The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1912-04-19
The Broken
Vase
Ry Pearl BaSh.HeCkel

/ ly to get out 0l The way OF speeding
automobile H.. bumped against some
bcdy back of lin. AMI there was a
half-suppresscd feminine cry, followed
by a crash as of broken china.
In confused apology he turned and
hehs III the most beautiful girl he had
oy,r seen. With womanly tact. she
tried 10 relieve his embarrassment and
hide her own dismay. The package
which he had knocked from her hand
he ruelully picked up, and as he es-
corted her to the sidewalk he could
feel the pieces of broken china in
their wrappings.
Pray forgive me-" he exclaimed, Il
am more sorry than ! can say. Ill
take this article with me and have It
replaced"
A look almost OF fright came into
the young woman's face. and In anx.
ious tones she said:
"Oh. no! You must not think OF 1t!
can't let you have this"
She reached out her hand for the
Inflated package.
Ralph was surprised at her agita.
ton. But he was also impressed by
the remarkable sweetness Of her voice.
IN be ashamed II you will not al
low me to undo this mischief. 1t
good Of you to belittle my awkward.
ness, but I've got TO do something for
my own self-respect"
There was such sincerity in his
tones that she could not In kindness
disregard them as he continued:
Il am Ralph Woodson. May l not
have your address, and send you a
duplicate OF this article?"
Again she displayed feeling Of
real embarrassment.
please give 1t to me-" she insisted.
and held out her hand for the pack
age. He could not resist the pleading
in her eyes, and reluctantly gave 1t
to her.
With the article once more in her
grasp. she was her graceful self
again. Evidently wishing to relieve
young WoodsOn's uneasness, she said
after moments hesitation:
II am Miss Darragh. live at No.
30 Baltimore avenue. II 1t will make
you more comfortable, you may send
me a piece Of brac-a-brac. Only,
must tell you. my tastes are very
simple"
Ralph wanted to prOlong the inter
view, but there seemed no further
excuse for 1t.
They moved away in opposite direc.
tons. He. following his habit Of
prompt action. went to noted bric-a.
brac establishment. The proprietor
was friendly and loquacious. for the
young man had been good customer
on one or two occasions. Ralph ex-
planned something of the plight he was
In, and Mr.. Grimm smiled knowingly.
He suspected that the purchase would
be directed more or less by the heart.
and not by the pOcketbOok. He
brought out a little vase which he
carried with more than ordinary care.
| This" he explained. lis a piece OF
, genuine old Vienna ware. II Is one
OF very handsome pair of vases. The
mate to this piece disappeared from
our display window yesterday. We've
got detectives all over the city on
the lookout for it,"
| Raln hn nd
He had made up his mind to the
presumption of delivering 1t in per
son. Accordingly, he left his law Of
flee carly in the afternoon. and was
room awaiting. with a shade of anxi.
ETY.. Miss BARRACKS entrance. He was
conscious in a general way of the
quiet elegance of his surroundings,
but all his active mind was occupied
with the mere pleasure of being there,
the pleasure of meeting again the
woman whose personality had domi
mated the whole day for them.
The soft rustic of skirts announced
her coming. and Ralph rose to meet
her. She was more charming than
he had thought. No woman had ever
before seemed to him so gracious and
lovable.
In accepting the package from his
hand. she revealed happy anticipa.
ton as to the contents. He watched
her admiringly while she unwrapped
the box, and felt secure In the thought
she must ind bic gift faultless. She
lifted the lid with playful eagerness,
but at sight Of the vase within. start
ed back In dismay. A low cry escaped
her lips. and she hastily laid the box
on table near BY lest the vase fall
from her trembling fingers.
Ralph. disappointed and hurt. led
her to q chair. Miss DarraSh looked
up at him tremblingly. and her eyes
pleaded forgiveness.
Il am very sorry, Mr.. Woodson.
You will think me nervous and queer.
know. But I was startled. III show
you why"
She opened . drawer Of the table
and took from 1t the little package
with which Ralph was already famil.
lar. He opened 1t at her bidding. and
there. in pieces. lay the exact counter.