The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1914-09-03

0mol C0lpp9uO1Io WIlS0B uoDA. 0uO
rose, pushed aside her chair. crossed
the floor to It and sat down. A blank
sheet of paper lay before her.
She picked up pen. dipped 1t in the
ink and wrote rapidly:
Don't think that my decision i hasty.
On the contrary. II 10 the result OF mature
We made a mistake when we took each
other. There is nothing really congenial
between VI. The very absence OF fricuon
which marks our daily life 10 proof posi-
tive of our mutual unsuitability.
have nothing for which to reproacn
hope you viii understand.
Farewell,
She sealed and directed 1t carefully
and placed the envelope in conspicu-
Gus place on the mantel. Then she
hurried up to her room and began To
throw things feverishly into her trunk
Delaheld, half an hour late to lunch
con. ran quickly upstairs and tapped
on his wife's door. There was no re-
spouse, and he turned the knob and
entered.
The room was empty. His eyes. un-
accustomed to gather details, failed to
take note OF the disorder everywhere.
He was conscious of but one sensation
disappointment at finding Alicia
gone.
But true of habit, lie put aside the
selfish feeling, and, whistling, crossed
the corridor to his dressing-room.
The solitary meal was rather DESC
late. Delafield missed his wife's merry
chatter keenly. But he assured him.
self that he was glad she had gone out.
He recalled with little pang Of SELF
reproach that she had seemed thinner
Of late than he had ever known her;
she appeared to be moping, and he had
urged her to take more fresh air. Yes,
he was very glad indeed that she was
off for an outing.
After luncheon he went into the
library and drew up chair to the fire.
Then he took a cigar from his pocket
! and lighted it leisurely. With his head
against the cushion, eyes half-shut, he
sighed contentedly and began to blow
meditative rings Of smoke toward the
frescoed ceiling.
Suddenly. through the blue haze. his
narrowed glance focused on Alicia's
letter. He sat up, blinked at 1t. rose
and picked up the envelope. He tore
it open with repressed eagerness and
read the contents twice-and again.
When he restored 1t to the envelope
his fingers shook slightly.
| But he smiled whimsically.
poor little GIRL" he unused, the
house will be lonesome a. the grave.
But never mind; she needs the
change" .E-r
Delafield spent the afternoon at his
club. That night he attended the
opera.
Weeks passed.
Alicia mounted the steps little
YEARLY. The month had told upon he'll
sadly. The once curving lines Of throat
and contour we're sharp and pinched
the pretty pink had quite fed from
cheek and lip.
The door was ajar. and she enteret
noiselessly, almost with caution.
bright light cleaned through thu
library door and she faltered towart
1t timidly.
Delafield. sitting by the reading
table, cigar in mouth. q magazine II
his hands, was the picture of luxuriou
content.
For an instant the blood sang hot h
Alicia's cheeks; It surged in humiliat
ing waves to the very roots Of he
hair. She put out q tremulous han,
, to steady herself against the door fac
ing.
Delafleld, glancing up carelessly q
he turned a new leaf. suddenly droppe'
, the periodical he had been reading
and rose.
!, Why" he said joyfully. when di'
, you get in? Why didn't you let M
know so that could have met your"
r A scalding mist Of tears swan Il
!. Alicia's eyes, She was conscious al
, at once that she was shaking like
! leaf.
Z Delafield came toward her, bent an,
t kissed her In the selfsame way he'
: always done. She was glad he put hi
arm about her; she felt that she mus
Q have fallen il he hadn't. Suddenly eh
= began to laugh, that she might not CRY
T. "And-and you? Have you MISE
me, Billy" she asked family.
Missed you! It's been q wilderness
{ that's ALL"
'But-but you didn't look for m,
b You didn't try to"
: That was because l wanted you I
y come back. sweetheart"
o Delafleld caught her as she swayes
A long time she lay on his breas
e Every sense seemed drugged with
d delicious content.
After all. Delafleld's way was th
4" best!