The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1914-03-11

milk and wondrouS assortment OF
dollhouse fruits.
In spite of their equivocal situation,
Edith seemed fully to have regained
her spirits. Even the prospect OF
spending the night in this place APP
parently did not dismay her. They
descended to the square again. stared
at all the way through open doors and
followed by a subdued murmur of
comment Then they sat for a long
time watching the stars.
As if in despair over their impossible
prcdcament. Edith gave way to a
spirit Of reckless tiyacity, and Kirk,
with a mans somewhat exaggerated
sympathy for Woman's sensitive feel
ings, Loyalty Strove to help her make
the best of things in her own way.
There was no real concession of her
reSerye-no sacrifice of the feminine
privilege of prompt and complete with
draWal. If he had struck n false note
he knew that She would have turned
fligid in an instant.
1t was on their return to the house
that the climax came. leaving him
strangely shaken. Their course took
them past n tiny cantina. Frightened
by a drunken brawl within. she picked
up her skirts and fled into the dark
ness, Kirk stumbling along behind her.
At last she stopped out of breath, and
he overlook her.
You mustn't run through these dark
alleys" he cried sharply. You'll
break your neck" Half impatient at
this hystericaI behavior, he seized her
by the arm.
"Oh. I'm so frightened" she breath
ed, and he felt her tremble She lifted
her white face. and her eyes We're
luminous in the gloom.
Before he realized what he was do
i Ing his arms had closed around her
and his lips had met hers. 1t may
have been the romance of the night
j the solitude, the Intoxicating warmth
of her breath. At any rate, he lost his
head and knew nothing save that she
! was a woman and he a man. AS for
her, she offered no resistance, made nc
sign beyond Il startled sigh as their
, lips came together.
But. impulsive as his action had
been. it was no more sudden than his
recoi He released her and stepped
back, crying:
"Oh, my God, II didn't mean that
/ Forgive me. Please" She said moth,
| ing, and he stammered desperately
again. You'll hate me now. of course
but | don't know what ails me. l for
got mysclf-you-everything 1t was
objectionable, and | ought to be shot.
He started off down the blind street
his whole body cold with apprehension
and self disgust.
DO you intend to leave me here in
the middle of this
mo, no. OF course not I'm ratified
that's all. I've just got cowardly
desire to flee and butt my head against
the nearest wall That's what ought
to do. | don't know what possessed
me. don't know what you'll think of
| me-
1--WE won't speak of it now. Try
to compose yourself and find our lodg
ing place"
"Why, yes, of course. I'll see that
you're fixed up comfortably, and then
I'll get out"
"Oh, you mustn't leave me.' she
cried in a panic 81 couldn't stay il
that awful place alone" She drew d
little nearer to him, as If demanding
his protection. A wave of tenderness
swept over him. She was just girl
after all, he reflected.
IL won't leave you. I'll stay neal
YOU" he stammered.
Il won't believe that you could have
taken me for the kind of woman
who
NO. nor' he cried in an anguish o.
self reproach. Il was a fool
No" she said, Il don't-I couldn'
bear to think that Perhaps | was
partly to blame. But | didn't think
| ought to have known that no MAJ
can really be trusted. But | though
our friendship was so beautiful, anC
now you've spoiled it."
Don't say that exclaimed Kirk
Say you'll forgive me some time"
But instead Of answering him direct
ly she proceeded in the same strain
probing his wounded self respect to tn,
quick, making his offense seem blacke
every moment
Although he assured her over ant
over that he had simply followed tn,
irresponsible, unaccountable impulse o
a moment-that he had regarded he
only as the best of friends and re
speeted her more than he could say
she showed him no mercy. The melan
choly, regretful tone she adopted wa
ten times worse than anger, and b.
the time they reached the inn wher