The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1913-10-25
Continued from Page 2. J

CONTINUED from Page 2.
She volunteered this In spite OF rather
a sharp look from her father, and a
request that had the quality Of a com
mand. not to stay out too long.
Side by side. Matt and she walked
together. both silent till the house was
left behind
whats the matterY" Miss Marshall
asked ut last You've been SO differ.
ent today--so changed couldn't make
1t out. and. and"
And WHAT" inquired Matt
1T hurt me little thought you
might be glad-glad to come. you
know"
u was glad to come"
Poor fellow--l suppose you have to
say that"
II knew was dull and disappoint-
ing. and the more tried the duller
got. and-that's 1t. II you want to
know"
She moved closer to him. and an
uounced. with shade Of relief In her
voice. that he was very foolish per-
son He hadn't been a bit dull nor
disappointment idea! But did not
seem himself. that was all. and mopy
Dreadfully mopy.
ITS because I'm going away tomor-
h. ,.,; Do ,r1 hN
faltered ut anything so outright-"be
cause I'll never see you again
There was pause.
"You mustn't" she murmured at
last. II don't want you to 60 away"
But have to-"
"Oh. you have to-" she repeated
questioningly
ITO do things-to start In seriously :
He could not say mules Mules stuck
in his throat
But how does that mean never see
ing me again? That's what you said.
| wasn't it?"
ITS hard to explain: you wouldn't
| understand"
mo. don't suppose | would" she
assented. II was foolish enough to
think that youthat you
"That loved you?"
"Oh, no. no. not that that would be
absurd
But | do"
He walked along. grimly. stiffly. in a
fury with everything That's why I
was on such pins and needles up
there" he broke out passionately II
had no right there. and knew it
Every look ut you drove It home-the
utter hopelessness Of It have to 20
away with the few thousands I have
and try to do something work-earn
money But II | succeeded beyond all
my expectations you would be as in
| accessible MS ever-as unattainable |
nm nothing. nobody. the dirt under
your feet You wonder why was so
duh. so stupid was grinding to
| pieces. II you want to know: yes. grind
ing to pieces and almost hating YOU"
IF felt like that about anybody I'd
stay" she exclaimed breathlessly X
wouldn't give anybody else a chance.
think II really loved anybody
would kill them first"
Matt turned and caught her squarely
by the shoulders. those slender. girlish
shoulders. and held her out ut arms
length in a wise You would. would
your" he cried. "Don't tempt me. or l
will! ! give you your choice told
you I would 60 It's for you to choose.
the one way or the other. Choose.
choose!"
| But his revulsion was as swift as his
act He let her 20. stricken Mt her pal
Tor. her gasp Of pain-nppalled and in
coherently remorseful. He smoothed
| her dress with his big hands: he was
a brute. crazy brute. he quavered
conclnsively: he saw her through a
blur. trembling swaying. 0bstinately
averting her eyes and giving them lit.
tie dabs with her handkerchief As
she recovered he waited for his sen.
tence. his doom. He had trnnsgresSed
the last law and might he thankful II
she even spoke to him again Perhaps
she would turn away without word
and that would he the end
When she did speak II was not to an
initiate him ut all II was all her own
fault. she said. TREMENDOUSLY smiling
"That's what always happened when
you goaded elemental lseopie great.
big. rough, elemental people They
grabbed you In their great. biz. rough,
elemental way and sh iok the curl ont
of your hair. waDtin. you TO choose.
AS though anybody could choose while
being shaken like Il rat. And what
was she to choose. anyhow? Would
he please tell her like an ordinary.
grownup. unelemental persona"
i.'o Be Cont!nuedl