The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1914-11-20

that she did not Qnoefstano In NIB ue
meanor' that evening. And, what
troubled her most, she had somehow
felt that 1t was not advisable to make
any reference to him in her letters to
Tom.
Tom was looking forward anxiously
to seeing her when her vacation came
the following month. Perhaps then
she would tell Tom. Perhaps
She went to bed with a conscience
not wholly free from problems.
It was q day or two later that MISS
Elizabeth spoke Of her vacation to the
colonel.
why, l have been thinking Of that"
he said. Il shall want you-at least
should like to have you help me, II you
can. You see, Miss Elizabeth, ! am
taking q little yachting party to Key
West, and I ought to keep IN toucn
with business affairs. II you could &C.
company US, you can have another
holiday when we get back"
The yachting trip was to take about
six weeks. Miss Elizabeth had never
been at sea; much AZ she wanted TO
! see Tom again the invitation was IT.
resistible. The colonel told her that
there were to be three or four other
ladies. They we're to go aboard the
vessel at the little private dock AZ
seven in the evening. q week thence.
Miss Elizabeth wrote letter to
Tom, explaining the situation and
promising to come home as soon as
she returned. Then, at the appointed
hour, she accompanied the colonel.
who called at her boarding house in
taxicab. to the pier.
The yacht lay alongside the wharf.
A Waterman paced her decks. but,
though they inspected her from stem
to stern, there was no sign Of the 9TH
ers. They had sat down for a mo-
ment in the dining saloon. The girl
was becoming little nervous.
I'VE will have dinner now" said the
colonel.
wait a minute" said the girl hur-
riedly. when will the others be
here? Your sisters she not expect
ed before we dine?"
The colonel pulled his mustache and
looked hard at her. Then he stretched
out one hand and patted hers gently.
my DEAR" he said, I'VE are going to
be the only two passengers aboard this
trip"
The girl looked at him with terrified
eyes and rose from her chair with
little gasp. To the last day of her life
she always pictured the colonel thus
seated before her. pulling his dropping
mustache, and smiling at her with
such a kind expression on his face.
81 thought you understood, Eliza
BETH" said the colonel in tones OF
grave politeness. There was reproach
in his voice, but Colonel Slice could
never be anything but a gentleman.
"But-you said-you said" the girl
exclaimed; and even then she could
not quite believe it. But presently she
understood. She was not at all angry
She felt the tears of humiliation rush
to her eyes, that he should have mis-
understood her so. And there was
more than humiliation-there was real
sorrow for the loss Of friend, the
only friend she had had, except Tom
since her parents died.
Are you going Elizabeth" asked
the colonel, watching her.
She began buttoning her coat. "Yor
ought not to ask me that-O, what
have done to make you think other
} wise?" she pleaded.
my DEAR" said the colonel, "l
thought you understood the situation
: Perhaps was wrong; had no wish tt
!, deceive you. That is not my way
J. There are certain conventions
!. why did you think was taking 20,
r out to luncheons and dinnes?"
"As friend" she cried holly, feel
; ing her cheeks burning
a He shook his head. MEN of fifty d,
not make friends of their lady EN-
= ployees in that way, my DEAR" he an
q swered. Il am sorry. Let me hell
!. you with your coat"
9 They went up the stairs to the decl
9 and stood side by side there for a mo
D ment. Everything in Elizabeth's lif
u seemed to have crumbled into ashes
Q She turned
y Il am sorry" she said. IT wish
had understood. Good-by."
, For the life of her she could nc
- summon any indignation against hin
70 She did not feel the insult then, onl
;. the unbearable loss.
- Colonel Slice took her hand in hi
y. and bent over it. They strolled up tn
~ dock; he called a taxicab and escorte
= her to her door. Then he raised hi
- hat and left her.
On the following morning a epeci,
"a delivery message arrived for the cir
- asking her to hold her position at tn
"a store till the colonel's return. The
need not meet, he said. but he truste
49, she would take charge of his interest
~ till he could make arrangement
- Elizabeth went back to business.
She did not see him again. TT
nd yacht was wrecked in the great stor
ON that ravaged the Florida coast tn;
or summer. Colonel Slice never appeart
| again, He doubtless died with all =,