The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1912-01-03
'.ts rgak
E HoqseThat
linn Built

vranoesca laid down the payer With
. quick Aush Of color. Thea sAo
picked Il up again and rsssaA the d.
vsrtissmsnt brsathlsssly.
FOR RHNr-Ons upto-dats cottage.
I'VE rooms and bath. Can b leased
to right party. Situated corner Ninth
avenue and Maple street. Apply next
door.
Their house! The girls eyes filled
suddenly with burning tears. After
three years he had At last consented
then to let the place to . stranger
anyone who might prove respectable
enough to b tho right party" Had
he forgotten !-ceased to care! There
was only one answer or he would
never have been willing to take this
step. 1t couldn't be lack Of money.
she knew that: the truth came to her
like q knife.thrust: he was done with
the past forever.
How many times had she passed
and rspassed the little green house
into which had been wrought oil their
hopes. and thanked heaven from the
bottom Of her heart that Il was still
vacant. still sacred to him. Every
shingie and raftsr stood for . heart
thPob: every tree and flower he'd beso
planted with loving hands. And now!
Il NJ oil Francesca could DO 70 keep
her seltcootrol. visiens surged into
~ brsin-visieas Of The Old. Asaf
1ays. james Langdoa's taoe Wa Tie
eeatse Of them I'll. % distinct ~ It.
she almost felt that che eoala have
put cut her hand and touched It. 0he
stsansisd . little seb and DASHED
away he tears. What fool she vs.
70 - soing to pieces IKE this o. %.
count Of . man who had found It 20
easy 70 forget! Gradually . change
cane over her feelings. In place Of
the old wearying ache. bot rebelltoo
famed into her heart. She rose. tossed
aside the paper she had been reading
and crossed the ron to her mirror.
Her eyes, sparkling dehantly, looked
back at her with q new purpose In
their gold.brown depths. She. too.
would-forget!
Robert Thayer's letter still lay un.
answered in her desk. She reOpened
It with fingers unsteady from excite
ment. The lines danced before her
eyes for an instant; then her gaze
steadied and she read:
Dear: May | come to you to-mor-
row night? There is something !
want to tell you. to ask you. l won't
be patient any longer. Say that you
will be expecting me at eight.
Sincerely,
BOB"
Francesca seated herself unhesitat.
ingly at the desk and scratched q
hastv reply.
"Dssr Bob: Come by all means. I'm
always glad to see you: you know
that. shall be looking for you at the
appointed hour.
Cordially,
FRANCESCA"
She had Just sealed the note when
her brother entered the room. . little
flushed, an expression Of anxiety o.
bic face. Yielding to . sudden i'm
pulse. she thrust the envelop quickly
into q drawer and locked It.
bad news. KID" he said. dropping
into Q chair.
The girl turned with . startled
Glance, On unspoken question on hs'
lips. Young Graham anticipated he'
and said abruptly:
"0ot to move out In . week. Own
err have sold the placs-which signi
aes move on for w."
Francesca sat and stared at him
i blankly. A terrible feeling Of home
sickness swept over her. We've beer
here 90 long!" she said wistfully.
That's It. I knew you'd feel al
cut up about It. just % do. Blu
there's no help for It. grille. Wei
have to b looking around At once"
where will We look!" che auss
toned helplessly.
Get the papers-thafs al. And II
the meantime I shall have 70 make
run down to Warrington for four O
Ave days. That leaves the JOB q
you. I'm sorry. but re Unavoidable
But the girl scarcely heard bic les
words. A sudden. Wild thought ha'
dsrted into her brain; her blooA ~
racing riotously through her veins.
ceutered al ct oaoo In two crimso'
spots in her cheeks.
Don't bother. Jack" she said. qal
etly Il shan't have any trouble. Lsav
n iii to me. IL think already knov
a place We can get" She was dsvo0t
" thankful that her brother had bee'
on 1t college during her betrotha
days and the building Of the house. HI
need never know the truth.
They talked things over for little
} after which young Graham got up an
went out again. Francesca swallowe
a cup Of tea and hurried upstairs {
} dress. In half an hour she was speed
ing toward Ninth avenue and Mapl
street. every nerve a-tingle with vary
ing emotions.
She stepped out on the pavemen