The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1912-02-03

some residence he has erected there. :
i expect her name is Olympia and
ne named the ranch after her." com
mented Aunt Betsy. breathlessly. In
closing.
Very likely" smiled Drusilla, hel
race suddenly losing its frozen stern
ness. and Aunt Betsy founced from
the room to prepare the neglected din
ner.
When she was alone Drusilla relax
ed her clenched fingers and leaned
back In her low chair. She closed heI
eyes and there were little lines Ol
suffering about her temples and lips
IF they wouldn't watch me So" she
whispered to herself Presently she
sat up and pulled at the ring Emmett
had given her and which she always
wore on her engagement finger. She
realized that the gOssips who pre-
dicted Emmet's decertion regarded the
ring as barometer. So long as she
wore 1t they knew he must be faith.
ful. In the face of current talk about
the newspaper item she knew they
would expect the ring to disappear.
Suddenly she pushed the ring back
to Its piece and a soft light filled her
eyes. How do | know" she asked
herseli earnestly. Perhaps Emmett
Is faithful promised to wait for him
and will until II is proved that he Is
false Laurel Cove can say what it
likes don't care" Sn Drusilla
Fo:t' .:.'Scl the ring with little.half-
sfamcI gesture and picked up her
necd'"work once moro. Faith in her
lover shore in her eyes
So \uni rctSy found her. and rs the
old women surveyed her nicce's sweet
ly serene countenancc she felt that
here WIS ~ nnsNcrvin" consistency
That must compel her admiration. and
she g1n to doubt The authenticity of
the Windy River paragraph Half the
time these. newspapers don't know
what they're writing about" she
grumh'td rs shc suddenly turned
Ground and horpcd ont to tho Kitchen,
"Drusilla." she called mildly. come
out and get yonr diancr you must be
most starved"
OF course they came to see how
Drnsi'a Ford took the news Of her
lovers dcScrtioa. They were not
spitotul or malicious In their curiosity.
but Laurel Cove was quiet place and
the people had grown to look uron ro-
manccs and tragedies with an eager.
ness that might have been partially
satisfied by witnessing n play on the
stage They Were kind at heart. but
they hungercd for the drama of human
life.
Drusilla was cool and sweet and
evaded their Indirect questions. and
changed the subject whenever It grew
EXCEPTIONALLY close to her intimate
affairs So they went away bafilcd
and told each other that Drusilla was
cold hearted anyway
The next evening Mt sunset, while
Drusila and her aunt were eating sup
per, there came n knock ut the front
door. II was familiar double knock
that brought a radiance to the girls
face and startled Aunt Betsy to keen
alertness
AS Drusilla started for the door.
Aunt Betsy arose and followed her to
the entry.
"Whoop eeec?" cried Emmett Blake
softly as he held out his arms to Dru-
silla. "You got my letter DEAR" lie
asked this question with his lips press
ing against his swccthcart's fair hair.
you got my letter telling you was
coming after you, and to have the we'd
ding buds all rcady?"
II never got It, said Drusila from
the shelter of his arm; "but I'm ready
as ! said would be, Emmett. when
YOU came for me-"
Aunt Betsy. pecring around tho
door. admired Emmett llakc's tall
manliness and considered that he had
grown very handsome and brown du
ring his absence She heard him tell
Drusilla about his ambition 10 own a
big ranch before he sent for her, and
how at last nc had built a large new
house. and they were 20 stop In Chi.
cago and choose the furniture on their
way out to Montana.
The old woman, looking at them.
felt a warm glow in her heart and her
face softened pagically. Just then
Emmet looked up and saw her gazing
at them. He winked amiably at her
and waved a Diminishing hand. and
Aunt Betsy laughed as she disap
peared.
"Tll write to Emeline: she can send
,ne Of the girls to come and live with
me now" she murmured importantly:
and I guess I'll 60 and tell the news
% Mrs. BUELL."