The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1914-10-26

are the Dread who wrote The Cross
Of Fire." The shy woodland spirit
who had so carefully hidden herself
away could not have her secret un-
covered to the light Of day in such q
manner as that-but no matter-he
would know. He would see her face
to face very soon-perhaps tomorrow
and when he looked into her eyes
and heard her speak he would know.
After that Miss Barbara heard the
story from day to day. He always
came In as she worked over the exer-
cises late In the evenins-there
seemed to be never an end to those
exercises-or sometimes it was later,
and he found her resting in the gal
lery under the balsam vines.
Il am more sure Of her every day."
he said once. Have you ever noticed
what q soft voice she has?-an awful
~ sweet voice, Miss Barbara. And
she is Of Just that shy, reserved kind
"a true woodland spirit. Miss Sarah
is quiet, too-but don't think It can
be Miss Sarah, do you, Miss Barbara?
It Is almost sure to be one or the
other Of them-I am positive Of that
and 1t doesn't seem to me that Miss
Sarah Is possible"
III Miss Sarah were beautiful there
would be two possibilities" said Miss
Barbara with q little smile: and that
would lead to q great deal of irresolu.
ton and complicate your decision"
He flushed uneasily.
But the other one Is beautiful" he
said. And am sure she Is the one"
At the end Of the week he was
given to silence. and instead of SIT
ting in the gallery and talking with
Miss Barbara he was prone to walk
up and down the white path in the
moonlight. He had reached the point
where speech was difficult. Many
nights had passed before he paused
at the step and looked up at Miss
Barbara, sitting In the shadow.
Are you going to tell me that you
have found herr" she asked, without
turning her head.
"Yes-I have found her." he said.
with new quality in his voice. THAT
isl have found-Eve. I suppose
must have come here for that"
And she is-the lady of your
dreams?" asked Miss Barbara after
little pause.
. she may be-" he said. Il don't
know. / have forgotten the dreams
The only thing l remember is that
l am in love with the most beautiful
woman have ever known"
What more could one ask?" said
Miss Barbara. A heap Of little papers
slipped from her lap as she moved
and he stopped to help her gather
them up. 1T Is nothing but the chill.
dren's exercises" she murmured. II
have been sitting there-dreaming-
you didn't know that I ever dreamed,
did you-and forgot to put them
away?
1t was more than six months after
ward that Howard Marsh looked in
one day upon Trask, sitting in his it,
tie den Of an office. where the papers
were piled high up on every chair.
Marsh was Just returned from his
wedding journey in lands afar. and
was q little pale. for he had found the
beautiful Eve was at times hard to
entertain.
Glad to see you," said Trask, with
a new light In his cold eyes. that took
all their coldness away. Just back
from your bridal tour? We didn't
take any-but we are very happy, Just
the same"
you? You? Are you married ?"
asked Marsh incredulously.
"Yes-hadn't you heard? Dread
you know-why, Of course you know
her-Miss Barbara Scott - come
around to the house-you and Mrs.
Marsh-and renew old acquaintance.
BY the way. 1t was that silly talk Of
yours that put me in the notion to
find Dread for myself-knew her the
minute I saw her. Much obliged to
you I'm sure"
But Howard Marsh had tumbled the
papers of a chair and was sitting
there, laughing-a laugh that some.
how was lacking In most Of tho ele-
ments of mirth.
Ever Counted Your Buttonsf
Have Won ever cOunted vour hut.