The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1914-02-20
strobe savagely up and down the p''

strobe 60VR8oay NY anu
form. ito
That afternoon the man stroiied i.'N
the smoking car and sitting down 70
side stephen he began to talk aooa'
a hunting expedition he was sons ~
min IN Montana. His air OF brassa
doc,o made Stephen like him less anu
less. All his consideration seemeo
centered about himself and no nen
ton made Of his BRIDE.
will your wife accompany you =.
the trip?" Stephen found himseii ssA
ing his voice strangely unnatural
"Oh. no, she isn't good usVe'ea
and doesn't like to rough IT, was LUG
careless rejoinder.
Stephens blood boiled. So negiec'
was to be Avis portion before .ne
honeymoon was scarcely begun! ne
left the smoker abruptly He feit 10
could not answer for consequences II
he remained.
He was profoundly thankful wnen
they reached Butte, where ne was !"
change cars. And yet-could ne ~
away and leave Avis In the keeping I"
that man who evidently failed to Keep
his vow to love and cherish?
It was pale, set.faced young man
tensely gripping his travelling Dag
who alighted. He had fought the mat
ter out with himself and decided tna'
the kindest things he could do was 70
60 away and not add to her oiscom'
future by a dramatic scene.
Many passengers were getting on
and on, and as his train was not due
for q couple of hours. Stephen waited
until the first confusion had passed
before entering the station. BY the
time the long overland train had
steamed away into the darkness ne
was alone, save for one other pas
senger, evidently Of the same mino
about waiting. She was looking
around in a bewildered way. AS she
turned, and the light from the station
fell on her face, he saw, to his amaze
ment, 1t was Avis.
why is 1t? What's the reason!
his quick mind questioned. Her face
looked strained and resolute, and her
big eyes were piteouS.
Gently he spoke her name so as not
to brighten her. But she started IN
nervous terror. Then she realized who
1t was.
"Oh, Stephen, Stephen she half
sobbed.
What is it, Avis? Where is your
husband?"
my husband"
"The man you were with he re-
turned, grimly.
"Oh-my uncle?"
your uncle" 1t was his turn for
establishment.
why, yes, Uncle Fred Sangster,
Aunt Mollies husband She was with
us, too, but the poor dear was terribly
car sick, and had to stay in her apart.
ment most of the time. What funny
mistake"
They laughed Then his face be-
came serious. But your letter said
1t is past time for your wedding
The tragic look returned to her face.
1.-THE wedding did not come to pass,
nor will it ever A week before the
date set for our marriage learned
some things by accident about the
man was to maryland ! gave him
back his ring. That is all-except
that it's my pride more than my heart
that's hurt A position was offered
me to teach here in the Butte schools
and came
He scarcely needed what she was
saying, except that she was free.
Some cousins were to meet me here
but our train was late-and they
aren't here
Full realization returned to Steph.
en- with a rush "I'll see you safely
to their home, if you'll allow me.
will take care Of you now-always,
Avis"
Always is long time," she
laughed.
Copyright, 1913 by the Mcclure News.
paper Syndicate.)