The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1912-04-23

trees. He found her there. quite OBJ
livious To his presence. sObbing as If
her heart would break Dared he break
in or her grief. whatever II was?
Something told him that her fathers
indiscreet confession had something
to do with her presence here.
Her maiden pride had been dashed
by the old mans carelessly spoken
words. and she had feigned an en-
gagement and come ont here alone
lIapswell dared another flare OF her
anger and spoke.
"Ah, here you are, Miss Annie Bell
was sure you would be in this re-
treat wonder if you will honor me
by being my first passenger in the ma
chine? I'm going up now.
She furtively wiped her drenched
eyes and looked at him from the
shadow of flower.laden hat
Il was going to prayer-meeting.
but changed my mind" she said in a
shaky voice.
I'm glad of that because now you
can go with me-" he answered cheer
lily.
Are YOU really going up tonight"
asked Annie Bell with interest.
Yes. Just for a little flight In the
moonlight Do YOU want to speak to
your parents first"
"No-father said this morning !
might 60 up with you, and mother said
she didn't care if she wasn't asked to
look at me up in the air." laughed
Annie Rell.
Together they walked to the aero
plane and he assisted her into it. first
removing her flower hat and tying one
of his large handkerchiefs over her
hair.
He started the engine. and learcd TO
a seat beside her as the propeller
whirred noisly The aeroplane rolled
over the pasture and then gradually
assembled until Annie Bells heart al.
most stopped heating, and involunta
rily she clutched Hapswell's arm.
That's all right. hold tight" he
reassurcd her, and Annie Bell felt that
holding on to his arm was her only
clutch on life at all.
After they had sailed above the tree
tops, and she had dared TO look dowl
upon new view of familiar objects
Annie Rcll recovered her nerve ant
dropped her hold upon llapswell':
arm. She closed her eyes and enjoy
cd to the full the delightful sensation
of sailing through moonlit space.
"It's too beautiful to last" sh'
sighed when hc asked her how SHE
liked It,
ut can happen again as often n
you choose" he said earnestly.
"Fut YOU are going home mex
week" reminded Annie Rcll.
do YOU care. Annie l1ell?" askc
Ilapswcll in low tone,
IL don't know" whispered Ami
Bell, turning her head away.
The machine turned and swoopc
around toward the farm. The plane
vibratcd strangely and the engin
skipped throb or two.
"What Is the natter" asked IN
girl.
"Annie Bell" said llapswell hOars
ly, III | told you that the aeroplan
was going to fall to earth and XIII u
both what would you say" lie locke
straight into her eyes and she gaze
back calm and smiling.
IL wouldn't care--not with you" si
said bravcly, and there were tears
Hapswell's eyes.
That's what wanted to knoy
dear" he said. "There isn't a mite
danger. Wen sail down as nice as ca
be--only had to find out tonight, an
you said you didn't know"
81 know now" said Annie Rel, an
after that It was not strange IN;
IIapswell managed to kiss her eve
$ though they we're in midair, salil
Z, above the people going home fro
$ church, all of whom would have bee
$ highly scandalizcd if they could hay
| IA a IL