed at the situation.
The wedding was set for o'clock II
the afternoon. Overaker was to leave
to rejoin his regiment at 5, while thu
bride was to remain for a brief visit
When the parson arrived the house
hold entered room that had beer
8 properly decorated and awaited thu
: coming Of the bride and groom. TIT
{ latter was somewhat surprised at th'
| richness of the decorations and votet
) the landlady who had prepared them
trump. But what surprised him NOR
was TO find her gowned and jeweled Ii
manner not beftting the landlady o
!, the Chester inn. There was still an
other surprise-a necklace that only
person Of wealth could afford whicl
e Mrs. Chester gave the bride for wed
! ding present
BY this time Oyeraker began to sus
rect that something was wrong. Bu
Q he did not communicate his suspicion
5 TO his bride. Shortly before leaving til
house he said to her:
u 81 suppose am In for some expens
In this matter"