The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1912-07-17

but | didn't suppose she'd try to
break things UP between Jimmy and
me-
lie doesn't deserve you, Norma.
began Filly angrily. and then remem'
/ bered that he WAS criticising Stella ae
well. he was silent awhile.
II can't understand wOmen's vanity.
Norma. and wouldn't believe this OF
her from anyone but you. You're too
good little friend and too truthful
not to be believed. Let's help each
other out. Does anyone but me know
how you feel about Strafford
She shook her head. Not soul"
I've been so ashamed OF flirting with
Jerry Peters just to hide my real
feelings. Ill stop or 20 straight
home"
You'll stay right here! Going
would be confession Tell you.
Norme, let's stay right by each
other. You flri with me-and I'll firt
with you. and We won't mind what
anyone thinks. 1t may bring those
two people to time. What do you
say" The girl nodded, but her heart
was sore that James STAFFORD would
yield TO tho aggressive, sparkling. al
most malicious destinations of Stella
the moment she tried them on him.
Billy was comfort, and she told him
SO. They went back to the others.
The next few weeks saw a queer
change in the affairs Of the dozen
young people. most Of them out at
Eilly's summer home for couple Of
months. Billy and Norma were al.
ways together, inseparablc.
As Stanford saw Norma so Obliv.
ious Of him. he began to think of her
NOR" and more. wondering if Stella
was, after all, the one girl for him?
One morning he asked Norma for a
walk. but she told him swcctly enough
that She WAS Goltng with Billy that
day. No, she wouldn't 20 out on the
lake in the evcning-Billy wanted her
to learn now song
behind them stood Stella. queer
look on her piquanl, brown little face.
Saun,cring off to The garden, she man.
AGED to run AGAINST Hilly-she was
sweet and appealing and meek She
hadn't seen anything Of him, he was
SO busy with his duties of host. She
would he glad Wh,n he wasn't so
busy. She dimplcd and sparklcd, her
old self TO him. hu somehow he could
not rise to the old ready alteration
If the girl. LOYAL himself, he loved
loyalty in another II was not that
he couldn't forgive, but he saw a lack
Of quality in her 'hn, to satisfy mere
vanity, had hurt Elm. hurt Norma .
and perhaps St'aiord. Billy was
grave. Courtcoush enough, he led
hor back to the house and started
with Norma for the links.
on the ycr;nda Siraiford also VAS
looking after them. Stul'l turned TO
him with Il queer little Ii, h.
Quite Il case. don't you think, Jim.
N.Y."
He frowncd. Suddenly he didn't
like her to call him Jimmy" though
he had begged her to do SO not very
long before. Neither did he like the
light tone about Norma. lie made
nj up11-,,I h,, al Inn
self with his pipe.
Out on the links Billy and Norma
eolfcd and laughed. They had sought
comfort and had found it.
1t was the evening that followed
that Stella made a discovery. Billy
and Norma Lad walked out on tho
moonlit beach and sat together on
the sand watching u stiff breeze send
the waves tapping up at the shore line.
Billy put his arm over Norma's Shout.
der with "A loving little movement.
A light laugh made them both start,
but insiinctivcly Billy kept his arm
where il was. They looked up and
saw Stella and STAFFORD, the latter
walking unwillingly as though he
wished he were elsewhere. Stella
laughed again.
What Il charmiag little scene! I
hope We do not interrupt? Is it real
or just improviscd, Romco?" She ad.
dressed Billy and was answered by
him.
Norma and | are real pcoplc-we
don't inprovisc on theme like-love.
It's real. Isn't it, Norman"
She nodded Suddenly she knew
that she and Billy loved each other
deeply and sWectly, and that these
other peolle and their little jealousios
ana weaknesses mcaut nothing 10
ciiA.r Il iLom. 'U thcrc was sill
'haa j iemiujna lire ia tho effl -