The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-07-31

I'm going to Palm Beach next week,
you know"
I'll tell them" volunteered the doc
tor. They'll find time to run in, I'm
sure"
But for some reason the vicarious
promise was not kept; and the Ray
mers held aloof; and the Oswalds and
the Bars relinquished the new public
library project when it became noised
about that Jasper Grierson and his
daughter were moving in it.
Miss Margery possessed her soul in
patience up to the final day of her
home staying. and the explosion might
have been indefinitely postponed if. on
that last day, the Raymers, mother
and daughter, had not pointedly taken
pains to avoid her at the lingerie
counter in Thorwalden's. 1t was as
the match to the fuse, and when Miss
Grierson left the department store
there were red spots in her cheeks
and the dark eyes we're flashing.
They think I'm a jazz" she said,
with snap of the white teeth. "They
need lesson. and they're going to get
1t before l leave. I'm not going to
sing small all the time!"
1t was surely the goddess of discord
who ordained that the blow should be
struck while the iron was hot. Five
minutes after the rebuff in Thorwald-
ems, Miss Grierson met Raymer as
he was coming out Of the Farmers
and Merchants bank. There was an
exchange of commonplaces, but in the
midst Of it Miss Margery broke of
abruptly to say. "Mr. Raymer. please
tell me what I have done to offend
your mother and sister,"
II she had been in the mood to COM
promise. half Of the deferred payment
Of triumph might have been dis
charged on the spot by Raymer's blum
dering attempt at disavowal.
why. Miss Margery! don't know
that is-er-really. you must be mis-
taken, I'm sure!"
Il am not mistaken. and I'd like to
know" she persisted, looking him
hardly in the eyes. 1T must be some
thing l have been doing, and II can
find out what 1t is. I'll reform"
Raymer got away as soon as he
could; and when the opportunity Of
fered, was besotted enough to repeat
the question to his mother and sister.
Mrs. Raymer was large and placid
matron of the immovable type, and
her smile emphasized her opinion Of
Miss Grierson.
"The mere fact of her saying such
a thing to you ought to be a sufficient
answer. should think" was her mild
retort.
II don't see why" Raymer objected.
What would you think If Gertrude
did such thing!"
"Oh. we'll; that is different. In the
first place. Gertrude wouldn't do It,
and"
Precisely. And Miss Grierson
shouldn't have done it. It is because
she can do such things that a few
think she wouldn't be a pleasant per-
son to know. socially"
but why?" insisted Raymer, with
masculine obtuseness.
1t was his sister who undertook to
make the reason plain to him.
1T isn't anything she does, or
doesn't do, particularly; it is the at
mosphere in which she lives and
moves and has her being. If 1t weren't
for her fathers money, she would be-
we'll, 1t Is rather hard to say Just
what she would be. But she always
makes me think of the bonanza
people-the pick and shovel one day
and million the next. l believe she
is frank little savage, at heart"
Il DON'T" the brother commended,
doggedly. "She may be a trifie new
and fresh for Wahaska. but she is
clever and bright, and honest enough
to ignore social code which makes
a mock of sincerity and a virtue Of
hypocrisy. l like her all the better
for the way she flared out at me-
There isn't one young woman in a
thousand who would have had the
nerve and the courage to do It,"
"Or the impudence," added Mrs.
Raymer. when her son had left the
room. Then: II do hope Edward isn't
going to let that girl come between
him and Charlotte!"
The daughter laughed.
81 should say there Is room for a
regiment to march between them, as
1t is. Miss Gilman took particular
pains to let him know what train they
were leaving on, and l happen to
know he never went near the station
to tell them good-by"
ITO Be Continued