The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-05-07
A WoMAK's REASON
BY HAROLD CARTER.

Jean Rae was Stlll tHln King oNeI u
W proposition that Tom Varcoe had p
d to her on her way down to Cannon
g in the subway.
z. She had two dozen girls under be
't She was considered an eminently T
spectacle young woman. She ia
n been in Cannon's department store Il
r nine years.
d She had known Tom Varcoe for tw
I years. He had a position at s35 in I'd
buyers department, and looked TO
t ward with confidence TO getting IN
a assistant buyers position, soon to D
. vacant, at fifty. His wife was in tn
5 asylum, an almost hopeless imbecile
( And Tom, who was Jeans best frienc
. whose loyalty to her had never ia
/ tered, had asked her to accept hi
: protection through life without thu
impossible ceremony.
You see, Jean, dear" he had SAT-
the night before, 1T is the law OF thu
state that is to blame You will b.
just the same as my wife to me for
ever. And I'll take you to Europe
when l get the position, and we car
live elegantly. You know me well
enough to trust me. Jean
She had promised to think it over
and give him his answer later.
Tom was. indeed, the sort Of man
OF whom any woman might be proud.
Not all men in Cannon's were like
that. There was Dodsleigh, for in
stance, the floorwalker of the perfum-
cry department, whom Jean had
warned away often enough when she
saw him ogling some of her newcom-
ers. Dodsleigh was married man,
and the type known as good fell
low" He was the type that would ap-
peal, in its cheap fiashiness, to a girl
like little Maggie Pryce, for instance.
Maggie had been in the department
store four weeks, and her little empty
head was swimming with romance.
Her knowledge of life was at the zero
point.
1t was only the day before that Jean
had seen Maggie talking eagerly to
Dodsleigh during her luncheon time.
She had taken the opportunity to
speak a few words to her seriously
afterward
Il guess know what I'm about" an
swered Maggie pertly, with a toss of
the head
She passed the day at the store as
though in dream. When closing
time arrived she had still failed to
come to any conclusion. She loved
Tom. All her impulses we're to go to
him. And yet
She walked homeward, considering.
why not?" she asked herself def
antly.
And suddenly she saw, reflected in
mirror at the entrance to one Of the
nashier. but less fashionable restau- |
rants, the faces of Dodsleigh and little
Maggie Pryce.
The girls face was flushed, there
was wine upon the table, and Maggie
was leaning with both elbows on the
table and listening to Dodsleigh's |
words.
Suddenly she walked straight into
the restaurant and up to the little ia.
Ole at which they sat. She hardly
knew that she was going there; some
power seemed to have taken posses.
sion OF her and to be leading her
against her will.
She saw Maggie start violently. and
Dodsleigh look up with an ugly sheer.
sit down, Miss Rae. The more the
nerrier, you know" he said with a
grin
Maggie. I want you to come with
ne" said Jean
Jealous, EN- Miss Rae?" asked Dods.
eigh. Say! Some day I'll take YOU
ut. If you're real nice to me. maybe.p
Maggie. do you know that this
nan has wife and children?" asked
can.
Maggie was looking up at her unde.
idediy Her weak little will was cas-. !
y overcome; just now she was more
terror at having been discovered !
nan at anything else. Il
Come, Maggie. dear" said Jean
sne took the girl by the arm. MAG.
ie began crying convulsively.
See here!--" began Dodsleieh
III see you tomorrow, Mr. Dods.
Ign, answered Jean. Maggie :
earl" ee'e'
one led her through the restaurant
mohg the staring faces. Dodsleieh
moved them, and then, at the on.
ance, seeing that he had failed
lrned away with a curse.
Jean called taxicab and nut Mac.
9 inside. She followed. I'm going
Jake you home, dear she said
ana that man won't trouble Won
'ain, after I've spoken to Mr. cav.
'n' | don't think he'll show up at
9 store any more"
Maggie was crying when tho ooh
ached her door. "Oh, Miss Jeor"
e soooed. Il know why you did this
me. But amt worth II. you COO
"a ever had a real home. il I'd had
u to take care of me-"
iou re going to in future, Maggie"
swered Jean. kissing her good. might
BUT why did you do this for me
lss Jean?" ,o' me-
! don't know answered lean
'eau
ana she did not know. That wos
a '.sn sne wrote to Tom that night
Tom, dear, I'll wait mt,
'e, and maybe, IL what the doo.as
"a is true 1t won't be many wears
Il l can't come to you novSsnd
MT ask me why, because / don't
ow myself" uoh