The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-03-13
quickly indrawn breath. He had not

quickly tndrawn breath. He had not
prepared himself for the big innocent
eyes Of Letitia or the demure smile
on Letitia's lips or the smooth shin
ing braids on Letitia's head. or in fact
any Of the manifold charms that made
up the entire Letitia. He only looked
at her and gripped himself the harder
because of the pain he felt he was
about to inflict.
She drew nearer and held out
steady, cordial hand. Any member Of
the clergy was always welcome to
Letitia and she supposed he was one
who had learned Of her little odds
and ends Of charity work.
The girls eyelashes swept quickly
down when she felt the warm, pro-
tecting pressure Of the minister's
hand. Then she looked up and said:
Wont you be seated?"
Il have come on q rather peculiar
Grand" The minister spoke with
touch of gravity. Il found this"
He held out the marriage license and
saw the quick color fame into Lett.
tia's checks.
"Oh! Thank you so much. Harold
MIR. Dwyer must have lost It,"
Il found 1t in Central park" tho
clergyman said and waited until the
color had receded from the girl's
face. Il could have mailed the doc
ument but I used to know q Harold
Dwyer-in fact" the Rev. Mr.. Du.
rand hesitated for the fraction Of Q
minute then went bravely on, II mar
ried . Mr.. Harold Dwyer four years
ago. His wife was . dear friend Of
mine."
Tho minister watched the girls face.
It had grown a shade paler and q
startled look had come into her eyes.
She regained her composure almost
Immediately and laughed q pretty.
ringing laugh.
why is it." she asked with q not
quite steady voice, that one always
Jumps to conclusions? The world is
certainly large enough to contain two
or even three Harold Dryers"
There was a sudden silence in tho
room while glance fraught with fear
and a newborn understanding passed
between the minister and the girl.
The minister was the first to speak
and he strove to make his tone light.
Then you are the first to venture
with your Mr.. Dryer into the land Of
matrimony?"
"Yes." said the girl. initiating his
tone. but underneath there was a
vague feeling Of disquiet. The room
seemed suddenly to be peopled with
strange and ugly shapes.
The girl turned toward The window
as II to escape some hidden pressure.
Here Is Mr.. Dryer now" she said,
but In dull monotone.
The Rev. DR.. Durand had caught a
fleeting glimpse of the man who was
then entering the house. and he took
up position well in the center so
that Dryer might see him to best ad-
vantage.
The minister was conscious of heav.
lily beating pulses when he heard the
mans entrance and felt him glance
into the front room. Then he heard q
smothered exclamation and realized
that Harold Dwyer had fed precipi.
lately from the life of Letitia Larkin.
The girl realized everything in a
flash of intuition. She smiled half
wistful little smile and because she
was adorably feminine she did that
which was expected of her and
tainted into the minister's arms.
When she opened her eyes he was
gazing down at her with an express.
sion that brought all the color back
into Letitia's cheeks.
1T was good of you to save me-" she
said demurely.
Il couldn't do less" the minister
told her. "And thank my good mem.
ory for Names" he added.
Letitia was slowly tearing the II.
cense to bits.
you can get another one-some
day." the Rev. Durand said, half In
earnest.
Letitia blushed for she caught the
serious meaning beneath the Jest. And
when she did get another marriage
license the big minister accompanied
her to take charge Of it-and her.