The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1913-04-17
GOOD THINGS IN LIFE
By RossER W. cosBE.

full in here, Cav"
The little cafe was but sparsely
filled. The lights were low. and no
screeching violin or tinhling piano dis.
turbed the gentle silence of the fern.
decorated room.
Sunny never met your wife.
Fred. You and I were such chums
IN the old days before you went
across. Guess it wouldn't do for me
to recall some Of the high jinks Of
the long ago. hey?"
Hastings glanced at his friends
smiling. rather dissipated face. and
frowned slightly.
NO." he said. decisively. 1T
wouldn't do. Cav. You know that's
all over with now. I've got over my
! foolish days. Wait until you meet
Bertha: you'll know then why I set
tied down. You1l like her. l know"
he went on. enthusiastically. she's
miles and miles too good for me. I'm
the luckiest man In the world today.
Caverly."
Caverly grinned.
"Cut 1t out. Fred" he laughed.
"Youne married people. you know"
"Well. I guess It does sound rather
foolish to you. but you must remem.
Der that never knew what good
, womans' love meant until ! met
Bertha"
Caverly reached over to the wall
and pressed an electric button.
"Two cocktails, waiter. Best thing
In the world" he added to his com.
panion. when you're getting senti.
mental. All you've been doing ever
since met you IL prattle about the
Joys and bliss Of the married state.
Now, I've a little experience to re.
late. end" glancing at his watch, I'D
advise you to give me a chance now
II you want to hear II before your
wife joins u.s."
Go ahead, old man." Hastings said
smiling, you always did like to heal
yourself talk"
n was over on the other side. win
ter before last, and intended looking
you up. but circumstances over which
I had no control made Il impossible
However. that has nothing to do With
the story"
Caverly slipped bic cocktail media
lively. % though seeking . way a
which to begin bic narrative.
"As you know. Fred. I am usually
fond OF the good things Of life. and
they're usually mine. I'd kind Of
been going the pace q little too fast
and had decided I'd have to leave
Carlo and get rested up for . time
when l. got mixed up with . young
French gentleman whose honor quite
unintentionally slurred. and who tool
me on with the rapiers with the con
sequence that I had q rather nasty
hole put in my side. In the state
was In that meant the hospital.
"And there I met her. Oh. I know
Fred, that I've been all kinds Of {
fool. and that my shortcomings arr
many and my virtues few. but I know
now that loved that girl with all m,
heart. God! II I had only known 4
then. She was employed as nurse
at the hospital and It was she tina,
brought me back to life. And It wal
then that I committed the greatest
folly Of q foolish life. had none!
and she enjoyed the little luxuries o.
life that my money could buy. bu
that she could not afford to get with
her slender wages. We were happ,
together-too happy. I know now;
such happiness cannot last. Hel
brother had suspicious. and confront
Ing 10 one night In . small resort
whence We had gone to hear the or
chestral concert. he openly accused
%. She. frightened. would not lie
but confessed to him. trying to taxi
the blame on herself"
\ Caverly's face was white and hil
eyes shone: the corners Of his mouth
twitched nervously. With q shaking
hand no reached for his glass ant
took thu drink at q gulp.
There was hell in the mans eyes,
he continued. twisting the glass in hi'
fingers, "a3 with an awful oath he
drew razor from his pocket ant
slashed me across the throat" Cav
erlys fingers caressed his neck ner
vously, and Hastings shuddered a
his friends unconscious action. "Ant
them" continued Caverly, leaving mi
where ! had fallen, he turned on hi:
sister, and although with a powerful
effort l dragged myself to my feet,
was unable to prevent him from using
his weapon ON her. She did not die
I learned that later-I was in state
Of semi-consciousness for nearly 81,
weeks, but when returned she could
not be found. The youth had sho
himself later. My only clew was t.
find q woman whose face would beal
the awful triangular scar that had
seen administered, and that I will
never forget"
Hastings face had suddenly gone
as white as that of his companion.
"Pshaw," Caverly remarked. with
an attempt at carelessness. my