Lakeland Evening Telegram Newspaper, December 16, 1911, Page 2

PAGE TWO T!B EVENING TEL!GRAK LAK ELAND, FLA., DEC. 16, 1911 N —————’———j—-?———————————__—\__,,_ 70UR RESPONSIBILITY BEGINS, NOT ENDS, WHEN WE SELL YOU A CAR) OVERLAND MODEL 59T. Three speed selective, Top, Top booi wind Shield and speedometer, 30 H.-P. $1.000. Prtivered at your door, o BOYNTON-HENDERSON COMPANY Distributors for Scuth Fiorida 1306-8 FrankllIn “It was too cold to Stand outside,” question. [ “I am Bob Wallingford,” he began i meeting the easy cordial expression | of her blue eyes. “I am one of the | belated passengers of the bridge tle- | up and decided to run over and see if | Jack Everly would take pity on an 'old friend and—" | “Jick Everly left Yankville,” a smile played about her lips at men- tion of the illustrious village, ‘“‘some six or seven months ago—" Embarrassment, disappointment and surprise mingled equally in Walling- | ford's face and did not escape the eyes of Sylvia Vale. She spoke with ready tact. “Take off that great coat, anyway, she explalned and waited for his | AD Wallingtord been any- thing but a wealthy bach- elor and accustomed to hav- ing everything he wanted, 3 the circumstances would \ { have seemed less of a calamity. He had been on his way to San Francisco to spend Christmas ‘with his favorite married sister; and midway, In the most barren desert of ‘the country, a bridge had been swept away by winter gales. His destina- tion could not possibly be reached un- til Christmas was well over. Wallingford cast a glance out over the wide stretch of rolling plains with only a few scattered shacks to break their endless waste; and then he looked back to his bulging suit case. The latest and most wonderful toys he could find in the city shops were crowded into that bag, for his sister's only boy. Then, not caring whether or not a highwayman might be looking in at the window of the parlor car, he took a small box from his walst- coat pocket and looked sorrowfully ‘at a ring from which three exquisite diamonds flashed back at him. Wallingford leaned back In his chalr and In imagination pictured his glster's joy when slipping that ring on her finger. He could hear her scold him for his extravagance and chaft him for having no one else for whom to buy such baubles. He sighed and returned it to his pocket much as he might have cast it to the depths of the sea; it would do him as much ‘wood there as it would In his pocket under the present circumstances. Wallingford was reconciled to a Christmas dinner over a lunch coun- ter when his eve caught the name of Yankville. Yankville probably boast- ed a nearthousand Inhabitant, yet Yankville also suggested the name of Everly—Jack Everly. When Walling- ford had last heard of Jack Everly the latter was located in Yankville That was some eighteen months be- fore, but there was no reason why he should not be there still. It seemed that everyone in Yank- ville knew the Everly homestead. It was the only one of any proportions in the vi The re facultics as he rang the bell at the Everly door On the face of her who opened the door, surprise was the principal ex- pression feet-two encased in a great fur coat all dangling with glistening snow beads and his handsome glowing face looking frankly into her own, was & curprise for any eyes. She did not wait for him to explain his errand but with the matron's priv- flege of hospitality invited him fato the warmth of the house. glow from an open fire | within cheered Wallingford’s numbed | For. Wallingford, his six- | |and come into the fireside. It's mo | night to be out.” | Wallingford followed the slim gray- clad figure in a decidedly chaotic state of mind. Mingled with his em- barrassment at having walked Into an absolute stranger's house, was the sudden attraction he felt for this girl with the sun-lit hair. Something—the combination perhaps—was making him feel like a tongue-tied schoolboy. It was a most unusual state of mind for Bob Wallingford. There was a patter of little feet and a tiny boy of three years threw himself into Wallingford’s arms. “Oh-h! Are you Santa Claus? he eried gleefully. “I heard your sleigh bells and saw your big fuzzy coat! to get the boy's toys. “Bring down the suitcase in my room,” crled Wallingford. He was as excited as a boy. “You will not regret having prom- ised to accept what I had bought for my sister?” Wallingford leaned slightly toward Sylvia's gray dress and through the strands of her golden . hair, and the man in him had a strug i gle before quenching the light in his own eyes. It was the girl herself who was unable to hide a tremor. “l promise,” she sald unsteadily. “But it seems—odd.” Dick returned, staggering under a load of toys. Then they all jumped gladly into the spirit of Christmas. “\When my husband was living,"” sald Sylvia as she pinned up a tiny AR Rt ‘&‘ Y Mamma, isn't he Santa Claus?" The child’s mother would have spoken but Wallingford's eyes plead- ed for silence. “You young rascal' You caught old Santy this time, didn't you? And he came especially to find out what you wanted him to bring down the chimney—" “Wallingtord! How in the name of all that's possible did you get here?” Dick Elkins, an old chum of New York days, stood in the doorway and held out a glad hand of welcome. A welght of relief fell from Walling- ford's shoulders. He was no longer a stranger in a strange house. And did he imagine it, or did a glad light come also into the eyes of the woman? “How about yourself?” he asked when they had shaken hands. “This is my own house and my own sister,” laughed Elkins. “But where in the world did you and