The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1913-11-13

searching investigation into the coal
deposits.
~~~so~~~~~~~>~~~
lacked Malco1m's balance of charac.
ter and ease Of manner. And be.
tween the two was Laurie, winsome
and womanly. full of grace and ear.
nestness.
Only her mother seemed to guess
at the struggle In her heart those last
few days. The two brothers were not
on speaking terms, yet neither would
give an inch. Long rides they took
over the mountain roads with Laurie,
while she laughed at them and tried
to coay them back to friendship.
Choose one Of US, and the other
will stand pat on the decision. and
be friends" Malcolm insisted. but
you must choose"
"He speaks for himself Emmons
flung back holly Il would not be
friends with him II you chose him"
That night he rode down to Laurie's
home. 1t was bright moonlight, a
Wonderful glowing orange-colored
moon mounting slowly behind the
ragged edge of woodland. And in it's
mellow light he saw Laurie standing
on the veranda, both her hands rest.
ing on Malcolm's shoulders, and her
face raised to him. Her back was
towards him, but he knew every line
Of her figure, and the light seemed to
die out of his life as he gazed at them.
He leaned his head down on the
old rock wall with groan. Virginia
Creeper covered it. but the vines had
hardly one clinging crimson leaf now.
And suddenly he heard some one
speak his name, Lauries voice. bit
tremulous, and startled. "Emmons.
what is it?" She put out her hands
to him. Il was with Hardy down In
the village"
Where's Malcolm?"
Il haven't any idea. Why"
II saw him there on the porch with
you. Just now"
mot with me-with mother" She
laid one hand on his shoulder pity
ingly. you silly boy. Mother was
just comforting him."
lie caught her two hands close in
his crushing grip.
II thought 1t was you. Laurie. Do
you mean you've told him"
Laurie nodded.
DO you know what you've done.
dear heart? I'm the scapegrace. Dad
always said was, and yet he was
good to me. I've run wild with his
money and my life, and now lose 1t
all and you too"
Not me, Emmons." Her face was
uplifted to his. but he made no at.
tempt to kiss her. Il told Malcolm
had made my choice. He went straight
to mother then. And she knows-I
think she knew before did myself"
Put ma, be cut of from every
share in the cid estate"
I'm net marrying the estate" laugh
ed Laurie softly.
Half an hour later they stole into
the shadoUy living room where Mrs.
CarrolltCn sgt alone before the open
fire. She listened to EmmCns In ST.
lence while Laurie knelt beside her,
her face on her shoulder.
1T doesn't seem fair to ask Laurie.
to be my wife, though, on. account OF
fathers clause in the will and know
1t was put in to keep me straight"
q happen TO know what it says,
Emmons boy" smiled * Mrs. Car.
rol'tcn, affoc'icnately. 'l 1r father
r, al it to me. Eoth of boys are
dear to me. so it made L die nee
which che Laurie chose. The clause
merely states TIT IN the event OF
either ore marrying Laurie an extra
fifty thousand is added to his share.
and the homestead at Mount Ranzer."
Slowly a dawning smile overspread
Emmons' boyish face. He slipped one
arm around Laurie and drew her up
to him.
Poor old Malcolm" he said, with
deep feeling
downright. 1913. by the Mcclure News