The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1914-10-29
to saw. dead also. He was killed BY
a fall in the hunting field. The shock
killed your father"

10 say. Qedu diSO. AiC "oo AsAAS~ -
fall in the hunting field. The shock
killed your father"
John was quite unmoved at that
news. He had never had much In
common with his elder brother. AS
the younger son, John had always
been put aside in favor of the heir.
Your brother left no child, Charl-
ton," the governors secretary was
saying. Would he never cease? John
looked at him in daze. The thought
of Haidee had gone from his mind.
His father dead. His brother dead,
without leaving an heir. Then--why
he was the baronet.
"Sir John, allow me to present you
to some of your old friends" the Sec
rotary was saying.
And John, still wandering in Lon
don in May, with his nostrils full Of
the sweet scent OF hyacinths in the
parks, was brought back to conscious
ness of the dreary perfumes of the
ballroom by seeing his sister-in-law
and-Amy.
He found himself bowling mechan.
ically, just as though he had only left
them the day before. He looked into
Amy's face. What had there ever
been in that woman, to whom he had
given all the passion of a first love?
He had dreamed of her three years
till Haidee came into his life, this red
checked English girl, with the faint
smile and the worldly face. How far
away his past life seemed all of q
sudden!
John" his sister-in-law was say
ing" won't you come out with us upon
the veranda? have something to
tell you"
John followed the ladies outside. He
was leaning against the veranda rail
now, and his sister-in-law's words
were buzzing in his head.
You acted very noble part, john"
she said. "We-the family-shall
never cease to be grateful to you. Few
men would have done as much for
their brothers. But after poor Arthur's
death the lawyer went through his
papers. He was dreadful man, Mr..
Smeaton, one Of those mutton.whis-
kered Puritanical men who think that
everything irregular is a crime. He
found In your brothers desk q writ
ten, signed confession and insisted
that 1t should be made public to the
world"
John remembered Mr.. Smeaton, a
kindly old man who had always taken
an interest in him. So Smeaton was
the man who had come forward so un-
expectedly to retrieve his honor.
I'VE begged and pleaded, John, but
nothing could move him." his sister,
in-law continued. I'VE even offered
him three thousand pounds to hush
up the matter, but it wouldn't do. The
old wretch threatened to make the tale
public himself unless we did. So it
mad to be done, John" She sighed.
well, you can guess what a row
there was in England, especially as
you are now the heir to the property.
IN TACT, things got so hot that l found
1t best to take holiday in some place
where the rumors hadn't got busy vet
Amy promised to come with me, and
she has kept her word. You know
you and Amy were always good
friends, John. So now shall leave
you two together to talk over old
times."'
The woman was gone, and John
stood unsteadily against the railing.
looking into the hard, worldly face of
Amy Nairn. How could he ever have
loved her? How could he? How could
he? He could not answer his own
question.
John, l am SO sorry" said Amy.
putting out her hand. John took it and
1t felt cold and cat-like in his own.
"John," whispered Amy, do YOU re.
member what you asked me that night
before you came away? have never
forgotten, John. And l am so sorry
for our misunderstanding. have often
thought of you, john"
He would have liked to have thrust
his fist into the womans face. What
deliverance his had been! But Amy
was singularly obtuse.
i will admit" she said. that nv
motives in accompanying your sister.
,n-law were not altogether altruistic.
John. In fact, Ill wanted to see
you again" She looked down and
shuffled her feet in simulated con.
FUSION. Amy had singularly pretty
feet-almost as pretty as Haidee's-
and she had always been aware of
/ the fact.
! And now I've said as much as 7
dare, john" she added, raising her
eyes to his.
-, i am sorry" said John, bowling.
Sorry, john"
That you should have made this
long journey for nothing. cannot
marry you"
How dare you'll" she exclaimed
| with flaming cheeks. Has Jamaica
made brute of you, John?"
mo. a man." he answered. "When
go to England l shall take nv wife
with me. You see, we are to be mar.