The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1914-07-09

word. as the whole expression Of It.
One day, at the little station near
their cottage, she met Ralph Farms
worth and the instant look of admira-
ton that came to his eyes was not dis
pleasing to her. She had grown so
weary of solitude that another being
out of their old world was gladly vel
coined He was staying with rela-
tive in the neighborhood he told her;
his physician had advised the country;
but for his part he hated it. He did
not go away, however, but planned
many ways of meeting the pretty wife
of the author, who found no time from
his books to entertain her. She was
too much OF woman not to know
Farnsworth remained because of her.
She did not admit it to herself, yet
down deep in her heart she was
pleased with the admiration she had
awakened in this man of the world,
with his air Of WEAKNESS toward
everything. 1t was something to have
power over one who had seen every
thing and despised it. She was so
much alone that he found little diff
Guilty in meeting her and she began
to look forward to those meetings as
a rightful release from the changeless
round of everyday life to which she
had been subjected. He was SO ready
to offer every attention, to anticipate
her lightest wish, to discover what
was pleasing or interesting to her and
make that the subject of his study
that the companionship ripened fast.
Tonight she had been unusually
lonely and depressed. The days of
her girlhood came back to accentuate
the lack of friends and confldants.
Two brothers and sister had made q
lively household, In which there were
few hours of loneliness. Now she
was forced to find entertainment
within herself and she found the task
was burdensome.
The stiffness of the house, accentu-
ated by the steady scratching of the
tireless pen In the other room, OPP
pressed her. She went to the window
and looked out. The moonlight fell
soft over the landscape. Down at the
farther end of the orchard small red
light glowed and disappeared to glow
again at regular intervals. She could
see shadowy form moving backward
and forward under the trees. Down
there she knew was conversation, adj
miration, sympathy She glanced into
the room where her husband sat writ
Ing. Ii only he would give up his
work for this evening and talk with
her! She pulled rose from it's stem
and went softly in to him, putting one
arm about his neck and laying the
blossom on the page before him. He
did not look up, but with a hurried
gesture pushed the flower aside and
bent over his work. She felt how ut
terly she was out of his life and turned
away with clouded eyes. A few min
utes later she was going slowly down
the dewy path under the orchard trees
toward that glowing end of cigar.
Dear little woman he soliloquized,
tenderly. Il might have told her, but
wanted the surprise to come when !
the work is over so that there will be
no interruption to our enjoyment"
He bent again over the pages. He
did not hear the rustic of his wffe's
gown as she returned to the house
and ran hurriedly up the stairs. Nor
did ne see her as she came down with |
a small portmanteau and her cloak.
She paused at the door and threw a
hurried glance into the room where
ne was, still at his desk. Then she |
glided away In the moonlight.
An hour later the book was com.
pieted and, with sigh of satisfaction.
the author pushed the pages from him
and picked up letter, of which the |
seal had already been broken. He
drew out the contents from the en-
velope and, opening the narrow blue
sheet disclosed a check.
Two thousand dollars and six
months in Europe for preparation and
study he soliloquized. AT last we
shall see something of the world under
favorable circumstances, sweetheart
TOO bad couldn't tell you when YOU
were In here just now. | couldn't !
nave kept the secret a moment if |
mad spoken. We will make up for this
long imprisonment 1t must have
been dreadfully dull for you. I'm used
to loneliness"
lie went through the rooms. the
check in his hands and a smile or !
contentment on his face Passing the
open door he paused to look out into
the moonlight Overhead the stars
looked down upon nature. serene fra.
grant, sweet. Suddenly out of the
stiffness leaped the shrill cry of a loco |
motive. 1t was the night express for
the city He smiled to think thar no.
fore another night had passed his
VIE for whom he had worked So
faithfully, would be with him aboard
Such train on their way to the land |
OF romance and history. There came !
the putting of the engine as it gath.
cred head for another onward rusb !
with its load of human freight Tb,