The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1917-01-29
Her Deliverer
He Was Old and
Feeble
By AGNES q. BROdAN

Wares on a person, but which was
.-a,rahle except by marriage with the
object that had excited II
Tn,s idea never entirely LETT him.
-. ,bare comes to every young man
noriod when he feels the necessity
home. and he knows that there
.no, be n home for him without
r;fa such a period came for Billy.
pu, he had never become inoculated
IN 1--we. he had never found his af-
snitv he was growing out Of his
rou,b and longed for a companion and
home but he still chung to the idea
that he must yet meet his mate, that
no would know her the moment he laid
ores on her and that the rest depended
II Nm Romance had not faded with
HI increasing years, and he still pic
mred winning his wife by some brave
deed
One day Billy boarded trolley car
hound for the suburbs. When he was
about 10 do so a young lady advanced
M to the steps, and Billy courteously
stood aside. She entered the car and
seated herself. Billy entered the car
and took care to seat himself on the
opposite side where he could gaze upon
her fair face. for she was good to look
upon. She was tastefully dressed,
which indicated that she was refined.
On the whole, Billy was much pleased
with her appearance.
Billy regarded the young lady with
admiring eyes from the time they
entered simultaneously the trolley sub
urban. She was such an unusually
nice girl. Nice" in Billys opinion,
was the all embracing word which
expressed her. And as they flew on
through the ripening fields his fertile
mind was bus- with possible schemes
for making her acquaintance. But the
girls absorbed aloofness forced Billy
to abandon these schemes one by one.
She was a most proyok. ngly compe-
tent person. The very car windows
moved obediently up or down at her
touch, and she was supplied with all
the evening papers.
You can meet EN-" unused Billy ait
er another longing glance at the girls
perfect profile-"meet 'em by the score
everywhere-dances dinners, theaters.
Some fellow who knows no more or
you than your name comes along anu
saws. MIR. Towne, Miss Jinks, ana It's
all right But here when the one girl
who seems worth while sits before you
your high standing with the syndicate,
your natural charms, count for notn-
Inc. You Just have to let the miles
carry her on and on and out or your
lfe"
After which bitter reflection Billy
whistled low and sadly.
The girl, whose face had been avert
cd now turned 1t about, and there We're
queer little wrinkles at the corners OF
the long dashed eyes, bent In ostenta'
tious interest upon the paper.
love" breathed Billy, and his hear
gave a queer thump. "it's the real thin
with me for sure-'love at first sight!
His destination should have been tn
stopping point just passed. Blu
Towne's business In that place was G
some import, but unhesitatingly he r.
NAMED In his seat. Whether OF III
Cupid. the unreliable and facetiou'
should see fit to intervene, Billy dete
mined to give himself the rather u
certain pleasure Of keeping his diVi
ity in sight until the last possible 10
ment. But what place should he nan
in asking for an extended dcketf
The girl herself settled the questlo
leaning forward to speak to the CO
ductor as he came down the aisle.
"will you please tell me" she asks
and her voice was mice" too, nc
NAV best reach the ID. and l.. railro
station when we stop at Shermanf
am going on in the train to the ne
town above"
Certainly" the conductor reph
Take the short cut across the hei
You'll see the red station roof"
The same old way?" smiled the 6
Same old way" assured the cond
tor.
Billy knew that short cut too. IL
to other routes than the one which
girl was taking. The thick trees wo
be all red and golden now. 1t wa
very romantic walk.
The girl, alighting with her suit G.
threw back a quick glance OF am
ance as he followed her down the
steps. But. swinging his own va
Billy trudged on IN apparent UNI
Germ. He knew that she still came
hind him down the narrow path 4
the constant stirring Of the leaves
heath her feet. Ridiculous little b
she was wearing for q rough walk
tais. be reflected Billy wished des
hely that he might at least relieve
OF the valise. but instinctively he
1ed the cold snub this offer would
easlan- So before him the long
ed, brown and dismally. to the
foofed station.
II was all very hopeless. Their
mat second car he might sit, as be
IN q gQat hah;,<s .,