The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1912-09-05

i
emptory with suddenly roused eA
element
.You see" she began, her grasp
on the table edge tightening, when
! reached here there were crowds OF
neople about you so that it was i'm
nossible TO speak to you by your
self I had had a slight headache
when I left home. and by ten O'CLOCK
it had grown so much worse that |
saw it was foolish to try to remain
the rest OF the evening. So slipped
in here for moment, scrubbed
note to you-with my answer-ana
hid il. wanted you to read H.
alone in the quiet, after everybody
was gone. Then gave directions 20
one of the servants. told him where
had pat the note and how he was to
Tell YOU about it before you went to
he'd Wade insisted on going nome
with me. and to keep from distressing
anyone we slipped away with only
hurried eoodby to your grand
mother"
she paused Lethridge looked AZ
her with a strange expression.
Il never got the message, ne
aid
Il know it-now. But didn't
know il the next day when ] was
sick in bed-that headache was the
lightning OF an attack Of grip-and
when waited, thinking surely you
1 would come. You sailed without
even telephoning me. was angry
and my pride was hurt. 1t didn't
occur to me until long afterward tnat
there might have been mistake.
What believed was that you had
! changed your mind about how you
fel, toward me and that you thought
the safest way out OF 1t was merely
to disregard my note"
ITO what servant did you give the
messageo" asked Lethridge after a
pause.
Il think II was your grandmother
old butler. knew his face and was
sure could trust him to deliver the
message"
I.ethridge's face changed Watson!
remember It all The old fellow was
stricken with apoplexy that very eve
ming and never regained conscious
ness. I didn't know It till next morn
Ing So that explains It." lie turned
to her again. And where did you
put the note?" he inquired
Here. In this room. | slipped II
into the silver lamp there"
With quick gesture Lethridge
reached up into the carved recep
tacle and withdrew his hand. Gov
cred with dust He held yellowed
scrap OF paper which was wrapped
around something brown and crum
bling
THAT was rose a pink rose
from my bouquet" said Mrs. Barrow
with a nervous little laugh
slowly Iethridge read the faded
writing. his face paling. lie finished
and put the note into his pocket. then
stood gazing at her, a queer pain al
his heart For moment neither
spoke.
"After-after | married. said Mrs
Barrow, hesitatingly. Il sometimes
wondered II something like this hadn''
happened. 1t was so unlike you to ac'
as I FIRST accused you OF acting But
didn't feel right about trying to ind
out when l was Wade's wife. woult
never come here even on the small
chance Of finding the note while h(
was alive"
While Wade was alive"
Yes You knew. OF course tha
Wade died-at Carlsbad-two year.
ago."
II hadn't heard it, Poor Wade
But why do say that? He mus
have been happy. He had everything
man could want to make him so.
She looked down at the faded car
pet Yes. believe he was-ver!
happy" she replied Then, after
moment. and In brighter tone. We'll
my mission is fulfilled have fount
what I came to search for-mv oil,
note. and my belief in you. An,
now il is time to depart. Shall lool
forward to seeing you before you e
away Come in some afternoon {,
tea and we'll talk OF old days"
Why not talk them over now,
I.ethridge moved step nearer her
Say it Is ten years ago am tn,
same Frank T.ethridge. and you ar,
Polly Hayden You're Just twenty
That's a far flight for fancy" sh,
smiled ruefully
For fancy. perhaps. but is 1t a ia
flight for-love9 Listen: have Jus
read Your note The nine years 1
took 10 reach me have not been Ion,
enough to alter the question to whicl
il replies. Tell me the truths |
too late for me to hope"
She hes'ated much as she ha,
done on previous occasion. a sud
den shyness in her eyes. He leane,
toward her impulsively and caugh
her two hands In his.
Polly I'm repeating my cues
ton What answer will you Civ
me-"
You have 1t in your pocket" sh