Mrs. Vale strike up an acquaintance?” He cast an interrogative glance at his sisetr. “Sis, you never told me—" Sylvia glanced quickly at Walling: ford and a deep blush mngled with the glow from the fire in her cheeRs. She explained the circumstances and Wallingford was quickly made to feel that he had come to the right house. “l will stay under ome condition only,” he said finally, “and that is that you all will accept, without protest, the Christmas gifts which 1 brought for my sister and her family—with- out question.” There was a moment's silence and the promise was made, laughingly. “But we will have to return the fa- vor,” brother and sister spoke as one volce. So it was declded. “Too bad Vale couldn't get here.” | remarked Elkins, later in the evening when, the small boy having been tucked into bed, the three sat about | the blazing fire. | “Yes—we would have made a jolly quartet,” said Sylvia. { Wallingford was almost guilty of & | gasp. The calm, unconcerned way in which she remarked that her husband would have completed a quartet on Christmas eve had he been able to get there, was rather disconcerting. Dick Elkins arose and left the room —————— Invited Him Int®> the Warmth of mt House. i stocking, “he always spoke of the day [ when he could do this——" The end | of her sentence was drowned In the | clatter of a huge box of blocks drop- | ping to the hearthstone. ! “Cheer up,” sald Wallingford; | “wooden blocks don’t break.” | He stooped to pick the fallen toys | and wondered if the woman pinning | up the stocking beside him heard the ! thumping of his heart. A small box | found its way into Sylvia's hand. “Mrs. Vale, I can't keep this anoth- er minute,” Wallingford sald. “Oh, I say!" exclaimed Dick when the flashing diamond ring was un-| wrapped. “You shouldn’t expect to! make sis take—" { “You promised.” The eves of the | two men met and Elkins knew then | and there what Wallingford's lips would speak. With two of the oposite sex against her Sylvia had little chance to demur and with a tingling sensation in every nerve she slipped the ring on her right hand. l It was late the next night when the child had again been tucked in bed to dream of a wonderful day in the king- dom of toys with three grown up peo- | ple to play with him, that the three agaln sat about the open fire. | “I mever spent a happler Christ- mas,” sald Wallingford with a glad ring in his volce. *“Nor 1.” put in Dick. “Vale missed | & good time all right.” he added sleep- | ifly. “Sis and her brotherinlaw are quite smitten.” And unaware of the havoe he had created in Wallingford's | heart he took his departure for bed, i SOLD RY St. ing the two in silence. ! et the silence was a complete one | one in which spoken words and | Art ener thoughts were unnecessary. After a 'l'h‘v o ’\'M,l,}.lll,]‘?j",!.!',l:( ; Bl v'm,l‘“,” i :‘;l;:l”'ll:]',';ml T;lfl : moment Wallingford leaned forward ¢y 5o oot e x'u\:l ';‘.' Rt and compelled Sylvia's eyes and whilo | oo e ’ Lo : ”L’ d (I“-‘ g, he did #o he took her right hand and o ,I‘,.,M i g il nnx.-xl'l A " ki ‘|‘ removed the ring and put it firmly on | 0 S G e \ SN the third finger of her left hand. [ W A ; ¥ i :0]\?1 EHILNGLE “Nest Christmas,” he said tenderly, i ¢ : :,, s Sl :\l...lml:;,",'::“. ekl “we will spend at our own firesie. | o p "”.""f | q;;,uh'il"““_:_ll‘:]'d”" b :, !] ‘ l ‘“""""“‘,f"f‘,’ very wnnd'er"nn the right foot it ,is-" .,;l | tion of its (H;:!.‘;' 'n! l:a,l..||='l :\“f; |v|n n'n;jur(.u‘\!j the Teft, while it is i ted by the | resigned himselr,” I uddenly and-—love is -Ilwa)flj best experts that the spurs are not ‘ by Raymond Crav i fal” wondery " 1 of the period."” Ideal Womaniiness, First Requisite. | The Trimmest, Smartest, Beg Built Moderate Priced Cj Ever Offered to e Motor- By Itselt TAMPA, FLORIDA Anackronism, ally acknowicdzed that | Superstiticn of “Tre 0 “James 1, when D Dy ain BRook | One Method of Obtaining True womanliness consists in wom Nobody ever faueht well whe did | In some countries | en adapting thewselves to the world's | s i et B 5 nihed. thi | ) ‘. o e, | that it is obtained th | greatest need (not love to tench. -Munsey's Maga- it D zine. of grasses. OO OB 4 IF_ FOR NO OTHER REASON Than that of economy this store should appeal to every man and woman Cut Glass and Hand Painted China Nothing has evet been found that just takes the place for the dinning room. Our cut glass depart- ment embraces all the best cutting from the largest factories. In hand painted china we have a large as- sortment from three of the best sutdios. Silverware This department is full and complete, sterling The line tionally good in sterling zoods, such as Knives torks and spoons of all both in silver and plated ware i excep- and | | A large variety ot old & R a pieces. A fine dine of Dy ‘ases, Manicure Sets g Clothes Br e Hat Brusl in fact, everything & that you could desire You should see this line 1o ippreciate it Jewe This department is full 1o overflowing; we carry b4 a large enough stock for a city of o, Its out of {: the guestion 1o enumerate the different articles, 1t Q there is anything that you want in this line, come it ‘% and ask for it We surely have it $ Leather Goods :i: line is full and complete. You should see Y our line of Hand Bags. both ip allizator, leather and S cloth atr prices that can’t be beat, 2 B ; Fountain P b4 2 ountain Pens & We carry three makes 4 Waterman, Parker a Thes ts for gentlen make v prest Come in and give mroeves a teast. A PLEASURE TO SHOW GOODS G. N. FUNK & CO. Kentucky Avenue Oppusite Park Lakeland, R Elorida 4 & M PO i QOOVNO0 P 3 SOOI OO0 OGHIGDODT SOOI SDDOOOCOO OO