The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1912-06-28


| clean up before | meet her. My valet
and guide have gone on ahead with my
traps
oh. yes. they came in an automo
lie this morning and took awful
.nensiye rooms. mother said. guess
you're rich
Turning a curve in the road, the
vcung hunter and his charge came to
re entrance OF the cottage. woman
= gray with soft silver fox under her
:a"oat. stood. on the top step looking
7 over the valley where deep orange
armed in the sky above the fringe Of
ark cedar trees.
The man stopped suddenly.
Miss Anne" called Kitty, there's
tie man that's going to stop at the
l.o;el.'
Anne turned slowly. and the quiet
look of peace in her face gave place to
establishment.
is it really you, Laurie:" she ask
el wonderingly
Yes" said the man, putting Kitty
down ard handing the nuts to her,
yes, it's l. OF course you understand
his is an accident. supposed you
We're abroad
Anne came down the steps holding
out her hand Won't you say that you
are glad 70 see me, anyway" she ask
ed, TREMENDOUSLY.
NO. said Laurie. 'for the sight of
you has opened the old wound"
Here's your leaves for the love
shrine, Miss Anne, and the hickory
nuts for the cake. Ill have to run on
now. Mother'll be looking for me.
Much obliged to you for carrying me.
1t was most polite of YOU" added
Kitty, with all the grown-up dignity
she could summon to her service.
Come in, Laurie, for minute"
urged the girl Hospitality. Il have
wanted to see you again"
He held open the door for her with
his old time Difference and charm,
then went in after her, leaving his
game sack and gun on the porch.
The little living room was warm
with bright rugs and hangings, and the
big fire Of black jack wood sent out
a welcoming cheer. Iaure's quick
eyes looked for the shrine. On a
small inlaid ebony table stood a pic.
ture in silver frame. but in the dim
light, the face of the man was not
clearly seen A bowl of galax leaves
was on one side, and tiny incense
jar Of curious design stood on the
other. A volume Of Mrs. Browning's
poems was there, too, and Laurie
thought instantly of the night he had
carried that same little leather book
to Anne. She had stood behind his
chair reading to him and he remember.
ed that when she repeated, Il love
thee to the level of every days most
quiet need. by sun and candle light"
she had leaned over and kissed him
softly on the forehead. But that, he
recalled, was before she had come
into her Aunt Patricia's vast es.
tate.
Won't you sit down, Iaurie?"
Anne's voice was low and musical and
played on the mans heart strings like
magic.
mo, Anne" Tho quietness of his
own voice startled him. Il came here
on hunting trip. III move on in the
morning. The game is pretty we'll kill.
ed out"
lie was trying to talk of common.
place things, and keep his eyes from
seeing the picture of the man Anne
loved
Yes, the natives hunt great
deal"
She lighted a tall standing lamp and
Laurie watched the flame flicker and
then burn steadily. He looked again
toward the shrine. The picture in
the silver frame was his own.
Anne. what does that mean? The
child out there said thatsyou kept a
shrine to tho memory of some
man YOU loved. Anne, what does it
mean?"
You left me because somebody told
YOU that Aunt Patricia had left me her
fortune, together with her godson,
Lord Dunsford. You believed and
and"
Your cousin Tom, your own law.
yer. told me. thought you didn't
care, Anne, whom do you love-"
Anne threw the yellowed galax
leaves into the fire where they burn.
ed sputteringly. then replaced them
with the fresh ones Kitty had gather.
ed on the mountain. She turned back
then to the figure in brown corduroy.
Did you think IL could forget you
for all the money and lords in the
world?" she sobbed.
Il came looking for game" he said,
his arms about her. and have
found the most desirable game in the
world. and yet. don't want to shoot
It. Will you let me put this game
In captivity-in my heart-for always.
Amer"
For always" said Anne. softly.
NO matters what comes, will you
love me on and on. DEAR"
Then came her answer that sent hot
- - l.