The Lakeland evening telegram., 1917-04-05
ATOURING
EPISODE
By PAULINE D. EDWARDS

AS soon as the spring opened became
wild TO go on an auto tour with our
new machine. that is admirably fitted
for long trips. having a rack in the
rear large enough to carry Saratoga
trunk. OF course l couldn't tour alone
or with a girl friend Mamma would
not hear of that, and there was moth
ing for ii but she must go with me her.
self
We started when the leaves on the
trees were well grown, with excellent
road maps, and by supplementing the
Information they gave us at every fork
IN the road We got on very well. One
evening we were nearing a place called
Huntingdale. which seemed to be rath-
er a collection OF summer cottages than
anything else, and we did not have
the name of any hotel at which to stop.
Passing an autoist who had alighted
to examine his engine asked him II
he could direct us to public house
where we could spend the night. He
looked up at me. and our eyes met.
Did you ever look into the eyes of q
man for the first time and recognize
through them a soul that was In har-
mony with yours? This did when
met the gaze Of this man. Not only
that; | knew he saw in me what | had
found In him
Il am sorry to say he replied to my
question, that there is no hotel In
Huntingdale. You'll not find one that
xpnnI1 70 So
Arborville, twelve miles beyond"
| looked disappointed. Mamma was
getting tired. and before we could
make the twelve miles it would be
dark, and we made it rule to travel
only by daylight
Il can direct you." continued the
young man, ITO n private family hotel
but they are not taking boarders there
this year except myself. However, If
you care to Try ! think you can get in
for one night
We said we would certainly care to
try. and the young man, pulling down
the hood of his auto and cranking it.
got into his machine and led the way
to an attractive looking house on an
eminence. When we reached 1t he
asked us To remain in our car till he
stated our ease for lis. We thanked
him. and he went inside. In few
minutes he returned and said that he
had fixed the matter for lis satisfac-
torily. The iandlady was confined to
her room, but he was very much at
home there himself and would see that
l.. e.. 4
ell us out of our ear. and after our
trunk had been removed and our ma
chine started for the garage we went
up into the house.
| wondered that so luxurious an
abode should be used for boarders. Ho-
tells and boarding houses be they ever
so well furnished are bound to show
some wear
Mamma thought she was too tired
to dress for dinner, but told her In
such place II would not be safe to
dine In travelling costume, 80 we both
put on evening dress. On entering the
dining room we saw that places had
been set for three, and the only person
in the room besides ourselves was the
ductor Seeing that he was In evening
dress ! was very thankful that nam
ma and had decided to change our
costumes.
Our landlady,' he said, has com
missioned me to take her place at Ia
BILE and do the honors i'm her stead. |
presume | shall have to introduce my
on1f ha t-ip,r IN tnt
am Edgar Sterling, at your service"
Mamma introduced herself and then
introduced me, after which waiter !
who seemed rather a butler than
waiter served us. and we had dell
cious dinner. Wine was opened with
out our having ordered it. Both nam
ma and | declined 1t when the waiter
was about to pour it into our glasses.
whereupon Mr. Sterling said:
The terms in this house include
wine, SO you are not under any obiga-
ton to me.
We permitted the waiter to fill our
glasses. but since the wine served was
champagne we concluded that the bill
for our one nights stay would be some
tullib ui+ nut ndu ldlitD uD-
der a spell induced by the devotion OF
Mr.. Sterling. expressed in his eyes,
pleasing smile he had and his constant
attention TO my every wish.
After dinner mamma remained be-
low but half an hour. when she went
upstairs to bed. passed the most
delightful evening of my life. and
mamma was obliged to call me several
times before could tear myself away
from my entertainer
The next morning we breakfasted
alone. the waiter having informed US
that Mr.. Sterling had gone out early
in his car. We asked for our bill. but
were told that the landlady was not
in condition to make II up and II we
would leave our address a statement
would be sent us when she recovered
Upon our return home we expected
to find our hotel bill. We were still
TO find 1t when one evening