The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1912-10-23
The GAME.
BY ENocH KYLE.

The man was going to get mar
ried. He had sown his wild oats
and now he meant to settle down
Well off, good looking, first rat.
sportsman, favorite with men ant
women alike. the Fates spinning busil,
had smiled upon him at birth and hat
woven only gold threads in the WOO
Of his life.
It was because he felt it incum
bent upon him to play the game thai
he decided to tell the woman he was
going to marry CT certain newly
closed episode in his life. The con
sideration that perhaps it would be
rs well for her to hear the tale from
him first-hand, instead OF embroidered
with lies on foundation Of truth, as
she might hear it from some ore else
may have counted lor something, too
But tie reason he gave himself Is
';2 kno,tol his sio caratl u before the
MIRO on the fate.ui morning 0.
confes;on was that he mast play
The game
II hardly know how to tell you.
DEAR" he began awk|ardly, standing
tall and perfectly groomed on the
hearthrug that afternoon. ITS so diff.
ficult to speak to wOmen-pure w0m-
en-, like you-about certain things. but
the fact of the matter Is. I've been
an awful rotter. Evelyn, and l feel it's
up to me to own 1t. You're not mar.
rying saint, you know
The fair-haired woman in the big
armchair looked up at him sweetly
out Of innocent blue eyes: Dear, do
know" she said gently.
He moved uncomfortably But it's
just what you don't know" he told her,
that I'm worrying about. I'm not
thinking of cards and racing, and
things like that. It's about women
want to speak to you. Especially one
woman" He paused and bit his lip
nervously.
All" said the woman softly, look
ing down.
She was nice little thing" went
on the man Not quite lady, you
know, but very pretty, and all that.
Her father drank. She ran
away from home. Hadn't Il friend IN
the world when picked her up. Only
the streets in front of her. A good
woman like you, Evelyn, can't realize
what the horror of that means. :.
I took fiat for her.
"Ah!" said the woman softly.
Il lived with her more or less for
three years." went on the man, gather.
ing courage from her passiveness.
She was very grateful for all had
done for her; she was really quite
nice little thing. But, of course, that's
all over and done with now. set
tied up finally with her today. shall
never see her again. There was no
reason for you ever to know, Evelyn,
only that | felt it wouldn't be quite
playing the game not to tell YOU
What has become of the girl?'
asked the woman, still softly and still
looking away.
The man shrugged his shoulders.
Still in the fiat, presume" he said
carelessly. 1.-THE rent Is paid till De.
cember" His voice became persua.
sive. He bent down SO that his face
was very near the coils Of hair wound
smoothly round her head. Don't let's
talk about her any MORE" he urged.
IT'S all finished and done with. Now,
don't frown, but just kiss me. and say
you forgive me-"
You're very naughty boy, Jack"
said the woman reprovingly. but she
let him wind her smooth white arms
round his neck. as he knelt beside her
on the floor. Then if you promise
never. never to do it again, I'll for
give you," she said prettily.
He caught her. flushed and smiling.
to him fercely. my saint" he
breathed upon her mouth
In q daintily furnished room of 4 lit.
tie fiat in Queens Club Gardens
woman lay dead upon the bed with an
empty phial in her hand. There were
traces Of tears upon her white. cold
cheeks; her closed eyelids were swol.
len. Her lover had failed her. There
was nothing between her but the
streets.
So she, too, had played the game"
God will decide who played 1t best.