The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1913-07-24

IHMcuScAys LUZ Suo AcdVSo LILO cO MUC0
alone.
To-day am curled up in one Of
the big wicker chairs at the Casino.
tramping along, or being pushed in
those queer chairs-for all the world
like a colony Of ants moving to q
new hill.
"And then, dad, there's the sea-not
blue like the books always have It,
but an angry, foaming. grey-green sea,
rolling its great waves up on the
beach where they break and thunder
at our feet. Tomorrow It may be
calm enough, but today It suits my
mood. and I love 1t.
"The orchestra is playing the "Trau-
merei"-oh. dad, those days in Flor.
ence come back and I dream such
dear idle dreams!
"You will come to me, soon, dad
dear, for I'm desperately lonely with
out you. Ted can manage the ranch
for little while.
"Give my love to Ted, and to every.
body, but keep for yourself the dear
est love Of your girl, JEAN"
brighton Casino, Atlantic City.
March II, 49,. My Own Dad: Thank
you for your good, breezy, loving let
ter; I could almost imagine myself
home again. The days have gone by
somehow and shall look for you be-
fore long-don't disappoint me!
IF only the old sorrow would bury
itself deep down in the sand I might
promise to come home happy and
care-free again, but it won't leave me,
dad. If you knew how I've tried to
BE- glad that l sent him away!
II sit here morning after morning
and watch the ships far out on the
horizon-line, and long to be on one Of
them sailing away to Italy-and
Ralph. What If he is doing his duty,
what if did send him away, he is as
truly mine-no, no, dad. he isn't. I'm
all wrong! 1t is seeing so many hap
py people that makes my loneliness
unbearable. BY now he is married
to that little girl in Italy-I hope
she'll love him lots.
There dear forgive me, would
not pain you, you, who, are so patient
with me! Soon I will be home and I
will try harder to be brave. Heaven
knows you need all the sunshine can
give you! Don't think me ungrateful,
but love me. dad, for you're all the
world to your own girl, JEAN"
Up. S. Kiss Ted for me, he's the
dearest sort of brother!"
"Hotel Brighton, Atlantic City.
March Is, 80. Dad Dear: Some
thing has happened! After all the
dark days I am to be happy, dad, do
you hear me? Happy! I was sitting
in the Casino yesterday morning with
my back turned to the crowd when I
heard a woman's voice say: There he
Is, now, isn't he interesting looking?
I did not turn around but some one
drew a chair near mine and sat down
to read. I read long while, until the
place was quite deserted except for
this stranger who had his back to me.
Suddenly, he throw down his book.
walked over to the window and began
to speak, evidently supposing himself
quite alone. At the first sound Of his
voice I kept very still in my chair.
What will It all come to?' heard
him say. I have done all I could.
but even for her dear sake I cannot
marry another woman. In Heavens
name why should I? It would all be
. damnable lie from beginning to end,
there would be no peace here nor
hereafter. All, Jean. Jean. II had
never looked into your great. soulful
eyes, II my arms had never held you
Close It might have been, but now
never! You said you would not marry
man who had idly won another
womans' heart. You meant to do
right, little girl. but you did not know
how despicably deceitful she was, and
can never tell YOU
1T was then that my purse dropped
loudly to the floor. With an angry
exclamation he stopped to pick 1t up
for me, not looking at my face, but az
he handed it to me, I held his hand
fast, and oh, dad, IL you'd seen his
eyes when he looked and saw 1t was
I! He started to take me in his arms.
but, remembering our parting, he
Strengthened himself up and begged |
my pardon, said he supposed / knew
he had not done what | sent him to
do, and then said he would leave. |
couldn't stand that. dad. so l just |
asked him if he hadn't been away /
long enough-you can guess what his !
answer was!
"P. S. You should see Aunt Helen.
She does not yet believe Ralph is
anything mere than q boardwalk ac-
quaintance, and We have such fun
with her. Won't it be glorious when
you come and tell her all? jean"
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