The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1912-06-26
Fafeful
Miss Douglas

tiny with smiling cheerfulneSs. job
Macpherson Was enjoying to the u
most bic little visit to his sister. whol
ne had not seen since her marriage
couple Of years previous, 20 be di
not IN the least understand why sh
should sigh and remark seriously. 1T
too bad: yes. 1t is!"
WHAT" he asked, lastly.
Why. that you got here Just tn
day after Isabel Douglas left town.
responded pretty little Mrs. Ransom
'snes the dearest girl! She's"
Lives in Kentucky. beautiful a.
dream. glorious brown eyes. mos
Charming disposition on earth. Is
"Where'd you meet ner!" broke ii
Mrs. Ransom. breathlessly.
i never had the pleasure" laughed
ner brother. only | had to cit on,
whole evening during my visit in To
ledo and hear my hostess recount tn,
cnarms OF this most evasive Isabel
She had left there just the week be
lore my arrival. seem to cast q
blighting shadow over her enjoyment;
at any rate. she runs at my approach.
| Now. isn't that Queer?" said his
sister. but. really. John. I'm In
earnest about wanting you to know
her,"
SO was my Toledo hostess" he an.
swered. amusedly. III only the lady
and were Of similar mind and as
much In earnest. nothing on earth
could save us from wedding cake and
rice. But We aren't, thank the fates,
he cried rather fervently.
At the age of IS. John MacPher.
son. comfortable in his bachelor quar-.
ters in New York. wealthy enough to
indulge any within, looked with quiet
and polite pity at the unfortunates
he knew tied down to domestic cares
he had fully decided he wanted none
OF that for him-what happiness he
might miss was more than compen-
stated for In peace and quiet and free.
dom.
You're wrong, Jack" said his
sister. rather wistfully. Aren't you
ever going to abandon your crazy no
tons and marry sN,ne nice girl and
settle DOWN."
lie threw out his hands In mock dis
may as he got to his feet. I'm the
most settled down person you ever
saw. Man," he protested. I'm az
steady as railway time table and
perfectly contented Just az l am. l
could attend the wedding OF some 9TH
er fellow to your amiable Isabel with.
out a Qualm."
mo. you couldn't" said his sis.
ter forcibly. You've never seen
herr"
But II he had not seen her the fame
Of Miss Isabel Douglas was destined
to haunt his ears. During his visit
at his sisters he heard Miss Douglas
name SO frequently on the lips Of WIS.,
itors that he grew half irritated. 1t
was impossible that any girl should be
such o paragon-and II she was he
had no desire to know her.
Such perfection would be tiresome,
he concluded: and 30 he dismissed
her from his mind.
When he reached Chicago on his
homeward way he stopped to transact
some business. Phillips. his lawyer.
was most cordial In pressing his New
York client to come out to his house, |
and MACPHERSON was half inclined TO- |
accept. His frame of mind expert.
enced an instantaneous change, how.
ever. when Phillips added:
We've a visitor coming tomorrow
you'd like to meet. know-Miss lisa.
bel Douglas Of Kentucky. She"
Sorry" said Mr.. MACPHERSON. de-
,idedly. but l can't wait over a day
IN any account, my dear man" At
hat moment he would have gone q
hundred miles out OF his way to es.
ape meeting this southern paragon.
He did not stop to reflect she un.
had not the slightest desire
Il meeting him. either-the constant
ound OF her name and the rehearsal
4 her attractions had nodded itself
nto haunting shadow. pursuing him,
nd he actually disliked the very
bought OF her. He wondered GROSSLY
Thy she never stayed home where she
elonged. Then he went back 70 New
'ork.
Strangely enough, even there he was
OF left In peace. One OF the newspa-
ers printed page of pictures and
ossip about beautiful women, and.
lily glancing 1t over. the name Of
douglas caught his eye. He grganed
s he looked closer-yes. the first {
anne was Isabel Then he searched
Or the picture OF her and sta-cd at {
half Indignantly. 1t was Il very
'vely face, more than that, II was
igh-bred and thoughtful. as well as
erfect In line and form.
But John MACPHERSON had son too I
lany beautiful women to be es,ec ALLY I
ttracted by any one in I.atlcalar. I
e wondered idly what there rJgd be
bout this particular girl which so .
ypnotized her friends and arg.aint- v
noes. In few weeks Sc Mad pass- V
out of his mind entirely. c
But John Macpherson vas rot to II
ip out of the clutches 0. lc,e-mined '