The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1913-09-19
Isle LIKED GAY PLUMAGE:
~ JULIA MAXWELL.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Essie Adams liked gay plumage. Her
New York aunt, whom she WAS visit
ing, did not approve of anything that
would attract attention. That was
why she objected to Essie's wearing a
branl-new bonnet with the dazzling
yellov, feather.
Ia rather you wouldn't wear that
hat, Essie," said Aunt Linda Mallow.
1t looks fast
Essie bit her lip in disappointment,
put away the gorgeous thing OF SHIN
mering yellow and donned plain
black -an-blue straw which her aunt
had selected for her on her last visit
to the city a year before.
That looks more like you, my dear.
Young girls are apt to be misunder-
stood when tie wear conspicuous
hats
But. Auntie, do love bright things.
Other girls wear them, and nice girls,
too. I'm sure
Aunt Linda was not disposed to
argue the question. Besides, the cleo
trio was waiting for them at the curb.
The last few days a her New York
visit Essie spent with girl friend.
And when she passed through the gate
at the Grand Central station bound for
the train that was to take her to her
home in an upstate town, she was
wearing the hat with the inviting vel
low feather For Aunt Linda was not
along, and her chum, who came to the
station with her, adored the hat.
Essie was a gregarious young wom-
an. In the small town where she lived
it was a habit for people to be neigh
borly. So when the middle-aged man
in the parlor car seat across the aisle
offered her magazine, she accepted 1t
with a smile and a nod Of the yellow
feather. When she entered the dining
car for luncheon and the dining car
conductor placed her opposite the
same man, she was not displeased. He
was a well-groomed, interesting look
ing man And Essie liked men. When
the stranger suggested that she order
lunch for both Of them. Essie didn' t
mind Luncheon for ono was always
deadly stupid. OF course, she realized
that Aunt Linda would be Mortified at
such proceeding, but Aunt Linda was
old.fashloael. | was common talk ~
the family that Linda was entirely too
tltiident, zoe reserved She was rot
nearly 50 pt puar a. her sisters who
were " more %ociallc micn. However,
never breath Of scandal had attached
to I,m4a's name, and there were some
Of the family that well, that's quite
another matter
EAsir enjoyed the luncheon, and
though she endeavored in the usual
way to pay the check her protesta-
tons were quickly swept away. AS
the man plotted her back to her chair
in the parlor car, she was conscious OF
a certain guilty feeling, but she put 1t
from her. How could a girl be expect
ed to do anything else? She was only
human, and she liked to talk to peo-
pie. She couldn't play any kind OF q
game by herself. There are many
young girls like Essie.
It was only twenty minutes until
ESTES home town would be reached
She was rather sorry. She was having
such good time.
I'D like to see you again" said the
e man, meaningly.
"Oh, thank you" laughed the girl
I've enjoyed meeting you"
|, "But you don't live far from Buffalo
!. and haven't you some friends there
that you could tell your parents yol
:. were going to visit-While you really
came down to spend a few days witt
. me? | know nice little place where
, we could go and be undlsturbed
! Here's my card That's my office al
;, dress, Write me when you can &c
. away"
= Essie was dumfounded All tn
color had gone out of her face. Sh
i, felt sick to the very depths Of her
! She simply couldn't speak The car
"a dropped from her neryeless fingers.
g But the stranger did not understand
. His eyes Rlittered strangely, while tn
Il mark of the beast was in every line o
p his face. you're great little kiddo,
II he said. "ahd ihere isn't anything
.s wouldn't do or you, DO you think 20
could come down to SEQ mo In a fey
r days.
d The girl fouad voice but still y wa
ID not her own voice. It VAS the voice G
70 a girl who las suddenly had ever
a ideal and illusion Knocked from unde
n. her
n ooh, OH you horrible thing, you
I-I-youyc made a mistake, On,
hate you, hate you. | never want
see you again, never"
81. When calm came, Essie was In ne
= own room at home alone. She wa
=, glad she was alone. All the Joy ha
gone out of her vacation. She felt vi
clean. tainted, as u she had bee
walking through boys Of mud an
70 slime
. And, sobbing, the girl wondered, az
= all men like that, or, was 1t the yeiio'