The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1912-06-28
In the Second
Row Back

clock striking the hour made them
both look up He was first to speak.
As he drew from his pocket two slips
of pasteboard, his words came in dull
even tones.
"Here are the theater tickets !
bought last week. If you care to go.
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 n
q firm grasp.
Marian, what sense is there in this
stubbornness? You know that dc
not care so much for the reason OF
your going as l do your not telling
me-"
She tried to free herself. That is
not true" she gasped. You want tt
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 {
thing like that"
"Your informant ought to have
found out more. Why not have hin
try again? I'll never tell you, never
No matter what happens. rll-neve
-tell-you."
He dropped her hand at that. ant
she went on into the other room
When she returned she had all he
emotions we'll in control.
They reached their seats in the the
alter Just as the curtain went up. II
the half light Marian removed her ha
and coat, and tried to settle herself t
gather the threads thrown out In tn
first act
Suddenly into the strained silence o
the audience came voice. "She say
she doesn't love him but she'll MARI
him."
1t was a girls voice, and there wa
familiar ring in it to Marian. "Di
she say she'd marry him?' This tim
1t was an older, more cautious voice
"Yes, but she does not love him."
There was stir and a wavering til
ter among those within hearing
Marian sighed and wondered If eve
again she should feel SO much int
est In anything as one could hear Il
that girls voice. The play held notf
ing for her. She wondered how 1t wa
with James. To her the pretens
Of enjoyment was becoming a bul
den and she wished that they had nc
come.
. "She says she does not love him. bu
he'll never know. Oh. it's awfully el
citing!" Again Marian felt the stir !
tho audience. again she longed to Sc
the play with the heart and eyes Z
the girl. II she could keep he
thoughts upon the actors she must TO
get. for a little while. her heartach'
He says he's buttinski. Oh, he
the funniest"
The curtain fell. the lights fashe
up. Marian found herself in a state {
painful bewilderment. Sometime
when she and James talked It over b.
tween the acts, they could come to
better understanding Of the play. Sh
took cautious glance at her husband
He was sitting severely straight an
: still.
Marian gave up all thought ,
following the play. An unexpec
ed tragedy had come into her ow
life, and nothing could blot 1t fro1
her mind. Each moment she was
r coming more frightened at the on
come of her quarrel. They could n,
60 on like this.
Hector says he'll stand by her
the end, II he dies for It," 1t was Il
girls voice again in explanation.
Marian felt a relaxation Of her tent
nerves. Oh. what time she shou
have had to keep James quiet II
She was back at the old worry agai
1t pressed harder. She began to
lieve that she could not bear II mut
longer. She would have to tell Jane
but things could never be the san
= again He had doubted her and
had been SO cruel about II that he h;
II forced her to tell.
Marian glanced at her husband. 7
P cleared his throat and changed his r
sition. The voice in continued CO
versation was tantalizingly familia
|. Cautiously Marian moved her hea
Just little way. and then
"Oh, mamma. there's the lady tn
comes to Helen's to give us Il
dancing lessons. Yes, the one rig
here in the silk dress. the shepherd
II check oh. she is just lovely"
That's her husband; Helen show,
him TO me yesterday. He is awful
good looking"
Marian moved closer 10 the cha
IL next the aisle and whispered.
Fl IL wanted TO buy that Gibbo
! for your birthday, James. with Il
y own money. knew you wouldn't Iii
. my doing"
II Don't, DEAR" murmured James.