The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1913-12-29

shs looked at him in wonder.
"Eunday!" she echoed. ~Whak -
you meanr'
THAT love you"
She tried 70 withdraw hsr h1nA bal
his closed upon It tightly.
"Ouch! That hurts!" h. sKsaaAithsd.
She Immediately dssistad. while q
rich tide Of color suffussd her cheaks.
"Mr. Van Vschtsn," she said nsrv-
'ously, this 10 absurd. Still. II It y
your method Of revenge, 1t Is not Tor
me to show resentment. You DO not
even know my name"
II do" he quietly eontradicted. II
Is Jessio."
She uttered = surprised Nttls CRY.
"Why-"
"Wait, PLEASE" hs cbeoksd hs2 Z
want to add that II you believe ths
pure, high attributes you ascrfbe 70
mo, you mrSt know th&t / could not
take such 4 method Of revenge ~
Stunning that I am seeking revenge, o.
even that any grounds exist to Justly
rsvease, which l deny. It romans.
therefore, that must be sincere
you surely know, Jessis. that lo~e
laughs at conventionalitiss - we'll -
at obdurate parents and lochsmitha.
It II incredible that such thing could
happoz-I1l even admit that. But tho
fact remains that 1t has happened.
lovo you; and II you continue In t0s
belief that yea owe me some amanda
why, wo can square MATTERS BY you
promising to marry ma. shah accepk
your culpablltty upon that baGh nd
no other"
For q long time she M boxing mo
hts eyes. Then
DO yea mean thski" ~ ashed very
sobsply.
81 was never moro earnest IN my
life" no assured her.
"Then," she said, rising and gently
disengagipg her hand, Il shall promise
this: One week from today-f youY
feelings have not changed in the mean
tme-!f you can make the request
with US much sincerity as you do now
i will marry you any time you say.
Good-py."
Shc moved toward the reception
hall, and his feelings were too over
powcring for speech. 1t all seemed like
a Joyous dream coming true-or, per-
la,S. he was s.ll dreaming. If 80,
the cream VS. about to end. and he
found htterance
Jessie" he said,
She paused.
"LuL,e back he.e n moment. please.
There Cave me your
hand again--hoth "t them. Row look
at me-" She complied with each re-
quest as . llckly as il was made. Tell
me-" lie went CT, is that promise
part of your poor, misguided, self-im-
posed peuance?"
Don't ask me what urges It," she
replied in a shaking voice.
Il shant accept 1t in any such
warned aud distorted spirit of self.sac-
rilce." he plrsued. still speaking very
gently, bat hone the less earnestly. 1t
is too much TO expect that you can en-
terrain sentiment toward me that
any where near approaches mine-not
now. But can teach you-girl, can
teach you! give you as genuine a
lore as any man can offer woman.
Can't you acknowledge some kindly
feeling for me in return?"
LET me &C." she begged in an agi
tated whisper. God knows, antici-
pated notn1ag like thisl"
sis the iGea 30 repugnant to your
"You are killing Inc with kindnessi~
The quivering rise and fall Of her
bosom. betrayed how profoundly she
vas disturbed. and the hight In her
ha.dsoms dark eyss signined . melt
ing mood. Even III. bruises on Van
yecl ems face could aOt disguise the
fond as Win which he regarded her.
AT least you do not deny Il :.
0od!" rs broke OF In an accession Of
irrtatio. 1T 10 intolersble TO bs at
such q tremendous disadvantAss a
this supreme moment. What . sorry
figure OF q hver ] ami WIN you noa
seal the bsr.aini"
II do not understand she nSS
INJURED.
Kiss ma
Without q seconds hesitation. she
best down and pressed her lips upon
his His heart leaped up 10 meet H.
Thu eAl LlgScn hin there xss