The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1913-06-09
Her SHORT ROMANCE
BY CELIA MYRovER ROBINSON.

the soft hair about her face, and drink
ing in the pungent breath Of thu
pines.
Melissy's dream was very sweet ant
very bitter. She had been only cir
-Melissy was thirty-four now-whe1
she had had her short romance.
There had never been man at Rix
ton Corners could compare with Hi
ram. Melissy thought him the hand
soonest and cleverest of men. Anl
he thought Melissy as beautiful as she
was good, and Hiram had felt there
was no higher praise than that.
1t was on an evening Of Just such
an April day that Hiram had first
kissed her and she had promised to be
his wife.
But the long, sweet summer had moi
passed before Hiram had grown cold
and captious. changing SO much that
Melissy hardly knew him for the
same ardent lover Of a few months
back. The girl was high.spirited-
the broken woman smiled, sadly, as
she remembered this-and on one day
of anger and rebellion she had sent
Hiram away and he had never come
back to her again.
He had left The Corners, and dur.
Ing all the long years since, Melissy
had never heard from him. Vague
rumors had reached her, however
that he had gone to Florida and had
made money in turpentine.
The camp meeting grounds were
good three miles from The Cor
ners. and Melissy was very tired by
the time she had covered half the
way. She sat down by the road.
side in the shade of a big oak, fan.
ming with the pink sunbonnet, rest.
ing the tired limbs awhile before go.
ing on again. The sun was very hot
by this time, and the pungent breath
Of wild honeysuckles and the heavy
fragrance of yellow jessamine made
Melissy's head ache. She leaned
black against the messy trunk with
closed eyes, listening to the hooking.
bird up in the oak and thinking of
Hiram and wondering why life
was so hard, and why he had
changed so towards her. Melssy had
been too proud to ask for an explana.
tion-Mcliasy felt now that she would
not be too proud, if Hiram were only
here.
A half hour later a man driving
down the dusty road at rapid pace
drew up his horses sharply, with an
ejaculation of surprise. The figure
in the blue cotton dress leaning back
against the great oak was SO still,
and the sweet face framed in the
heavy masses of wavy brown hair
was so white that he thought at first
she was dead. But at the clatter OF
the team and his own strong voice
Melissy's slumbcr was broken and
she sat up, looking dazed and lit.
tie disheveled, and rubbing her eyes
like sleepy child. Then she
laughed and her face turned pink
as she encountered the look on the
bearded face. She put on her sun.
bonnet. hastily, and somehow began
to feel Nery girlsh and timid. 1t
had been long time since Melissy
had encountered that look in any.
ones eyes, but she had been belle
for too many years not to know
when she had struck a spark of ad.
miration
II believe I must have fallen
asleep" she said, a little nervously.
Il believe you did, said the man.
laughing.
1T was so hot" said Melissy, "and
l am 80 tired. am on my way to
camp meeting and got plum beat out
with the heat"
ITS getting pretty hot" said the
man.
Il reckon 1t wasn't the heat 80
much" said Melissy, but I've been
right poorly this winter. This is the
first time I've been out for long
walk since January"
You ought not to have tried to
walk it," said the man. you aren't
strong enough. It's good three miles.
at least, from your place."
Melissy looked surprise.
"Land!" she said, how do you
know? thought you were a stranger
in these parts and she looked with
interest at the fine team and shiny
trap, and the tall, well-dressed figure.
"Melissy." said the man. his voice
hoarse and shaken, don't you know
me%
Melissy face turned as white as
the little wilted roses in her belt.
For moment she stood quite still,
like frightened child. Then she
gave glad cry: "Oh, Hiram.
It's been so long," and
burst into bitter sobbing.
Hiram took her in his arms and
wiped away the tears.
1T has been long. Melissy." he
said, "but we'll fill our lives 30 full
Of happiness we'll foget the sorrow.
Do you remember the dreams you
used to have of seeing the world, Me-
lissy? Well, we'll see 1t together.
dear. I've made plenty Of money,