The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-09-29
ATrapanda
Confession
By EUNICE BLAKE


gagement with Ida Trask is broken!'
1t is"
There was q brief silence between
the two men. when Billy Staples said:
Ida sent me of.
This was ALI the information any one
ever got out Of Mr.. Staples. There is
q story connected with his dismissal
that puts the matter in a different
light. /
Miss Trask was one Of house party
given In the autumn. and of course !,
Billy was invited too. Edith Storms,
one Of the girls Of the party. was sit
ting on the porch with Billy and said
to him:
I'm tired Of riding. and l wish we
did more walking. Nothing delights |
me 30 much as to start out on brisk |
walk In cool autumn weather. when
the leaves are turning. love to kick |
up the leaves drying on the ground"
II will be most happy to be your
companion for a walk" said Billy gal
lantly.
ida might not like 1t.
II see no reason why she should OBJ
ject"
Nevertheless 1t would be just as
well If she did not see US 60 away to
gether. She's in the library playing
cards."
I'm perfectly willing she should
see us"
ThAvy eku kAI on ov,I fvSt hn
woods, kicking up the fallen leaves.
Miss Storms coming to secluded spot
did not seem as DESTROYS of walking as
she had claimed. A branch Of tree
growing very near the ground and
parallel to it formed a convenient seat.
Miss Storms sat down, leaving room
for her companion to sit beside her. He
did so. and the two chatted for awhile
on the scenic beauty Of the spot and
the stiffness. the lady remarking that It
was just the place for proposal.
whereupon the gentleman said that he
would be happy to accommodate her
II he were not already engaged.
Miss Storms leaned forward. expos
ing a shapely waist. Billy resisted a
i temptation to drop an arm upon 1t, but
when she turned her face toward him
with her lips very near his he gave it
up. He kissed her.
| The temptress rose and walked
away. Billy following her. He couldn't
tell whether she was offended or hurt
or conscience stricken. Their walk
back to the house was in silence. and
when they reached 1t the girl went
Immediately to her room.
That evening Miss Trask intimated
that she would like private converse
ton with her fance. They went into
one Of the little parlors on the main
door. and when seated the lady said:
II saw you 60 to walk this afternoon
with Edith Storms. Do you think II
Just the thing to take walks in the
woods with one girl when you are en-
gagged to an0ther?"
II see no harm in it."
There is no harm provided nothing
occurs that is harmful"
Billy made no reply to this.
IF you assure me that nothing harm
full occurred I have nothing further II
say"
Billy pondered as to his answer. ther
i. said, ASK Edith" Then. rising. be
left the room.
She met her fiance in the hall thu
: next morning, and handing him mott
she passed on. The note was simpl,
breaking of their engagement
Edith Storms. on seeing Billy shortly
after his dismissal. indicated that sh,
would like to speak to him alone. Bill
ly gave her an opportunity. but main
tanned a reserve.
why did you send Ida to me abou
what happened yesterday" she asked
Because 1t Is the woman's privilege
to answer all such questions"
= could you not have saved your
self by
. "a lie? Mo-
You compelled me to accuse you o
! taking kiss without my consent"
4 II don't see how you could have 9th
r erwise defended yourself"
h "But this reflected on YOU"
II shall have to bear the imputa
| ton"
e HAS Ida broken with your"
f "Yes."
q Miss Storms did not seem quite sal
v isfied and showed her dissatisfaction
d She toyed with a bangle on her arm
o then with string of beads around he
b neck
What makes me feel unpleasant,
e she said presently, lis that l don
wish you to think that wish to tax
e you away from Ida. Indeed. am pre-
l. occupied in that
e Don't give yourself any concern tha
e. should think you are in Low
o with me-"
e There was something cutting in TIL
II that called slight flush to her cheel
IAN the blame Of this affair" sh
lie said, falls on me. I'm not going
bear IT. I'll tell you the whole stor
y II you will agree to drop the matter
q Tell It have no reason to folio
1t up"
u 1T seems very wrong Of me. but
N shall feel better after having made q
y explanation. Ida has recently met
man with whom she has fallen despe
:. ately in love. She wanted a reason
~ break with you and
~ Never mind the rest What yo
" hova tayd Mill ,,avar rova v,,v Nv,c