The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1912-05-31

wraps. answering with commonplace
quiet whatever Alsop had to say.
There was no rebound In her-she did
not even admit how stupid she had
round the rich folk. Her husband was
all taken aback-she had always been
as responsive as harp-string and as
vivid as a summer day.
III his heart he cursed roundly the
root of trouble-the little lame dog
she had found and fetched home, only
TO have il sent by his mother straight
to the pound This was the sensible
hing, Of cOurse-but the furry limo
cent. hungry and friendless. had gone
straight into ElinOr's heart. She had
begged 10 keep it-only until 1t was
well. and she could find home for IL.
Her mother-in-law had been inexor
able. with the result of sending her
| into stormy tears. Throughout the
next six weeks Of dry-cyed calm on
her part. William Alsop thought he
would welcome anything that would
bring back the tears.
She kept going. going. from her
late rising TO her later lying down.
The house she had let slip into elder
hands. giving over even the account
books which had been her special
pride. Business drove Alsop as hard
as Elinor drove herself in the name
Of pleasure. She helped him indubi.
lably. Traver stuck at nothing in his
behalf. Want to make some pretty
money for the pretty child to throw
away" he said sometimes. with a
chuckle, Travcr's word had weight,
especially when his money went he.
hind ii. After feverish campaign,
Nsop caught brcath-to find himself
richer by quarter Of a million
He started home early. but moved
by queer impulse stopped at ia.
nous jewelers. shop. 1t had suddenly
come to him that Elinor loved pearls
he would buy her string. the hand.
soonest he could find. even though the
cost might be half his recent gains.
tie was no Judge of such things, but
the shop imprint was a guarantee
besides. it employed the best Of all
experts. AlsOp had nodding &C.
quaintance with the expert. Moving
among bewildering counters In search
OF him. he came In view Of a couple
standing face to face. The woman
back was to him the man he recOg-
nzed as an elderly bachelor banker,
enormously rich. with the name Of be.
ing also enormously INSCRIPTIONS lie
was smiling down at the woman, and
saying l~rsuaslvcly. III you will but
rermit-whaa happiness for me Any
thing here or In the whole world.
iOn love pearls r"
Alsop made almost leap for the
pair something familiar in tho out
line of throat and shoulders. In the
silken chestnut hair, told him who was
listening. But he was MN enough
gentleman enough, to carry Off things
we'll II see my wife has been con
Tossing her pet sins to you. Mr.. VOr
trcss, he said. stepping between them
Are you Judge Of pearls? How
lucky! My business here Is to bu!
her string"
mot nOw-sOme other day." Elmo
murmured compOsedly. turning to 70
Alsop walked possessively besid.
her, put her into her cab and himself
followed her.
Not until they had made the rOun(
Of the park did he speak Then. lit
ing his haggard face from the hands
that had hidden It. he asked. miser
ably. "Elinor. how far has this gone
How long have YOU known Vortrcss
How dared he offer you
Travcrs presented him 4 have tol
Grated him for business reasons" ELL
nor said coldly. AS TO his offer
Yon see am still foolish. lie toll,
me You had won out as you don
need me any longer. ! am going ava.
in the morning"
"Elinor. Darling. | need you Al
never before love you. love. love
love you better than all the world
Try TO forgive me know | was bru
tal," Alsop painted. only say -yOl
shall have whatever you want-evel
II ii should be a hundred dogs"
Elinor sat trembling, her eyes hui
mid II don't want any dog now.
she murmured Il ought TO go ava!
but truly cannot want my-hus
handf"