The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-02-16
had BOTH dropped.

II only wanted to make the thin
clear" he told her; III We could tall
it over quietly. we might both fee
better"
Rose shook herself impatiently
What's the use of talking it over?'
she exclaimed. who wants to talk Il
over? I've got along all right and yor
look as though you had. People ar,
good to me-rm that kind. You go
notice OF the divorce, didn't you?"
"Yes-yes," he said. from Dakota
Yes. To tell you the TRUTH confess
II didn't pay much attention to It
I've never thought Of marrying again
and was 20 busy with my BOOK"
Rose shifted audibly. II can believe
that" she remarked with some ~
perity.
Perhaps I gave too much attention
to my work" he confessed. Il can see
that now. At first it was with the idea
Of making more money-you always
needed money, Rose" He was very
uncomfortable. What ground did you
give for divorce?" he asked with q
new curiosity as he reviewed their
life together.
''Nonsupport and extreme cruelty"
replied Rose glibly.
He laughed involuntarily, and. Rose
stiffened percertibly. half insulted.
Then he rose and paced the little
parlor; twice and three times he went
before he stopped in front Of her
chair.
"Of course that's all nonsense" he
said. "You know that as well as I do.
I gave you more than I could afford,
and you didn't know what cruelty was.
l probably did spend too much time
over my work. You needed q lot of
things l never thought of. I don't
blame you for being dissatisfied. l
was SO tired of quarrels and worried
with debts that l wasn't really sorry
when found. you'd gone. We may
as well be honest about that. just
went into my work little harder and
left the country before long.
Il sent you money through Desbor-
ough as long as could. After he died
l couldn't seem to reach YOU"
"Oh, got along" she said. 81 al
ways do. I'm the kind people look out
for. I got paid pretty we'll in the
chorus because I'm pretty, and they
put me in the front row. But couldn't
learn to dance, SO I couldn't get in
the next show. Then l went in Opper.
sham's and sold lace for a while till
they put me in the millinery to show
on hats. Then had friend who had
boarding house and she wanted me
to come with her. so did and stayed
until she died. We did pretty good,
but since then I've only kept dodgers
because l wasn't going to bother to
try to suit people with meals"
Ellsworth stood looking at the rock.
ing chair. 1t seemed to understand
him better than she did. After q min.
ute he came back to her.
There is one thing, Rose, I've got
to know" he said. SARA said-the
child-was that true? Was there q
child. Kose?"
Roses eyes went wide with looh
that flashed deep into his soul. She
clenched her little hands and opened
them befores he spoke.
That was soon over. It was born
dead" she said.
"When"
1T was eight months after left.
didn't know till I'd gone. Then it wal
too late. l went to a hospital. It wa,
born dead. It was girl. didn'
think l had to tell YOU"
How you must have hated me-" b,
said.
Rose moved uneasily. "Oh, l dom
hate you now" she assured him. TN
like that. get over things"
Ellsworth paced the floor and cam
back to her again.
will you try 1t again, Rose?" h
said gently. Il was very wrong.
wish you'd try 1t again.
Rose edged away from him, shrink
ing. "Oh, MOI" she said. "Oh-no-
no! It's too late. You're all right
I'm not mad at you. Only"
The door bell rang briskly thre
times. A sudden change crept int
Roses manner, q shade. of anxiet
came into her blue eyes.
"You better CO." she urged. your
all right. I'm not your kind. It wa
a mistake always. You'd be sorry.
wish you would CO."
She pushed him gently out of tn
room. 1t was impossible to mistak
her sincerity In wishing him to leave
At the door he passed a portly, rec
faced man of prosperous appearance
who vouchsafed him a civil nod an
entered as one who knew the place.
Ellsworth hardly saw him, bu
stood for minute looking back at tn
house before he went on down tn
shabby street. He had no regret TO
what he left. but. his breath came, ur