The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1912-02-08
Victorious
Sacrifice
By ALICIA MARrYNE

eally stunned, left the house, unobserv-
ed in the great. eager, happy throng
Of guests. and walked through the de-
serted avenue with a queer. bewilder-
ed senseof having awakened to a new
life and very bleak and colorless
one.
He had lived rs years in the world
Of the few-the rich who not only toll
not nor spin but do not need to re-
member that anybody ever had to toll
or spin to produce that which they
possess. Owens father had not been
a toiler or a spinner either. The good
things provided by the gods we're TAX
en- By the Cuthberts unquestioningly,
as of right.
Breeding education, health health, brains bi rains,
luxury they all had dropped on the
young mans shoulders SO naturally
that he never knew Of demands or de-
sires unsatisfed Kept from indo-
lence and its brother, vice, BY his in
herent zest for knowledge and liter
ature, keen on field sports, Owen Cuth-
bert long ago had come to regard life
with unconscious but complete self
satisfaction.
And now, suddenly, all this satisfac-
ton had vanished. His serene CON
seriousness Of having everything he
wanted had been dispelled The
world, that had seemed so kind, had
grown dark and austere
Just few words had done tia few
words that he had overheard when he
approached retired corner where he
had seen the bright hair Of Marjorie
Ellison, his fiancee. He had stepped
softly meaning to surprise her, when
his feet were arrested by the voice Of
his friend. George Kingdom.
You are sure you can keep 1t from
Cuthbert?"
aOf course can. Cuthbert is the
most innocent. transporting Of NOR
tails and he has perfect confidence in
me-"
You're an angel, Marjorie. May |
come tomorrow? VIII you be alone?'
yes. tomorrow at g." replied Mar
jorie. evidently not resenting Mr..
Kingdoms remarks about angels.
Il feel awfully mean about deceiv-
ing old Owen In this way" Kingdoms
voice continued. ''but after we are
married and he finds that things can't
be helped I'm sure he'll forgive me"
Marjorie said something in reply,
but the sounds came to owen Cuth-
bert's ears only In confused noises
through mighty hammering Of blood
at his temples. For one mad instant
he intended to leap at George King
don and revenge himself like primeval
man. The instant passed. Ages OF
breeding and repression asserted
themselves. Cuthbert turned softly
and departed as he had come.
"Why--why- whyg" his bewildered,
seething, furious brain asked insist.
emily, dominating with the repetition
All the tumult Of thoughts. It was not
till dawn came on him, still walking
the echoing streets. that his fury gave
way.
4 don't understand it. I'm all con-
fused" Cuthbert groaned. when did
she stop loving meand why?"
He went home and engaged me-
chemically in the hum-drum processes
Of bathing and shaving. They seem
ed Unfortunately laborious and unproft-
able, He could eat no breakfast. and
finally went slowly to his club.
Lying in deep leather chair be
smoked black cigar after black cigar.
and Id the smoke read things until
then unknown to his sense. Bitter
things they were that George King
don was better fellow, handsome,
with the glamor Of adventure on land
and sea, man who had done great
things in exploration and science. lust
the man to win women.
@You have had only the easy
things" muttered he. apostrophizlng
himself. Nov you've got to pay for
them" He threw away his cigar and
walked to the street.
Again he moved with his akcus.
toned stride: for q great resolve had
come to him. and he was detected no
more. but only sad. endlessly SAD,
and more determined than he ever had
needed to be II all his easy life.
Half an hour later he sat IN nia
lawyers once Anderson, said be.
r want you to do something very con-
fdential for me- In a manner unnec-
easary to explain. have become
heavily indebted to George Kingdom.
You must inform him that patron 81
scientific exploration has instructed
you to deposit $780, 600 to his credit On
the day he is married. No conditions
are to be attached to the donation ex-
cept that he Is never to Inquire or
seek to learn the name Of he giver.
leave the details to you"
"All right. my boy" said the old
lawyer Your generosity does You
honor and It couldn't 60 to q better
man owen WINGED q BIT II spite a.
that great resolve Of his.
Owen Cuthbert went home and sat
down to write 8 letter. He wrote for
four hours; yet when the mlssivs was
finished at last. It was astonishineiy
brief The waste basket, almost fun
Of tiny fragments Of paper. accounted
saeshr1-~ g. 49,. ..n~A