The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1914-09-03
HIS way Was BEST
BY NELLIE cRAvEY GILMORE.

(Copyright)
Alicia turned abruptly from the
window a. Delaneld's form was swal
lowed up In the throng Of pedestrians
surging up the avenue. She stood for
an insensate second staring blankly at
the carpet
Then the hot tide Of long-pent-up
emotions, suddenly released. swept
turbulently to her brain. The aching
restlessness of five long years famed
into fierce rebellion; the humiliatins
truth had come to her at last with Q
sickening sense Of certainty.
He was the wrong man.
II anyone had asked Mrs. Dela1eld
in what respect her husband was de-
ncient, she could hardly have answered
the question. His appearance was
comely. his manners flawless. He was,
perhaps, q step in advance Of his col
leagues in point Of intellect.
His integrity had never been a.
sailed. Socially his position was I'M
questioned; he rode no hobbies; he az
fected no erratic creeds. He simply
did not understand the woman he had
married!
Reviewing her welded life deliber-
ately. critically. Alicia was compelled
to admit to herself that never, In a
single instance, had Delaf1eld failed
her. They had had their trivial differ
| hot Nc hut hod II Oh
In the end.
She could not recall that he had ever
treated her with unreasonableness or
discourtesy; as matter of fact, the
very recollection Of his uniform tender
ness and indulgence nettled her curl
osity. In her suddenly awakened re-
sentiment she reflected bitterly that
she would almost-yes, Quite-have
preferred a little of the masculine
brute.
Had he comprehended her nature in
ever SO slight a degree he would have
dominated it-and her. Yes-she con-
fessed it unreservedly-what her soul
needed, craved. nay, demanded, was a
power above its own.
She was weary, sick to death of this
eternal bowling to her will. yielding to
her every within and impulse. True,
the little tangents in which she had In.
dulged from time to time had been
harmless enough, but she had hun.
gered feverishly for excitement, oppo.
sition to whet her zeal.
With hysterical perverseness she
found herself longing for the squalls
I II not the storms, Of life. Instead OF
this. and through Delaf1eld, she had
been forced to endure year after yeal
) this deadly, placid life that was wear
, Ing her spirit out by inches.
4 She sank into chair and pressed
her fingers to her burning eyes. Elk
ample after example Of her husbands
e characterless good nature" flashed IL
. panoramic succession through be-
tumultuous mind
She recalled something BERTHE Lang
q don had said to her year or two afte
her marriage.
She had remained out late-too lat
Z at a theater supper at Sherry's witt
h . party Of friends. Delafield was wait
ing up for her on her return. Oh
more than half expected to be n
preached, even upbraided.
: But in her husbands calm, smilin
reception she sought in vain for sign
! Of secret jealousy or disapproval. Tn
+ placid exterior told nothing. So far q
j he was concerned. there was nothin
: to tell!
{ wife-would have been half mad wit
] anxiety" she had confided to Langdo
:: with a sore heart. BILLY never eve
'. looked a protest"
:. BERTHE Langdon had laughed at he
y vehemence and replied: What a Ii
= tie simpleton you are. Allie. An
8 other woman would have been tickle
:. to death to have such an easy-goin
i fellow for harness-mate. Take
from me, Delafield is a superior fe
:. low. That's just his way"
- Just his way! All, that was tn
j. slogan. Everybody applied 1t, and
e she reflected dramatically-it was d.
j. stroying her very soul.
E Lottie Henderson had once remarke
i that William Delafield was "perfe,
e angel Of a man."
i She had flirted openly, boldly, wit
z fiashy Westerner, for the sole pu
i pose Of rousing her husbands Jealous
Z and he had quietly shut his eyes {
- her maneuvers.
+ do you think it's because /
= doesn't care, Lottie?" she had aske
her friend uneasily.
Il Il think it's because he does, dear
she answered. How could he help il
Delafald ia an unusually aanaihlo fs