The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1914-03-16

Kirk thought so too When, after an
age, the curtain fell for second time
he escaped from his companions, num-
bling some excuse or other. and made
haste to find her again. But as he ap-
preached he felt a sudden pang or
jealous rage.
Ramon Alfarez was beside her, and
the two were chatting with an appear
ance Of intimacy that made him furi-
Gus. Close at hand stood Garavel, deep
in conversation with Colonel Jolson.
"Ah. Ramon, wish you to meet Mr..
Anthony" said Gertrudis. $50! You
have met before?"
"In Colon Kirk explained, while Al.
farez scorched him with his eyes. "Mr'
Alfarez was very hospitable to me-"
"Yes," the Spaniard exclaimed. 1T is
my great regret that Senior Antony did
not remain for longer. Does Senior
Antony discover our climate to be still
agreeable:"
"very. 1t hasn't grown too warm for
me yet"
I'VE are but approaching our 'ot sea-
son." The speakers eyes snapped
Heretofore Kirk had hated Ramon in
a careless. Indifferent sort Of way, feel
ing that he owed him good drubbing,
which he would be pleased to admins
ter If ever a fitting time arrived. But
now, since he saw that the jackanapes
had the audacity to love Gertrudis, his
feeling became intense. The girl, OF
course, was fully alive to the situa-
ton and, although she evidently en-
joyed it, she did her best to stand be-
tween the two men.
AS for Alfarez. he was quick to feel
the sudden fierce hostility he had
aroused, and it seemed to make him
nervous. Moreover, he conceived that
he had scored heavily by his last re-
tort, at which Kirk had only smiled
1t therefore seemed best to him to
withdraw from the conversation IAN
noyingly conducted in English), and
few moments later he stalked majes-
tically away. This was just what Kirk
wanted, and he quickly suggested the
balcony. But Gertrudis was obstinate.
II must remain with my father" she
said
May sit beside you, then? Do you
know, I'm going to nestle up to your
father and make him like me-"
Again you are speaking of that sub
ject. have known you but an hour,
and you talk of nothing but my father,
of me, Of coming to call. have lost
all modesty to speak Of those things.
You force me to embarrass myself"
You once spoke of chap your peo-
pie had picked out. 1t isnt-Alfarez"
She let her dark eyes rest upon his
moment, and his senses swan Then
she nodded slowly.
You do not like him."
Just like a nose bleed The day you
and | are married I'm going to send
him wreath of poison ivy"
1T pleases you always to Joke"
NO joke about that You won't give
in. will you:"
There is no question of force nor of
surrender, senior, | insist now that we
shall speak of other things"
a few moments later he was con-
strained to rejoin his hostess party.
when are you going back to Las
Savannas!' he asked as he reluctantly
arose.
Tomorrow"
THE hunting ought to be good
But she frowned at him in annoy
ance and he left her after all without
knowing whether he had gained or lost
ground She was not so warm and
impulsive as he had supposed. Her
girlishness, her simplicity. her little
American ways. cloaked a deep reserve
and fine sense of the difference il
their positions The plague of it WAS
that if anything he was more in love
with the definite and dazzling Gertru-
dis Garavel than he had been with the
mysteriously alurinS Chiquita. And
then, too, there was Alfarez.