The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-11-18

formed the same operation on the
young woman.
Everybody noticed that tho same
faint and inscrutable smile played
about her features, but nobody COM
mented upon that fact. Even in 221b
| It was the privilege Of young women
| to smile.
| The operations completed, the pro-
fessors solemnly shook hands with the
victims.
IN three hours" said the middle
professor, the symptoms should be-
gin to take effect. This is 115 O'Clock.
At 118, therefore, you will both be-
come a menace to society. At that |
hour the boat will be waiting to con- |
vey you to your island home"
The professors withdrew, leaving i,
the young victims together in the lab !
oratory Of the science building. Stu
ated on the seashore, in the curve Of
the wooded heights of Brooklyn. It
was an ideal spot for experimentation.
: The hum Of the great distant city
only came family to their ears.
In three hours time the vessel
would anchor of the dock to carry
them away to the South seas, there to
remain for a term of years until the
deadly virus had been eliminated.
The young man shuddered as he
thought of the awful fate in store for
them. Now that the act was irrev-
ocable he began to think Of the sac
+ rifice. He remembered q hundred
friendships, the college days when he
i had been the heart and soul Of his
Q set All these memories he must leave
behind him, to go out to savage
/ island with this nurse.
Yet, as he glanced at her, he began
to feel a novel interest in her that
8 he had never felt before. Life with
e her would at least be companionable.
II He was not so sure, now. that he had
J. done a foolish thing.
If do you regret the sacrifice, B q F
N F. ~" he inquired, curiously.
s. Not Bit. answered the young
y woman.
May l ask why you are smiling?"
e. She smiled more significantly. That
70 is my secret" she answered. Some
day will tell you"
le "When?"
when we are alone together"
ID But we shall never be more alone
20 than we are now"
1e "I know But you see. A SO w F
IA, the virus has not yet begun to take
m effect in you
lW Il know 1t hasn't. wonder how 4
will feel. They say that the first sigr
is fever. wish had shorter name
for YOU
The girl still smiled at him. He wa
half piqued and half indignant.
Don't you begin to feel the effect
q of the virus?" he inquired.
- mot yet" she answered. Il don
" believe l ever SHALL
\ why not?"
y THAT is part Of the secret, too" sh
\ said.
I,\ He turned Indignantly. He ha
meant to turn away. Instead OF which
to his surprise. he found that he wa
III standing nearer to her than he ha
IN ever stood before. And, as his arm
III went cropping blindly for some myster
iii GUS purpose he found that they ha
III closed about her and were holding hi
fast. The harder he tried to escaI
IL her, the more tightly he held her.
The girl made no attempt to
- cape, but continued smiling What
it?" he whispered. And suddenly II
- realization came to him.
- ITS the poison-the love virus
an he exclaimed.
The girl nodded. She nodded 80 ha
.e. that her wealth of hair came tut
'u' bling down from under the hideo
hood. He caught strand betwe'
the his fingers and pressed 1t to his liI
lcai What am doing? Why am l q
pom ing this?" he cried. "Is it's 1t Z
symptoms
to She nodded again. 1T begins tn
req. way she answered
led, What a curious disease" said t
lest young man, thoughtfully. DO
IN know. don't believe l shall rea
ERIN mind being exiled with you on @
und island. OF course, womans co
pany is apt to prove tedious. Y
Dur doesn't expect the same intellect
had companonship that a mans compa
and affords. And then, l don't know II
had | shall have very much to say to y
ate. But you will be useful for cook
re- my meals, and sometimes will
ex- you things, and"
,om- The girl for the first time uttered
iene hearty laugh. The young man seen
not in a daze. He passed his hand acr
his forehead.
ians "As was saying" he resumed,
3, in will be delightful helping each OF
this in the little things Of the day. and
sors the evenings we'll sit and chat by
sub camp fire and compare notes and
oped periences-
,riod The silvery ripple OF her mi
/. to seemed to fill the room. Again
they Young man was struck silent.
I'D a why are you laughing at me!
yiru- cried at length. Don't you want
d to devotion? Don't you want me to
on YOU to learn from you, to si'
rifice your feet as your slave? Is u
WP somebody else you prefer? |
hardly wait for the boat to arr
p 27 I-I-I-I believe I-love you.
faint. this love-"
-, "yes this is love-" said the gil