The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-08-18

persistently wandered to the nearing
lsland with look of strange abstrac.
ton
And when they had beached the
boat and strolled up the little sandy
path to the bungalow, Gwen walked
beside him slowly, confldingly vet
Flick smiled behind them and
laughed at Larry's jokes without re-
greet.
1t appeared when they reached the
board veranda that Joan had met
Dolf before, oh, long ago, down in
dear old Richmond. Dolf stared at
her as if fascinated. He perched up
beside her on the railing and dallied |
with her mess of wet, clammy star
nsh that she was trying to straighten
out to dry in the sun. And when she
had fretted him awhile, she took Flick !
away from Gwen with one long side
long glance from her hazel eyes, and
went for beach tramp.
Il didn't know you had met Joan
before, Doll" Gwen said imperson-
ally. Larry thinks the world of
her"
Joan is an epidemic Dolf an
swered morosely. She swept through
, our whole team when we went South
to play the Virginias They set her
in front of us to dazzle our eyes, and
l pitched grounders for three days. A
FELLOW never exactly forgets a girl
like that, you know, any more than
he does good big bump in the road
that he hits and tumbles over. It's
what you'd call infatuation, l sup
pose" He stumbled on, regardless of
the steady, measuring glance of
Ovens eyes. But it isn't real love.
! tell you, when a fellow does find
the real thing he knows the imita-
ton
Yet Gwen gazed musingly at the
two figures circling the island shore.
They kept very near to each other,
bending over to search for shells
among the driftwood and seaweed at
the hightide mark. Then, as if he had
caught her wireless, Flick raised him
self and looked back at her to wave
his hand
What a really resolute, manly sort
of boy Mr. Habbeton is" she said.
Larry was telling me how good he
was to him all the year. He's very
unselfish. | think. You can almost
see by his face what sort of man
he is, cant your
Flick has a very open face re-
piled Dolf guardedly. He seems to
!; be catching the epidemic all right
. ooh, don't know. l don't think
he would be just satisfied with a
|, Irritation somehow. He seems deeper
, than that. He told me that girls just
, seemed to represent certain abstract
: qualities to him. He thinks that &C
counts for the momentary attraction
. don't you know
"Wait till Joan finishes with him,
Dolf limited darkly. You can see II
starting up now
i. It was the end of the weeks visit
q a gorgeous night wnen the whole ses
g seemed gun-metal tint, and blf
: orange-colorcd moon came up to turf
|. it golden. Gwen sat pensively watch
:. ing a ship full rugged pass In sil
Q houette across the path OF gold.
Q was dark on the veranda. She sat II
8 the shadow of the vines and saw
e Joan and Flick-no, it wasn't Flick
J. II was too short and chunky 10
# Flick; it was Dolf himself. They cam
# out of the living room, and 1t iooke'
e as If Joan were being pursued. A
J. the railing she stopped and backe'
d against it.
L. 'Dolf Cramer, you ought to D
e ashamed of yourself. Let me alone
n II won't" said Dolf, doggedl!
It I've stood this as long as I'm goin
e TO Am to stand around helpies
g and let a cub like Flick Habbeto
,e walk off with the only girl l eve
r loved right under my nose?"
e Flick doesn't care for me tha
" way." Joan replied softly. HE
ID simply wild over Gwen.
d Gwen started to move, but a nan
8 closed over hers from behind, an
she felt Flicks presence. The shi
n had passed out Of the goideh pat
m now. but every uncurling ripple
~ the beach was gilded.
le you d. care, don't you, Joan
o. begged Dolf, desperately. Kemen
he her the old times back at Richmono
How many times did | propose
- you them :.
r. "Eyery hour" laughed Joan.
ct Flick had one hundredth part OF yo'
II. courage, Dolf. Gwen would never nav
W wavered."
10. Around Ovens shoulders sto
Flick's disengaged arm, and sne
40 not draw her hand away when l
found it.
On "ue hasn't talked of anything ell
ke ever since | came" Joan went
no ..It,s been deliciously funny. lie
Sc. been practicing on me, and he scare
IN 70 death of Gwen. She's rather
I'd well-noncommi you know, Isl
." she, Dolf!'
q don't want to talk of anybo'
ar hut YOU" murmured Dolf tenderl
en- Gwen hasn't treated me to anythn
lst hut descriptions of Flicks noble
les r-essiou and splendid depths. Joa
have | got a noble expression, too!
t. You're awfully cheerful lookii
he aI.er a week of poor old Flick Jo'
as said thankfully. Did | give you ba
to your ring the last time, dear"
Ter Dolfs answer vas inarticulate. y
he two shadows had merged as one. fii
ng said nothing. All his wooing mao oe
lie. 49, Cor him nv his rival. He be