The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-12-02

but somehow he was afraid. He was
afraid that the little mountain girl
had taken him at his word He was
afraid that she was waiting. But
when he was thirty he had alto
gether forgotten her. Once, in fact.
he looked out Of the carriage window
while travelling along the new spur
line, and had been surprised to recog-
nize the mountain down which he had
fallen. Then he had reflected that,
during the hours wait, he could walk
over into the valley and see the girl.
But he only went back to the game
of cards which had been begun.
The valley thrived. For months
after Halsey had returned the
girl waited to hear from him. For
nearly two years she waited. Once
she had . vivid dream that a strange
woman, with gentle eyes, came to her
bedside and looked at her and put
her hand caressingly upon her fore
head. The woman reminded her odd
ly of Philip. That was the night his
mother died.
The valley thrived. New settlers
rushed in. Her father died, and she
was offered big sums for the land, but
she chung to it. working it single-hand.
ed. Some day this is to be Philips"
she said to herself. For his sake she
studied; the uncouth little girl had
become q woman fairly we'll educated,
and versed in the ways Of life. All
this was to be Philips.
She told herself that on her twenty
eighth birthday. when she stood be-
fore her mirror and saw that youth
was gone. And then for the first
time she yielded to fear. and that
growing sense of desolation that was
| always with her now.
IF he does not arrive when l am
| thirty l shall 60 to him." she said to
( her reflection. Then, very softly, Il
| shall 60 to see what sort of woman he
has married."
Two years later a woman, well
dressed, yet with an air Of strange
ness, stood in the Office of the in
surance company and asked for Mr..
Halsey.
The manager looked at her strange
ly. He has gone; he left US last
year." he told her.
Where can find him." asked the
woman.
| The manager parried her question.
Are you friend of his?" he asked.
An old friend, said Lily Of the
Valley.
| The manager looked at her in sur
prise. Halsey's friends had not been
of this kind, for the most part.
Lily looked at him with an in
tensity that disconnected him. If he
is dead" she whispered. tell me so
Don't keep me in uncertainty out OF
kindness. II he is dead it is better
that l should know"
He is not Dead said the mana
ger.
You know where he ISL" asked
Lily.
He could not lie to eyes like those
Yes, know where he u.s." he an
swered.
Tell me, then. Never mind wha
the truth is-tell me. Is he ill.,"
He is in the penitentiary for forg
ing a check" said the manager. HI
was sentenced to serve five years. l
will be at least three before he i
set free. But perhaps you will b
able to get permit to see him. h
added kindly.
Lily of the Valley went back to he
farm. There she worked three year
longer. At thirty three she had streak
of gray in her hair; her beauty Lin
gered, but it was no longer the will
; and elusive beauty of her youth. Lii
J had come home to her at last.
On the day of the expiration of Ha
seys sentence the warden informe
him that a woman was waiting to Sc
! him.
, Halsey, a man Of thirty-eight, shift!
eyed, gray haired, bearing not only tn
, prison stamp, but also the indelibl
stamp of the life that he had prev
, ously led, looked at the warden
, horror.
mo! Tell her won't see herr" h
cried. None OF them stood by m
when I was in the tolls. None {
those on whom I had lavished none
came forward with cent to al
, me-"
This woman looks different" sal
, the warden compassionately.
Il won't see her." said Halsey.
, He strobe out into the free al
, in his cheap suit of blue, prison-mad,
/ like himself. In his pocket was So
He had long ago made up his min
, what he was going to do when h
| came out. He was going to pull of
1 job with Slim Joe, prison pal. VIII
had been released a week before.
| was daring forger's game. Joe wa
to meet him at little stopping plac
| 20 miles out along the line.
Halsey was utterly unconscious {
the woman who, having followed hin
: not daring to speak. but watching owe
/ him like his good angel. She steppe
aboard the car that carried him
l the place.
She got out when he did. The Ii
tie settlement had become a village
There were plenty of passenger
q There was so much change that
was shock as Halsey looked up an
a saw the mountain down which he ha
, fallen, now dotted with vineyards an
l fertile fields.
!. Then his friend came forward an
4 took his arm. Phil, old boy!" he sal