The Lakeland evening telegram., 1917-02-07
He Laughs Best
Who Laughs Last
By SADIE OLCOTT

Dan Eversham entered railway sta
ton, bought his ticket and, satchel In
hand. climbed the steps of parlor car
His seat was next to a very pretty girl.
Outside on the platform was a party
Of youngsters who had been seeing Off
newly married couple. Passing by
Dan Evershams window, where he sat
near the pretty girl. one of the party
threw a handful OF rice against his
windowpane. Then all of them waved
goodbys and laughingly passed on.
This bit OF fun did not trouble Dan
much: but, seeing the pretty girl beside
him blush a deep red. he felt sorry for
her
Il suppose he said to her, that
those persons think that they perpe-
trated very good joke
1T was hOrrid of them"
This was the beginning Of conver-
sation that lasted till long after the
train started. Meanwhile those in the
car who had seen the rice throwing
did not doubt that t'ey had bride
| and groom aboard. Ian was got up
with sufficient reSpiendence for
groom, and the neat travelling dress o:
the girl was appropriate for bride
| Then. too. Dan was altogether too po-
lite and attentive To have been long
| married. and since they were travelling
| together they We're not supposed to be
| bachelor and s!inStpr.
| In the seat opposite the girl sat
woman from New England There is
than a bride. aud this person was a
motherly creature who felt her heart
go out to the young thing who had
but just embarked IN the sea of matri-
mony, a sea that the Yankee had
found "A troubled one. She entered into
| conversation with the supposed bride.
Nice day" was her entering wedge.
quite So" was the laconic reply.
Going far?"
Il shall travel ali day"
You must be tired?'
"Why do you think SOP
"Oh. there's lot to be done In prep
aration for weddin'."
The girl saw at once that the party
who had thrown the rice had given a
wrong impression. But instead OF cor
recting 1t, which would be embarrass-
ing, she looked down at an open novel
In her lap and said nothing. The wo-
man was not to be put of.
You're the image of girl knew
In Salem. wonder If you're any rela-
ton 10 her Your name mint Twitch-
ell, Is it?'
mo, 1t isn't Twitchell."
"Or Salisbury
mo" and to shut Off further inquiry
the girl told her her name was Efile
Trobridgc
81 guess It's got somep'n else to II
now"
Something elsel What else can II
need7"
"Wall, | guess II don't need nothin
else but our laws, made for men, force
US women to give up our own names
and take on a man's-that IL. wher
we tie ourselves up to one Of 'em. Il
| was you ! wouldn't do It. You've
got a nice name. and l wouldn't take
5 on any more. What's your married
manner"
I'm not married
| The woman looked at her surprised
then said I'm n low voice:
II know that brides the first day O
married life don't like to own up to It
: They think nobody spots 'em fur bein
n list married. But. laws. any one woult
G know that you two was jist married.
Dan, who heard this dialogue, wa
, trying to keep from laughing and wa
now obliged to swing his chair to fac
d the window, presenting his back to tn
u inquirer The supposed bride. seeing
n number of persons who sat near he
L enjoying her discomfort blushed to tn
Il roots OF her hair and said sternly Z
Q her tormentor.
E. MADAM, you have made a mistake
Il The gentleman is a stranger to me.
|. never saw him before he took his chai
| In this car"
"Oh, landr exclaimed the Yankee
Il throwing up her hands. I've know
e. lots o lyin' done by brides to hide tina
,e they are brides, but never heard any
thing like that"
a The girl turned to Dan as much
to say. Help me out Of this"
e II regret" he said gallantly, ito cor
\ frm the young lady's statement"
{ A dozen persons sitting near laughe
outright.
a. Dan lost his equanimity. maxim
$ matters worse "I'll bet any one here,
q he said. that I'm a single man an
that never saw this young lady bs
a. fore today"
: He drew forth fat pocketbook an
began to count out ten dollar bills
n. Not a person interested but thought b
% was a bridegroom determined to stav
of being recognized as such. The