The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1917-03-13
An Eventful
Episode
By EDWARD r. 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 10 take to fight when. hearing |
the front door open and shut. she
stopped short
what shall | do?" she cried.
took In the situation at once Het |
house and mine were exactly alike. |
She had come into mine thinking that |
she was in her own. On me depended
the question ms to whether or not she
should escape the consequences of be-
ing caught not only in a 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 When | returned in the evening
she invariably came at once to my
room for 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 10 manage.
Within half n 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-m-m other" | stammered, this
young lady has made n terrible mis-
| take"
IL should say So snapped my
! mother
What use to stick to the truth-at
any rate. for the moment? | 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,"
"Ycs. mother | have kept this from
you. expecting soon to put through a
deal which would enable me to ac-
knowledge my dear Susie as my wife
1t was absolutely necessary that she
should soc me for few minutes about
very important matter, and she ran
in for the purpose Your coming upon
US thus suddenly has simply resulted
in your obtaining n knowledge OF our
relationship triilc earlier than You
would have otherwise received II.
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 marriedT
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 son!
asked mother Of the girl.
NV supposed bride. doubtless TO IS
cane 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 e
me in panied voice, 1T was bad
enough 10 introduce this person into
your mothers house without
Yes" cried the poor girl.
Nv mother stood looking from one o'
us 10 the other without speaking.
Packing against my room and mol
twenty feet IRON ii was an apartment
house facing on another street. NJ
window and one directly facing min'
in this house we're both open. and al
elderly woman was looking in upon thl'
episode with an expression OF intense
interest Nv mother caught sight OF
her and whatever of discretion there
was in her came TO the surface. Sh'
raye me n hasty kiss, then went to IN!
snupoSed bride and repeated the per
Torrance.
"Better 90 downstairs TO the library,
she said. And while we obeyed he
command she went to the window AM
drew down the shade.
ION. heavens. cried the girl whei
we were alone we are undone. Tina
horrid woman in the other house saw
and heard tie whole thing.
you're right" | replied.
Now we hive another TO explain TO.
AN explanation will do no good.
could have explained TO my mother, bu
this other person hearing me acknowl
edge YOU as my wife and you acknowi
edge me as your husband makes grea
J difference
What difference
I'VE are legally married"
: The girl covered her face with ne
hands. / went TO her and, putting al
arm about her. removed her hands.
, Marriage is lottery" ! said "Hos
10 We know but that this mistake