The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1914-11-05

| AuSu Will Mllly
Anderson. Have hit it,"
Just on the head" laughed Enid,
ana the others assembled under the
old apple tree were not aware Of the
tremor she strove to hide in banter.
One could scarcely miss the head
of that tack" laughed Vincent, with
considerable annoyance in his tone.
Ends head went up a trifle, and
the color sprang into her cheeks.
And So" she said, looking into Vim.
cents eyes, Il am going to take this
chance Of breaking my engagement"
She took of the splendid ring she had
worn for some eighteen months and
passed it over to Henry Vincent.
Silence born of interest and sur
prise followed the exchange of the
ring.
Henry Vincent laughed quickly and
shrugged his shoulders as IL to dispel
any feeling Of tragedy in the air.
Ends voice arose above its ordk
nary soft pitch; she looked squarely
at Vincent. Il have not flirted with
every man who has attracted me since
l promised to marry one man and I
do not expect to sit quietly by and let
that one man enjoy himself with every
pretty face he sees. /. too. shall flirt
now and with every Tom, Dick and
Harry II so choose because l am
free, free, free!" She laughed un.
restrainedly and only she herself was
aware Of the falsity Of her merriment.
"Well-this act seems to be over"
said Billy Langhorne. Come on,
Enid. want to be the hero in the
next act. Let's 60 down by the duck
pond and rehearse It," He drew the
girl to her feet and. tucking his arm
into hers. led her away.
you can fiirt to your hearts con.
tent now. old boy" laughed Jimmy
Rogers.
Vincent seemed not to have heard
him. He turned his unreadable face
toward Sally Lund.
WAS she altogether right?" he asked
her.
Sally did not pretend to misunder.
stand.
"Yes." she said, Enid was right.
We have all talked about your flirt.
ing and had bets as to how long Enid
would stand It." Her expression was
not unkind as her gaze fingered on
Vincent. "You see. Henry-we love
Enid-all Of US, and we think her
worthy mans entire affection"
During the following six months the
small coterie Of friends continued to
meet under the old apple tree.
Vincent continued to flirt with Alice
York. Bessie Vane and. in fact, all the
girls Of the village. and to take them
to theaters in town or to the beaches
for a swim or for long drives through
the country.
1t was not until the apples were red
and rosy and many fallen to the
ground beneath the old tree that af-
fairs turned again toward the dra-
matte.
They were lolling about in the cool
of September twilight. when Vincent
looked suddenly at Enid. His hand
was in his vest pocket and he drew it
ouS oAu ACi0 Oul tA0 iiu6 GulO uttu
returned to him.
Dear" he said, and the friends
drew swift breath, 81 want you to
wear this ring again. have tried out
all the girls. have spent long hours
with the most attractive of them and
-always-on the homeward way l
wearied of them and longed only for
the one woman whom l love and al. |
ways will love. If live the appointed /
three-score and ten / can love just |
you. Enid. Won't you marry me?"
He looked only at the slim girl beside |
him.
Ends big, startled eyes leaped to-
ward each Of her friends and in flash |
she saw the relief in each pair. She
knew that there was no outcome save
one and she did that which they were
waiting for. She turned swiftly into |
the arms that closed tightly about her.
II sob shook her from head to foot |
1t was perhaps only Vincent who
knew it.
The tide seems to have turned"
shouted Roger.
Copyright. 1914, by tine Mcclure, Newspa-
per Syndicate.)