The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1914-10-31
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
THEIR ARDENT CASE
sy LOUISE ). STRONG.

~ 0~0SOmoA OASSElu8 WIN uSI uuDe
band. butt expected your wife"
looking vaguely over his shoulder.
Everybody isn't married because
you are" the visitor smiled. Il hope
Halls matrimonial experiences have
sobsred him. He needed It"
He didn't! And don't want him
changed IN atom!" Mrs. Foster pouted.
All. 20 you manage him through his
vanity" Winston leased, with the tree
dom Of an old friend.
Il never have to manage him!" she
retorted. You can ask Helen"
A ripple Of emotion swept his face
a. he sid: Your cousin. you mean,
Miss Sears-or, IL she married also?"
Everybody isn't married because
am she repeated slyly.
But supposed that she was"
Helen seems proof against the
germ" Mrs. Foster said absently. She
was examining his face with an as.
pect Of alarmed surprise. Suddenly
she cried: Dudley Winston! was
there ever anything between you and
Helen?"
Excuse me, Mrs. Foster, we will
not drag a defunct past out of it,
grave" he replied coldly.
Conviction seized her. "Oh! oh!
and l never dreamed!-Dudley, you
Helen is here. l must see her In.
stantly!"
She whirled away, leaving him star
Ing. In few moments she whirled
back, her excitement boiling "Helen's
gone!" she shrieked.
well, that's polite" Foster growled.
she came especially for the dinner.
You must have offended her, though
Helen isn't touchy as usual thing"
Il didn't" Mrs. Foster denied, vehe-
mently. And she isn't offended. She
says she has suddenly made up her
mind at once to start on that visit"
consulting the note in her hand.
THAT visit is an old matter; It must
be something you said or did"
Lucy gazed about distractedly try.
ing to remember. Il asked her to
wear her amber gown. She IL 80 love-
ly in it, and-oh, yes, l told her Dud-
ley was coming. Oh! oh! that must
be it," Her eyes widened with horri-
fed certainty.
Winston, who had grown white,
grasped her wrist, demanding: why
should you think my coming Affect
cd your cousin? Mrs. Foster!-Lucy!
tell mel"
Il can't-not you! Ill see Helen"
she fiuttered.
Lucy" Winston took the old famil.
lar ground unconsciously, Il gather
that you think you did something that
caused q misunderstanding between
Helen and myself; you must be mis-
taken; there was never an under.
standing-only q hope on my part
and at one time thought-but
must have been misled by my feel.
ings."
"Oh, I am sure!-though l was 60
dense that never-I'll sec Helen, and
make It right"
His excitement suddenly blazed. II
don't understand you. I've borne hope
lessness-I thought her lost to me-
cant bear suspense! Your manner
.suggests-I know not what! can't
wait! Come with me to her now, Il
'once!"
Lucy made q tragic gesture, which
included in one sweep her billowy
gown. bare arms and shoulders and
deliberately dressed hair.
Winston did not even see 1t. He had
rushed to the hall, and was back with
his hat and cape he had
snstched from the rack. "Comel" he
commanded.
But my suests!-the dinner partyi"
she shrilled.
"Oh, you'll be back" Foster ~
sured her. grinning his delight, and
II you're late I'll apologize, and q.
plain that you're doing penancs foE
your sins. Thatll amuse them; most
Of them know you'll"
Harry Foster, II you dars!"
Gomez" Winston hailed . pass
ing cab, and hurried her away.
Wait till l see II she 10 here" he
advised as they drew up at the Sears
home.
"Oh. yes, and I can 90 straight
back" Lucy exclaimed.
II.
In a few seconds he dashed out.
gave some directions to cabby.
sprang in and turned to her, saying:
Il am sorry, but you'll have to 60 on
with me. She il to call at her sis
ters: we may catch her there"
The cab was tearing along at rate
that indicated large extra by way of
incentive.
"Oh. but l can't 60 all the way to
Marie's. l must get home, please,
Dudley" she begged.
Il am panied to be obliged to re-
fuse your request" he said politely.
She muttered an opinion Of him and
his conduct which was anything but
| nolite. Only the stubbornness of the
| csbman prevented her running away
l while Winston was interviewing
Marie.