The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1914-02-27
ment by the butternut tree"
by the butternut tree?" interrupt

reckless r1Sk or l1re ana lind, out
Dulcie did 1t safely; but when they
returned Enderby declared he would
never ride with her again and he has
gone back to town, although we all
knew that he came purposely to-er-
we'll he has been devoted to Dulcie
and he belongs to remarkably rich
family" sighed Miss Hannah.
Elmer Chesbro had met Enderby
Dawson and he felt some sympathy
tor Dulcie. but instantly his heart
hardened when he remembered the
cruel trick she had played upon him
for no reason whatever He had found
the little car In perfect condition-the
steering gear was faultless in action.
Then-then-when he had stood there
In the chintz-hung chamber talking to
| Miss Hannah he had faced mirror
that reflected the four-post bed and
he had seen Dulcie's lovely eyes open
for an instant
"Trickery'" he had muttered to
himself and now he had proof Of 1t
In Miss Hannah's statement that Dull
Gle was an expert driver and given to
reckless practical jokes.
Il will make Inquiries tomorrow,
he said as he left the house. Il trust
Miss Whitmore may continue to i'm
prove
Dulcie, lying meekly In the cham
Der, heard his parting words and she
read something beneath their polite
exterior. He had surprised her glance
In the mirror-he knew.
She covered her burning face with
her hands and cried because she real
lied how cheap and shallow had been
her actions What could she do to SCI
herself right with him?
Her aunts made her remain In bed
for several days after that, for they
declared that Dulcie looked feverish,
so Dulcie had many hours in which
to repent Of her Stiffness.
"A lady to see you, Mr. Chesbro,
said a clerk, appearing at the door OF
Elmer Chesblo's private office.
Elmer Chesbro glanced at the card
Miss Whitmore.' He froWned ana
q red flush came under his eyes
Show her in, Jones' he'said
Dulcie Whitmore came in, looking
very pale and subdued in golden
brown velvet and furs.
Chesbro looked down at her with
unfriendly eyes, but he greeted her
with formal politeness and brought
her a low wicker chair which he re
served for women clients
Dulcie found it difficult to begin,
She felt very mean anG small in tbs
grave Office 50 obviously given over
to the transaction of weighty bust
ness matters She felt vague sense
Of gratitude that he had consented to
see her at all
Mr.. Chesbro. am so sorry-but-
there is something must tell you
stammered Dulcie.
"The-er accident. All, yes"
Then you knew it wasn't an acct
dent" blurted forth Dulcie
II guessed after awhile won
dered ever since why you did it" said
Chesbro gently
Dulcie pressed a handkerchief &c
her wet eyes She had promised her
self that she would tell 1t all to Ell
mer Chesbro-it would be humiliating
but 1t would do her good, she told
herself
! So in hating words she confessed
to Elmer Cheshire she had re
sented his criticism Of her as "a little
kid" and how she had just twisted the
little red car around to scare hin
and make him feel foolish and nov
she was the only one that felt foolish
She was a perfect idiot so there
Chesbro had turned away his heac
and was looking out of the window Sc
that Dulcie could not see his face She
fancied it was very grim and stern
and she admitted to herself that she
cared more for his good opinion thar
for anything else in the world
I've been in love with him all this
time-thats why II hurt me so wher
he called me that" she thought with
sudden horror.
4 hope you'll forgive me, Mr.
Ches bro" she quavered, as she arose
| to go
| He turned swiftly and came to her
taking her little gloved hands In his
| own
Il have an explanation to make" he
said in curiously repressed tone. 81
have never forgotten the moment
met you tirst-I fell in love with YOU
then and there, but when Beth leased
me for an opinion-why, we'll, you
know big brothers don't like to tel
their heart secrets to little sisters sc
just said that you were cute little
kid In an off-hand way-neve,
dreaming that that mischievous Beth
would repeat 1t to you.
And Eve never lost sight of you
during the years-I've been frightfully
jealous Of many fellows and saw YOU
the day you took Enderby Dawson III
the bank by the butternut tree.
was passing in my car and heard YOU
laughing at him. Oh, I'm a very bear
ish sort of fellow where the girl love
is concerned and, because was toe
diffident to WOO you myself. wa.
Jealous of every chap that came neal
you-well. Miss Dulcie Whitmore, I've
made my confession, too-so we're
i