The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1917-06-19


effort was not very successful In the
country one may get city fashions, but
Y IL not every worker who can make
them up. But in the few moments they
were passing 1t was impossible for me
to tell il there had been any change in
Henry's feelings for Lila. So l pieced
out the story in this wise: Henry was
beginning to see the difference between
her and the girls he had met. l mean
by her her clothes-a certain def
cheney in what city people call chic.
l am not referring to Lila as soul,
not even as body, for in bodily beauty
she would doubtless far surpass many
q city girl. Well, what do refer to?
Why, clothes and manner; that's all.
After this Henry seldom came home
during vacations. heard that he
usually went camping with his fellow
students. At any rate, l lost track OF
my lovers. l was reluctantly obliged
to consider my story, if not finished, at
least passing through a stage Of inter-
ruption. Henry had become interested
in a career which would have moth.
ing to do with farms or farmer people,
When he was graduated learned that
he was intending to study medicine.
But before he entered a medical col.
lege his father, who spared no expense
on his education, sent him abroad
When l heard of all these matters,
which were taking him farther and
farther away from provincialism and
his provincial sweetheart, groaned In
spirit, for saw that my love story
was likely to end in nothing.
1t was some time before Henry was
to leave the medical college that
heard bad news of Lila. They said
she had some trouble that was drag
ging her down, but the doctors could
not discover what it was. They could
not diagnose it-that is what they
said Of it. Her father sent to the city
and brought doctor to the farm espe-
cially to see if he couldn't tell what
was the matter with her. The doctor
said he couldn't find any organic trou-
BILE, whatever that means, and the only
was change Of scene He advised her
father to take her on trip. But
Farmer Bunker couldn't afford to do
that, and Lila didn't care to 90.
considered this merely part Of my
love story. 1t was plain to me that
Henry Morse had drifted away from
the little girl had seen him going by
our house with when they were chill
dren, and the parting was killing her.
They say story writer's often fall In
love with their imaginary characters.
Therefore it's not strange that story
creator like myself should fall In love
with real person of flesh and blood.
l had always known the Bunkers, so
went to see Lila. That was in the
spring-May, l think. found her sit.
ting in an easy chair at her window.
pale, languid and without interest in
anything. 1t may be that she OWNED
by my bearing toward her that I knew
what was the matter with her. At any
rate. when I went up to her, took her
hand and drew her head down ON my
shoulder she left 1t there and seemed
to get relief from the tears that came
While she was weeping on my shout
der l was thinking. Not having any
lover to bring back for myself, wish
ed could bring back one for this poor
girl. And I formed a plan.
But it was some time before l car
ried it out, not till summer came
Then l told Lilas parents that l
thought it would do her good to come
and make me visit. Since Lila said
she would like to do SO, they consent
ed, and within a few days she was in
my room. the room from which l had
first seen her go by with her child
lover. l said nothing about Henry
Morse either as boy or man any more
than II he didn't exist. But when l
put Lila in an easy chair at the very
window from which l used to watch
her and him, and thought Of her as she
was then and saw her as she was now
l made up my mind that If was go
ing to make a good, real story Of her
case l couldn't rely on things to hap
pen themselves. I'd have to bring them
about myself
l was thinking, too, that my love
story had been going on long enough,
and it was time it was brought to
close. Besides, Lila was SO weak that
! feared in her condition she'd contract
some real disease So l wrote DIR.
Henry Morse. who had just been ad.
mitted to practice, that l had patient
in my family who was dying Of some
disease that none of our country doc
tors could tell anything about, and l
would pay him whatever he asked If
he would make flying trip and dag
nose the case.
He wrote back that he remembered
me very well and would run down in a
few days.
OF course l didn't let on to Lila what
/ had done. She, poor child, wasn't
dreaming what an influence my seeing
her go by my window so many years
before would have on her life l hoped
Henry would come as soon as possible,
for she was dropping more and more
every day.
oil h \