The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1912-04-12
In the Second
Row Back

l
of pasteboard, his words came in dull
even tones.
Here are the theater tickets l
bought last week. If you care to 60.
We may as we'll pass the time there as
in any other way"
Before answering she closed her
book and placed it carefully upon the
table. She gave no hint of haste nor
of the response that passed through
her at his words.
Since you have the tickets. yes"
Just as she feared, he caught her
wrist as she passed and held her In
a firm grasp.
Marian, what sense is there in this
stubbOrnness? You know that | DO
not care so much for the reason OF
your going as | do your not telling
me-"
She tried to free herself. THAT is
not true" she gasped. You want to
know why went there. Id have told
you, some time, if you'd trusted me-"
But, Marian, hear you've been 60
ing there for a month. and I've known
nothing OF it. You knew Id hate q
thing like that
your informant ought to have
found out more. Why not have him
try again? I'll never tell you, never.
No matter what happens, rll-never
-tell-you."
He dropped her hand at that. and
she went on into the other room.
When she returned she had all her
emotions we'll in control.
They reached their seats In the the
alter Just as the curtain went up. In
the half light Marian removed her hat
and coat, and tried to settle herself to
gather the threads thrown out in the
first act.
Suddenly into the strained silence OF
the audience came voice. "She says
she doesn't love him but she'll marry
him.
II was a girls voice, and there was
familiar ring in 1t TO Marian. Did
she say she'd marry him?" This time
it was an older, more cautious voice.
Yes, but she does not love him."
There was stir and wavering TIT
ter among those within hearing
Marian sighed and wondered II ever
again she should feel SO much inter
est in anything as one could hear In
that girls voice. The play held moth
ing for her. She wondered how ii was
with James. To her the pretenst
of enjoyment was becoming bur
den and she wished that they had moi
come.
"She says she does not love him. but
he'll never know. Oh. it's awfully ex
citing" Again Marian felt the stir In
the audience, again she lOnged to see
the play with the heart and eyes oil
the girl. II she could keep hel
thoughts upon the actors she must for
get. for a little while, her heartache
lie says he's buttinski. Oh, he's
the funniest"
The curtain fell, the lights flashed
up. Marian found herself In state Of
painful bewildermcnt. Sometime!
when she and James talked it over be
tween the acts, they could come to
better understanding of the play. She
took cautious glance at her husband
He was sitting severely straight ant
still.
Marian gave up all thought o.
following the play. An unexpect
ed tragedy had come into her Owl
life. and nothing could blot it from
her mind. Each moment she was be
coming more frightened at the out
come of her quarrel. They could no
90 on like this.
Hector says he'll stand by her Il
the end, if he dies for it, 1t was the
girls voice again in explanation.
Marian felt a relaxation Of her tense
nerves. oh, what time she should
have had to keep James quiet if
She was back at the old worry again
1t pressed harder She began to be
lieve that she could not bear 1t much
longer She would have to tell James
but things could never be the same
again. He had doubted her and he
had been so cruel about 1t that he hat
forced her to tell.
Marian glanced at her husband. lie
cleared his throat and changed his pc
sition. The voice in continued con
versation was tantalizingly familiar
Cautiously Marian moved her head
Just little way. and then
"Oh, mamma, there's the lady that
comes to Helen's to give us the
dancing lessons. Yes, the one right
here In the silk dress, the shepherds
check. Oh. she is just lovely"
That's her husband; Helen showed
him to me yesterday. He is awfully
good looking"
/ Marian moved closer to the chair
next the aisle and whispered:
IL wanted to buy that Gibbons
for your birthday, James, with my
ovn money I knew you wouldn't like