The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1920-07-21
|UNWELCOME GUEST
BY JACK LAYTON.


Ha . t1
The married life of Beatrice and
Billy had been ideally happy. But
when he entered the little fiat one day
and gave to Beatrice letter, Billie's
manner was constrained. v@
ITS from aunt" he explained terse-
", wants to come and visit u.s."
Mot Beatrice said. "your Aunt
Orusilla. BillyT
Being that Aunt Drusilla is the
only aunt l possess, 1t is, naturally
herself" His tone was pettish.
Beatdcss soft eyes filled with tears.
But Billy she protested, I'VE Just
can't have her. We've been 60 bliss
full alone. Your father has always
held up this sister Of his as q. para
gon nousekeeper. You know how very
particular your mother says she was
housekeeping. She's unmarried,
Of course, and will criticize me, and
my lack of system, and oh! you
needn't tell me-" as Billy ventured a
remOnstrance-"I know that exem-
plary kind Of woman. She will be the
snake in our Eden"
Beatrice caught herself up. How
long Is she going to stay, BillyT,
The young husband avoided his
wife's aggrieved eyes.
about a month. she says" he re-
piled.
Beatrice stiffened defiantly.
"Well, she won't stay a month
here" she said.
Aunt Drusilla writes" Billy sug-
gested, that she is longing to meet
her new niece. She hasn't seen me
since was almost kid. She was
going to be married then, l remember,
but something broke it Off"
"Her own exacting disposition prob.
ably" Beatrice spitefully remarked.
That's not quite fair Of YOU" Billy
defended. His wife smiled.
"You see," she said, "she's begin
ming to make trouble between us al
ready"
Trouble indeed seemed to fall to
Billy's lot. Mentally he blamed the
aunt who insisted upon thrusting her
presence where the presence Of two,
was all sufficient. And upon the day
of Aunt Drusilla's arrival Beatrice
fell III.
In vain Billy telephoned various
women helpers. The helpers were
busy. As last resort, and though
his pocketbook could Ill afford 1t, Billy
sought nurses agency. No nurse
could be promised within three days
nj least. And though the malady from
which Beatrice suffered was not
necessarily serious, the doctor assured
him that she must have immediate
care.
Billy himself prepared his wife's
breakfast coffee before he went to
meet the inevitable Aunt Drusilla, and
Beatrice made face over the coffee.
It's horrid," she said, ungraclous-
ly, land you must insist upon taking
your aunt to hotel. She can't stay
here now. You see that" The
voice ended in an invalid's wall.
Billy hurriedly beat retreat.
Billy considered his problems as he
hurried his little car toward the sta
ton, and when he saw his waiting and
half-fOrgotten aunt, his pelplexity
grew.
Z Here was not quiet old body to he
lightly disposed of, but a smiling and
assured person In pleasing attire, her
shrewd eyes twinkling at his from be-
meath waving hair.
MY dear boy!" she cried, putting
forth her gloved hand In greeting,
Then, after his very brief response,
an awful thing happened to Billy.
STOPPING In hurried embarrassment to
start the cars engine, the handle
wrenched itself suddenly free from
his grasp 10 deal him terrible bloN.
Billy, white with pain, knew what
afterward proved to be true-that his
arm was broken.
1t was Aunt Drusilla who gently
forced him into the car, and her com
petent self at the wheel, took him
where prompt aid could be found.
When the doctor had bandaged Billy
into relief, Aunt Drusilla continued to
drive the car home.
White Tipped and weak, Billy man
aged to tell his aunt of his young
wife's illness and Of their now help
less plight. Alphabetically he sug-
gested hotel as her own temporary
refuge.
Aunt Drusilla good humoredly waved
his suggestion aside.
II wondered" she said laughingly
"vhy it was borne forcibly upon me
that must spend a month with you (
now ! know"
Beatrice's first intimation of her un
welcome guest was when sweet
faced woman bent alphabetically
over her bed, proffering, as she intro
duced herself, an invitingly arranged
luncheon tray.
BILLY has had an injury TO his arm" "
the new aunt informed her, "and |
have made him comfortable upon the
couch
Now, sit up deare, and let US get
acquainted while you sample my cook
ing. am so glad that happened to
come where I'm needed" The blue