The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1913-10-16

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Tease"
"Honestly. Bob" she painted, as he
would have snatched her to him. ooh
please-iust minute-let me be
sure!"
She drew away from him. Her face
was Just the least bit twisted as with
pain-for him.
Eyes. that's just IT," she said with
downcast eyes Il want to be certain
that | am sure of you"
Betty" he cried reproachfully
But still she held him off.
Twelve heard something" she
said. II don't believe 1t, but tit
hurts. 1t will hurt till you let me
know It isn't So"
He scowled. who's been talking
now?" he said almost harshly
Mrs. Malvern"
"That-that trouble.monger."
Bob"
well, what has she been saying?"
The girl stared long into the fire
Bob Standish saw she was biting her
under lip.
81 wouldn't listen to her nor believe
IT," she said at last Still ! had to
hear some Of the things-and- and
thinking them over-the few | did
hear-l'm afraid; just the weeniest
bit afraid, dear She said you were
buying whole lot OF flowers every
Thursday at Rondeau 's-that you
went away every Thursday in your
car right after lunch andand that
you didn't get back until dinner time
She said you always wore your heart
on your sleeve and that Bob" she
said suddenly sitting very straight.
tell me it isn't so. It's hurt-awful
ly; more than I'd admit"
His own face became very grave.
He kicked back an ember that came
hurting across the hearth
about wearing my heart on my
sleeve that isn't So" he said About
the flowers-well, I'll have to admit
them"
She looked up quickly He wasn't
looking at her. She felt some vague
sense Of something dreadful impend.
Ing
oh" she said.
And perhaps ! had best explain
about them before put the ring on, "
said he.
She waited silently for him to go
on. She did not know she was press
inG her hands tightly together.
ITS really all right, dearie," he
| said quietly at last She's an old
friend Of tho fsmilv Her people have
met rcvorses. she's living on gamely.
pluckilv, on what was left She isn't
asking odds Of aNvhodv I-I-want.
ed to make it lust little easier for
| her, | want to think that once in a
| while she has a few of the things
she used to have. So every Thurs.
day ! blow myself for some orchids
for her ut Rondeaus', and-yes, take
them to her myself. I might as we'll
own up. and take her for spin In
the car for few hours-out to Mil
Vile, or over the old turnpike to that
coy little inn at Bridgton for tea II
makes her forget It's so very little
do and so entirely innocent You've
forgiven me already, haven't you?"
II don't know" said she rattle,
hoarsely.
She noticed he stiffened bit. Then
he grinned: she thought to cover his
embarrassment
"She is here in town then all the
time?" she asked
"Oh. yes"
as she pretty?"
He wrinkled his brows as of de
batting point in his mind.
Beautiful is a better word" sait
he
Again she looked up. His face wa,
all ashine. She turned away that h,
might not see how badly she wa.
hurt.
81 don't know why have not tolC
you all this before" said he. 9TH,
very fact I haven't shows how light,
I thought of it. have meant to tel
you at different times, and certainl,
I should have told you before we wer
married, because | want to buy he
those flowers every Thursday Just tn
same and take her for the spin. 70,
wouldn't mind. would you?"
She flushed beautifully. He caugh
the sound of little half-frightene
gasp
"0h, Bob I'm afraid DO care" sh
said. Pm afraid I'm not bit broad
I'm selfish. OF course it's very nobl
OF you and there isn't the least bi
OF harm In it, still"
shes so plucky about 1t all" h
said, as il in self-defense.
She tried to stop them, but tw
big tears slipped out Of her eyes an
coursed, one down each cheek.
Suppose you come and see he
with me-now, this afternoon, thi