The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1918-12-19

annoy her, but he had heard from
Moses that she had plenty, and, owing
to the coal shortage, he was actually
suffering from the cold. Az he spoke
Hermine led him to the corner Of the
living room nearest to the cracking
embers on the hearth. The only chair
available for him was the comfortable
one the good neighbor had found 30
inviting. The fire was unusually in
wiling, and the rows Of Temple lilies
that bloomed on a stand near q sunny
window at one side Of the room gave
q suggestion Of warmth and cheer that
captivated the neighbor. He rose to
20, and then resumed his seat when
Hermine went to the kitchen door and
called to Rachel to ask her whether
abe could spare . little wood. At the
door she whispered: Hurry in with
n pot Of chocolate and nice buttered
toast. Look surprised when you see
Mr.. Gray, and make 1 move to take
the chocolate away. Hurry, Rachel"
Hermine walked slowly back to the
fireplace. my woman is looking to
zee whether we have any wood
chopped" she was saying, and then the
old woman entered with the tray. She
started at the sight Of the caller and
pretended to return to the kitchen.
"That's all right, Rachel; you may
bring it in," said Hermine. And then,
turning to Mr.. Gray, she went on:
"You see, I usually have chocolate at
this time on cold mornings. Rachel,
another cup please. Oil please, Mr..
Gray, let me give you a .ittle-it Is
90 warming"
A half hour later, when the caller
rose to 60 for the third time, he asked
Hermine whether he might send Moses
over at once with basket for little
wood; they actually had no fuel to
cook dinner. Hermine looked puzzled
She said the wood was in shed at
the end Of the garden, and that the
man who came to carry the wood had
the key. She was sorry, and then
wont you share my own very simple
dinner? I believe Rachel is roasting
chicken. It is beefess day, you know
and Rachel Is very patriotic. She haf
made crullers-I can't offer you very
much. Please stay, and Rachel will
call to your man Moses to have hin
get a bite with her in the kitchen"
Mr.. Gray accepted the invitation
though as he did SO something that b.
mistook for his conscience pricke'
him. He felt that he was breaking
down q barrier that 1t had taken hin
ten years to build up.
At six that afternoon Mr.. Gray still
fingered. He was playing cribbag
with his spinster neighbor before tn
fire, with the light Of a, skilfully al
ranged bracket-lamp that threw jus
the right shadows on the board and
mellow, becoming glow on Hermine'
; face. in the kitchen Rachel was max
ing savory coffee. A pan Of john,
, cake was browning beautifully In tn
oven, and a broiler Of bacon was spit
ting on the fire. Rachel was laughin
, to herself-or rather to old Moses, VIII
sat watching in admiration, with
! growing appetite, at one side Of tn
, stove.
| Hermine did not even ask her neigh
, Dor to stay to tea--it seemed to b
such q matter of course for him to re
!. main there in the glow of her fir
, rather than to go home to his ow
: barnlike abode to feed upon cold mea
and damp, chilled bread.
D When Rachel had cleared away tn
a things Mr.. Gray drew his chair close
: to that Of Hermine. you're wonder
Q full woman, Hermine," he said.
d made up my mind once that you wei
g cold; but you've been thawing out m
i heart today-my heart and inciden
J. ally my fingers. I know it is on
: charity on your part. You are dom
y 1t in the same spirit that you had Il
o factory girls here last night. II
o, worst part Of going home isn't the ia
It that it is as cold as barn--its b
g cause I'll have to leave you"
Hermine's expression showed cor
d plete amazement She told Mr.. Grs
o that never In the world had she II
e agined that he might want to mar
IS her-the fact was that Mr.. Gray hs
y not expressed his sentiment in ju
n those words-but she did hate to ha'
1t him go home in the cold. Her que
= room was very warm; Rachel kept
he fire there. She wondered whether
se might not be arranged for him to. sta
d; And that is how 1t happened tn,
r. about eight O'Clock that night Denslo
rs Gray and Hermlne Whipple reused Il
It minister from where he huddled |
his own meager CRATE fire. "We''
r. been intending to be married for son
b. years." Denslow explained, "and nc
IL we want to spring surprise on d
rs neighbors. Yes, 1t Is rather cold"
rs answered, ''but an old bachelor doesI
Mt have time to think of the temperate
m an htc uroddino douU