The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1914-12-16
lETITlA'S DEFIANCE
Nv CATHERINE COOPER.
scopyrieht. 1914, by the Mcclure Newspa-
0~v~A1oatn1

scopvriRht, 1914, by the Mcclure Newspa-
I per syndicate.)
my dear Letitia, you are no mora
suited to the lecture platform tnan !
am to open q mothers meeting" Nor
man Prince gazed fondly down at his
sweetheart. There was. however, SUI
licient of masculine superiority In his
expression to irritate Letitia.
"Men always make such absurd
comparisons" she retorted quickly.
"Just because you cannot preside u
q mothers meeting Is no reason 10
suppose I cannot lecture successfully
, on better babies"
"The idea is absurd" Norman said.
more holly than he realized. "A giri
Of your age can't know anything about
either better or worse babies, and %
! for lecturing on the subject to wom'
en- who have brought up children a.
old % you are-wel. your own com
mon sense should teach you the folly
Of such an idea"
"And your own common sense
should tell you that I would not con-
slider lecturing on q subject had not
mastered. Just because women have
brought up children is no sign they
have brought them up properly"
"And you are going to teach these
mothers what their children might
have been had they heard your lee
ture first" Norman laughed long
and heartily.
Letitia's eyes we're fixed wrathfully
upon him. She was very serious over
her proposed series of lectures before
the club and she did not like being
laughed at. She was sorry Norman
was 80 fine a specimen Of manhood.
1t was difficult to give him up. but
perhaps when she had succeeded IN
showing him and her world that sne
was an efficient speaker he would
come back to her and bow in acknowl'
edgement Of her gift.
Before she could speak the fery
worlds that would terminate their en-
gagement Norman himself gave ex-
preston to his quickly matured reso.
luton.
"Letitia, I am sorry to have hurt
you. but I think I understand you
better than you do yourself. also
realize that you are going to give
me back my ring and tell me never
to darken your door again. Isn't that
right?"
"Yes!" retorted Letitia defiantly.
well, under the circumstances, l
think you are right. But see no
reason why we should sever our
friendship. have always been your
best friend and always want to be-"
He looked earnestly into Letitia's sur
prised eyes. Cant you manage to
promise me that?"
"Y.yes," agreed Letitia, trying not
to seem amazed at his readiness to
J sever the closer tie. "But I will be
very busy during the next week OF
two preparing my lecture" she added,
by way Of introducing the new Le'
titia. She more or less reluctantly
b pulled of the beautiful ring from hez
plump little finger and gave It to Nor
R man.
"Oh, thanks" he said, with merry
I smile, I'VE almost forgot to end things
properly" He put the ring in his
pocket with the casual remark. u
! suppose 1t is up to me to find another
girl before this solitaire burns hole
: In my pocket"
+ Letitia's head went up into the air
|, but she made no comment. She wal
; frightfully hurt, but defiant.
( Il want to help you all can," Nor
3 man told her, with his usual gentle
manner toward her. III you just
Z study up your lecture and practice II
{ on me 1t will help you wonderfully
+ You've no idea how difiicult it is t.
: speak the things out that you have
+ conceived in your mind. especially be
fore q seething mass Of people. You
voice sounds like Q lost soul when yoy
Arst speak and you get positivel!
g CHASTITY weak in the knees" H,
: laughed in recollection Of his own firs
g attempt. so II you Just practice up
3 on me q bit you'll fnd 1t will help ,
4 lot when It comes to the nerve-rack
+ ing ordeal"
4 Letitia essayed . smile, but she fell
i rather weak In anticipation of her flrs
+ speech.
Z you are certainly cheerful and en-
& couraging," she said finally. How
= ever. think your suggestion Is
= good one. will be very glad to speal
: my lines over before you. It is goo'
z Of you to think Of It," In her graft
3 tude Letitia would have offered hir
Z the habitual lovers kiss. but she r.
= membered just In time that they wer
g no longer lovers but only friends.
j Norman smiled but made no CON
Z ment. He had seen her swiftly will
Q held caress and in his heart rejoicet
g He did not press the advantage, bu
+ shook hands in most friendly fashio
Z and left her.
: After that Letitia threw hersel
Z heart and soul into the preparation G
= her lecture to be delivered befor
= the club women of the town. Sh
9 felt very important and very much
/ earnest. Norman seemed to hay
{ suddenly realized that she was a won
! an OF some purpose. and was helpin
8 her in every way. He listened p
/ tiently to her speech sometimes twie
Z during an evening, until Letitia fe
z that Sho could c<ood hae1.a ~ -