The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1913-05-23

and SIP through Tie oloC
the chancel. The eyes OF his faitnlui
congregation would be turned toward
him-he knew that-and OF them all
It would be the questioning, anxious
eyes OF Hortense that would count
Then after service he would hurry
away from church. and not stay 10
answer any of the curious question
ings as to what had caused his delay.
He would go back to the rectory ana
then after supper he would slip over
to Hortense Hortense would be e1-
pecting him. for it was only two days
before that he had told her OF his love
for her, and that she had given him
properly reticent answer. He had
been allowed to hope. Archibald cal
culated the probable effect that his
story of the afternoons experience
would have upon her. He would not
make too much OF it-that would be
boastful-but when she asked, as OF
course she would. what had detained
him, he would in an off-hand way let
her know what he had done.
Up to the time of slipping over to
Hortense after supper things happen
ed as Archibald had expected. In fact
he found Hortense dressed in the SOFT
pink and white dress he liked so well.
sitting by low electrolier reading as
he entered the drawing room, which
the rest Of the Stevensons had, with
their usual considerateness, seen tit to
abandon at the time for his call.
Archibald hurried to her with out
stretched hands. but Hortense greeted
him with a cool raising of the eye
brow that took his breath away He
pulled a chair to the side of the table
( where she sat. and waited for her to
| say something.
81 hardly knew whether to expect
, you or not" she said with a forced
laugh calculated to freeze much
more daring heart than that OF Archi-
bald Demarest.
"Hortense" said Archibald, feeling
a curious chokiness. as he drew up to
the idol of his dreams He had never
seen her in this mood and he was
quite unprepared for it. 81 couldn't
miss this, no matter how busy my day
had been"
"No?" said Hortense with rising
infection. ut would perhaps be more
to your credit If you felt as much de-
votion to vespers as you profess you
feel for me-"
"Oh. that's it. is 1t? Do you know,
couldn't make out what made you
seem so stand-offlsh when ! came in
That's all, isn't it, dear-dearest" It
was rather hard in the face of Hor
lenses prolonged Brightness to come
out with the newly-permitted terms OF
endearment, but Archibald was max
ing a great effort. ~ never knew till
two hours before vespers and tried
to get back in time"
Hortense's eyes were bright with
anger "You needn't make any ex
cuses," she said, drawing from his out
stretched hand. You could have beer
man enough"
"Man enough. Why. Hortense,
thought did the manly thing.
thought 1t was just the sort Of thing
. -"
MANLY thing to come In half al
hour late to vespers. little absent
, mindedness isn't inexcusable - What
you didn't forget? You did It on pur
pose? Wait till you explain? Yo'
! need make no explanations. MI
Demarest."
. 1T was small matter" said Arch
: bald. helplessly
"A small matter to 60 fishing o.
! Sunday afternoon and not to get bacl
4 till vespers was half over! That wa
. a small matter was it,"
: Archibald dropped to his knees b
fore Hortense why on earth do 20
. think was flshing?"
d Because you weren't clever enoug
d to conceal the fact. suppose"
s "Hortense. Hortense." pleaded tn
r rector. Wont you think better 9
d me? went out to help poor won
l. an whose baby was having fits and
n Eyes, and stopped to fish on the wa
home and forgot all about vespers.
:. am sorry Mr.. Demarest but woul
It rather end our friendship here"
h Hortense suddenly regained he
e composure and Archibald jumped I
It his feet as Molly came into the draw
o ing room.
"Please, sir" she said with smil
n Maggie Just asked me over tt
D. fence, could you step back to the re
a tory a minute There Is little be
a there says you must have took h
If fathers satchel of fish home by mi
d take. He's got your black bag wit
d the bandages in it. and says will yo
ly please accept three of the large
ID trouts in the catch and leave him hav
n. the rest?"
ID As a light of understanding brol
n over Archibald's face Molly added
a an aside to Hortense, ITS all rig
lie about Mr., Demarest He wasn't ifs
m ing at all You see, Mr.. Demarest
le turning to the clergyman with co
to fidential air. Maggie was sure VIII,
i'll you brought home the bag Of fish tn
no | ,o,, bod hoon ofP fishing md che ~