The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1913-04-22
FROM OUT The PAST
eY WILLIAM z. GRANT.

hundred fans was Christening the
heavy air Of the ballroom. and the
swish Of the dancers feet over the
smooth parquet was keeping . dreamy
time to the whispering tiRkle Of the
mandolins. With a curious smile on
her cameo face Mrs. Santelle stood
watching the throng Of those eager
pursuers Of heet.footed happiness.
There was q crowd Of admirers about
her, and she was sparkling al over.
In Jewels and VITA cold sattricai
wit
Presently there came into the room
girl and her cbaperone. The former
| was Mrs. Santclle's daughter. and the
mother, nodding to the crowd around
her, passed over to where she stood.
"You are looking exquisite tonight
DEAR" said the elder woman. and
yet, there is something unusual about
you. What has happened! Ii It pos
sible: You say that the heir to the
! Vangreft millions has asked for your
hand! OF course you accepted? No!
Child. you have made an awful mis-
take. 1t must be that there is some
one else. All. young Howard. the ar
list who paints those pretty pastelle
heads? But, my dear. he has next to
no money. Forget him. you must for
get him."
As the woman moved away she
looked back once and she saw that the
girls face was overshadowed with
gloom. The night no longer held any
happiness for her.
Mr.. Santelle shuddered slightly. but
In the swing Of the next waits she
speedily forgot all but her own proud
position as q leader Of society. the
wife of q prominent statesman and
! a reigning beauty. But suddenly. while
the mandolips driprod their sweet mu'
sic most tenderly, he startc d, raled
quickly, and trembl d on her ,artrer's
arm. Therein IT, i...-ty cu--..or OF
the room-she seemed to see a face
she had known in the long ago-a face
CHASTITY and wan--touched with Grim
son and stamped with the mark Of
death. She closed her eyes-Opened
them again, but it was still there
accusing-horrible!
There was sudden commotion; fol
Mrs. Santclle had tainted. Quickly
she was carried to another room. and
her husband came to her. She awokt
to find him leaning over the divar
where she lay.
1T is you," she said. with o forced
smile. "There is nothing serious thu
matter-l fainted-that was all. !
was the heat of the room.
"Pleaso leave mel require moth
lrg."
Alone with her own thoughts sh
dreamed the old dream over again. 81
> long she had tried to forget, to pu
the worldly mask Of pride over al
those tender, sad days, and yet, her
a little indisposition had brought tn
haunting terror back 10 her again
Well, II 1t must be. she would rcvie,
the dream, the dream Of those day
when she was young, poor and AN
bilious. Her beauty had then seeine'
to her a power beyond price. and sh
had determined to aim for nothin
lower than the highest. And then tina
handsome young West Pointer ha
come into her life. She-yes. sh
loved him, though che told hersel
she must stifle her love. And yet sh
had smiled upon. him. One day b
said:
Il can bear It no longer. You knoN
that | love you. Do you love me?
must know that. Can you give u
your ambition for me-for love? car
not eat OF the fruit Of hope and d.
spair in this maddening alienation
Tell me-yes or MOI" And she had shu
her teeth and said mo" firmly, q
though she knew she loved him well.
When she learned that he had che
himself, she remained calm for . fe'
seconds and then fell to the floor In
very delirium Of pent.up terror.
In the morning, wearing q heav
veil, she went to look upon his dea
face. All. the sight Of that white fac
with the majesty Of death upon II
She would never forget that awf'
picture. Why did that phantom com
out of the past tonight to reproac
her? Had She not made new life fc
: herself, barred those oldtime mer
cries, gratified all her ambitions, e
erything save love? Why had ST.
dreamed tonight? Was it the look Q
her daughter's face that had brougl
about the coming of the dream? WOul
4 Stella, too, live to repent?
She went out into the ballrool
again, radiant and beautiful as b
fore. She waved her Questionel
aside with her fan.
THANK you, it was nothing. Onl
fatigue, faintness, due to the heat"
But when Stella said softly: lilo
glad l am that you are better, mot
err" she bent over her and whispered
Il have been thinking things owe
dear, and have changed my mind. Yo
i can tell Mr.. Howard, my child, tn;
he can have you, If he has set h
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