The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-08-12
At LOVES COTTAGE
BY CAROL BROWNE.


1t happened one summer day at the
country club. Jack Loring was tramp
ing toward the golf links when Ernest
Westherby overlook him. Weatherby
| was inclined to middle-ased stoutness
and under the burden of his bag of
clubs he was pink.faced and perspir-
ing. His breath came pantingly.
He clapped Jack Familiarity on the
shoulder.
BE the first to congratulate me-"
no fasped excitedly. I'm engaged to
Nancy Durwent."
Jack faced him with impassive
countenance, but he felt that some.
thing within his breast grew cold and
still and then throbbed painfully.
"You are indeed Fortunate" said
Jack coofly. holding out his hand.
Miss Durwent Is a charming girl"
Weatherby fell into step and bah
bled necessarily Of Nancy and her
undeniable charm Of person and char.
acter.
Jack inwardly writhed as he liz.
tened. for was not Nancy Durwent
everything Weatherby described and
much more? Wasn't she the only
girl he had ever loved-ever could
love? And now. to hear from Wealth.
erby's lips that she was to marry tho
popular clubman!
He gritted his teeth-well, Wealth
erby was rich and Jack was merely
an artist only just out Of the strus.
Cling state and not yet quite arrived
ct the pinnacle Of success. He was
promisfng-his latest picture might
prove his arrival.
But Nancy was beyond his reach
now. He knew the Durwents were
socially ambitious. but he had thought
the youngest and fairest daughter was
different.
He teed OF with a desperate swins
Of his club. Weatherby watched the
ball sailing through space. suddenly
to disappear among q little group
around the second hole. The group
broke and then closed again.
Great Scott. Loring!" yelled Wealth.
erby. dashing of at a numbering trot
You've hit somebody with that ball.
l believe it's Nancy"
Jack followed him with long strides
and they reached the second hole to-
gether.
Nancy Durwent was the center of
q sympathetic group who were ex.
aiming a red bruise on her round.
white arm.
II am sorry said Jack, pushing
past Weatherby. II didn't see any.
one about hope you are not badly
hurt, Miss Durwent."
Nancy smiled and pulled down her
sleeve.
1T hurt a little at first" she said
sweetly, but after It is bathed in
cold water 1t will be better. Pray,
don't fret over it. Mr.. Loring. Acct.
dents will happen on the links, you
know!"
You are very kind, but wish there
was something could do" urged
Jack. Il can fetch a doctor. II You
wish"
Please don't trouble" Nancy was
beginning when Weatherby elbowed
Jack aside and Joined his fancee.
Nancy flushed at his air of pro.
prietorship.
I'm look after Miss Durwent. Lor.
ing" he said significantly, and Jack,
flushing painfully. bowed himself
; away and went back to the teeinK
ground. As he followed the ball to
the hole he saw Nancy, escorted by
Weatherby and one or two friends.
take "a short cut through the woods
to the clubhouse.
Jack was In suppressed fury the
rest Of the day. There was to be q
dance at the clubhouse that night and
he had promised to 20; but how could
he face Nancy when he knew that
now she was beyond his reach? He
told himself he ought to be glad-if
she was the sort of girl to sell her
self for Weatherby's money and
houses and motors. for Jack was sure
that Nancy did not love Ernest
weatherby.
He sulked in the veranda of his
pretty little bungalow all afternoon,
making dozen different plans in a.
many minutes. He would sell the
bungalow and never come to Ingle.
side again; he would go abroad
around the world. perhaps-and for.
get false Nancy Durwent, who had
repudiated love and chosen money.
In that brief moment on the golf
links he had seen weatherby's great
solitaire sparkling on Nancy's left
hand. Jack laughed bitterly at the
thought that he had planned 80 surely
that he had had his dead mothers
engagement ring, beautiful sapphire
and diamond cluster. reset and 70
fashioned 10 ut Nancy's finger.
Well rs al Over. h. shrugged.