The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1914-07-08

The finest schools, the most exclusive
surroundings, the most expensive
clothes-money without stint, music,
art, travel, literature, bright compan-
ions, all were hers.
And ever was instilled into her ear
that she was growing up to be the
bride Of the great and rich Mr.. VIII
liam Beattie. He made no mistake
He saw her but seldom, and always
at his best. He lavished nice things
upon her He surrounded her with
clever people, who sung his praises
and filled her with wonder that 80 rare
a web of fate should have been spun
by the gods for any girl.
Finally after school days were over
and the trip abroad had been made,
she was brought to him like a ripe
peach for. the eating. And never had
he seen 80 tempting sight. His cup
Of happiness was overlooking. He was
now forty, sturdy, rugged and in the
very prime Of his physical and men
tai manhood.
He had been very careful that Anita
had met no other men That had been
the one relentless and uncompromis
ing rule of her educational days. Now
he proposed to clinch matters before
any untoward incident could occur
He had his little talk with her, and
she acquiesced to his program with a
slight blush on her perfect olive cheek,
but with no strong tumult in her
breast. She had known all about it
for years. She was not at all opposed
to the program In fact. she liked
1t immensely. But there was no pas
sion in the equation-on her part.
First and foremost there was to
be great betrothal reception, at
which Anita was to be presented to
society as the future Mrs William
Beattie. The wedding was to follow
almost Immediately Beattie proposed
to take no chances.
But fate has strange and unaccount-
able freaks. There drifted into that
betrothal reception one Richard Lom-
bard, young mining engineer. only
two years out Of college, and those
two years spent in hard work in Mex
ico A great, towering, splendid fell
low was Lombard, with the birth and
breeding Of a gentleman, and mag
netic presence-possessed Of that
something which attracts women ev-
erywhere His two years of outdoor
life had bronzed his skin and given
him that touch Of magnificent mascu-
Unity which nothing but the hand-to-
hand conflict with nature can give.
The moment his blue eyes met the
black orbs of Anita both knew that
something was happening within
them. There was opportunity for but
few words, but the eyes spoke the
only language worth listening to, and
when late in the evening Lombard
came and offered his arm for breath
of fresh air on the veranda," she took
It as matter Of course, her heart
humping so hard as to make her
afraid 1t would be heard
What happened on the veranda, or
on the moon-lit lawn, nobody knows.
Only this is known: On the following
morning William Beattie found note
on his breakfast table 1t read:
"Mr. Beattie: thank you for all
your kindness and your devotion, but
l have a life to live as we'll as yeu.
When you receive this will be the
wife OF Richard Lombard and 500
miles away. would rather be his
wife for one day and live in tent
with him, than to be mistress of your
mansion and your millions for hun
dred years, Girls may be won, but
not bought. Forgive and forget me.
Anita"
! Copyright 1914, by Daily Story Pub. Coz
ANNro