The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1913-08-28

VS. :, uo cannot prove 1t, we Will ny
t t,' some :, desert island and live there IN
" 'u and love. That is the way feel
pnout you l know that you are eooa
49, uI trne and lovely! Any one might
a as we'll try to prove to me that you
as ',,are crazy as that you had done
wrong in any way"
ueT face grew strangely white.
We'll suppose was crazy?"
"rben I would take you and cherish
Won and try to cure you, and II that
sou,d not be done, l should help you
bear It. ...,,. ...
,,oatbed the light Of a great love
growing In her eyes.
The bare, prosaic walls stood stolid-
" about them. Indifferent to romance
=, tragedy that was being wrought
mt within it's wall. The whirl and
hmm of the city without, the CRIME and
soil of the city within, were alike Tor
gotten by these two as their nearts
throbbed in the harmony Of q great
passion.
"Do YOU think to you could learn to
love me?" said the mans voice, Win
the sweetness of the love song OF the
ages in its tone.
81 love YOU now," said the girls low
voice. Il think I have loved you from
the beginning, though I never dared
to think of it in that way. But 1t would
not be right for me to become your
wife when you know practically notn'
ing about me-
Have you forgotten that you know
nothing of me-"
"Oh, do know something about
you" she said shyly. Remember that
| have dined with your friends.
could not help seeing that they were
good people, especially that delightful
old man, the Judge. He looked star
tlingly like my dear father. l saw how
they all honored and loved you. And
then what you have done for me, and
the way that you treated an utterly
defenseless stranger, were equal to
years of mere acquaintance. l feel
that know great deal about you."
He smiled. Thank you," he said,
"but have not forgotten that some
thing more is due you than that slight
knowledge of me, and before / came
out here I went to the pastor Of the
church of which my mother is men,
Der, and WHICH have always attended
and asked him to write me letter.
He is so widely known that l felt 1t
would be an introduction for me-"
H. laid an open letter in her lap,
and. glancing down, she saw that 1t
was signed by the name of one of the
best known pulpit orators in the land,
and that it spoke in highest terms of
the young man whom it named as my
wellloyed friend
1T is also your right to know that l
have always tried to live a pure and
honorable life. have never told any
woman but you that l loved her-ex.
cept an elderly cousin with whom !
thought was in love when I was
nineteen She cured me Of it by
laughing at me, and l have been heart
whole ever SINCE"
She raised her eyes from reading
the letter.
"You have all these, and I have
nothing" She spread out her hands
helplessly. 1t must seem strange to
you that am in this situation. It does
to me. 1t is awful"
She put her hands over her eyes
and shuddered.
1T is to save you from it all that I
have come" He leaned over and
spoke tenderly, Darling"
"Oh watt She caught her breath
as If it hurt her, and put out her hand
to stop him. Wait! You must not
say any more until have told you all
about 1t. Perhaps when | have told
you, you will think about me as others
DO. and ! shall have to ran from YOU"
Can you not trust me-" he re.
preached hcr
"Oh, yes, can trust you, but you
may no longer trust me, and that /
cannot bear"
i promise you solemnly that will
believe every word you say"
All, but YOU will think I do not
Know, and that it is your duty to give
me into the hands Of my enemies"
That most solemnly vow / will
never d." he said earnestly. You
need not fear to tell me anything. But
llsten' tell me this one thing: in the
eyes OF God. is there any reason. phys.
ical' mental, or spiritual why you
should not become my wife?"
she looked him clearly in the eyes.
None at ALL"
ihen | am satisfied to take you
"l'uout nearing your story until after.
wards" ''
But | am not satisfied. If am n
see distrust come into your ewes. II
must be now. not afterwards"
Then tell it quickly"
he put out his hand and took her.
nrmly into his own. as If to helm her
In her story. NOS
Ito Be continued.)