The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1912-03-08
AT THE
SWING

gined with hsry gold. flung long Ger
ial shadows athwart the sky. There
was the smell Of new rain, though
the turf under foot was dust-dry. A
shower had come within sight across
the meadows. then veered away south.
srly. Amy was glad to had vesred. Her
white frock. crisp and sheer. would
have wilted in the damp Of It. The
rain had been too slight to do more
than freshen the ART still came
warm to the cheek, but without the
sting that had marked midday
breexes.
At 8 o'clock Of q midsummer after.
noon. roses droop on the stalk, but
rose-cheeks are at their fairest. Amy
proved the fact-she knew she had
never looked better-therefore she
was gay and proud. The Carlyns,
mother and son. were coming to an
early tea. It was their FIRST approach
to sociability. Ever since they moved
Into the old Earle place they had held
themselves distantly toward the coun.
trysida
That had not suited Amy. yet she
had given no sign Of her dissatisfac.
ton. She was born ambitious-Lenox
Carlyn was Just the sort Of man she
wanted to marry. well-bred. well.to-do.
above all rather distinguished. She
had no mere vulgar greed for money.
n spite Of having had II In plenty al
her life. But she did yearn 70 reach
social pinnacles-ths rare heights
whore the exalted had their being.
Her people. the Watsons, were wholly
undistinsuishsd. Notwithstanding they
we're each and several. patterns Of
thzlft sobriety and the moral virtues.
Secretly Amy had always snvisd
Leslie May. her college mate, notwith-
standing Leslie had had few and plain
clothes. little money TO spend, and
never box from homo. She was IN
orphan. bound to work for her living
the college course was provided
through the viii Of IN elderly relative
who had LETT . million to missions.
But she Wa also . governors grand
daughter. and entitled to use . crest
whom she could afford Il Amy would
have Given her string Of pearls for .
crest. She Wa bent on having one,
Il ever she goe away from the neigh.
borhood. whore folk. moving her ped.
iQes. would only laugh It Il.
She was glad and sorry to have
Leslie ~ . guest: glad because her
presence gave . reasonable excuse for
the mild fsstivity: sorry in that she
felt herself, to . degree. hampered BY
hospitality-it would not do to eclipse
Leslie. either In clothes or charms.
Hence the white frock, fine and lacy
to Be sure: hence. also. the conspicu.
Gus absence Of the pearls. Leslie had
begged her to put them on. saying:
You set them Oh % It's q shame
to leave them In their case"
Instead Of them Amy had only q
little gold chain. twin to that about
Leslie's neck. Otherwise there was
no likeness between them. Leslie's
limp organdis was palpably faded, her
slippers . bit scufRed. her ribbons
crumpled. Further. she had done her
hair In her usual severe fashion.
There the rain had helped q bit, bring.
Ing the loose ends Of It into curl, and
20 framing her mobile face in tendrilly
wisps. She really looked her best.
Amy's hair, yellow a. wheat, was
smooth. and beautifully dressed. mo
dishly dressed to be sure, yet not In
such wise - to deform her iine small
head
Make haste and marry q DUKE
this head deserves strawberry leaves
1t least" Leslie had said, TOUCHING
The golden softness admiringly.
Amy had smiled-she did not aspire
to dukes. but It was pleasant to hear
Dhs deserved them. After ill. Leslie
was . good sort When she her,elf
was safely married, she would Get
about helping her friend to . like han.
~ estate. Just now such Z thing was
but Of the question. SO she had asked
voung Danforth By way Of balancing
Leslie. He was her stand by-they
had grown up together upon adjoining
'arms. and though gossip had been
them since he put on long
trousers. she had never thought Of |
him - Q lover.
Leslie might do worse, from a world. !
y point Danforth II not rich was
comfortably OF. withal energetic. But
leslie would never In the world look
It him-he bored her. Amy knew II
.hough Leslie had been always too
,ourteous to say %. Somewhat will.
ul. also high-headed was Leslie. She
night have had half the mission.mi,.
ion, II only she had agreed to give
Ter life to the cause. Yet now she
rood laughing and talking with n.,.