The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-03-18
ROMANCE OF 4 VEIL
sy JOHN PHILIP ORTIZ.

Copyright. lsn. BY the Mcclure Newspa-
per Syndicate)
John Gray's office window over
looked Fifth avenue. and ON this par
ticular October day the window was
wide open to the crisp autumn breeze.
Life II dull enough. goodness
knows" complained John. leaning
back In his chair and elevating his
heels to his desk.
And at this critical moment ro-
nance entered his once in the most
unexpected manner.
There hoated through the window.
borne on the fresh breeze. something
soft and nlmy and white like bit Of
pure cloud drifting down from the sky.
He did not see It. his eyes were
closed in dreamy retrospection. and It
was not until the wisp of white drifted
across his lips and chung there that he
sat up with . start
"Jove! What IL that?" he de-
manded. plucking the thing from his
face.
! He looked at It and recognized It
~ some dainty accessory to q lady's
toilet. A delicious fragrance assailed
| his senses-a mingled odor Of fresh
violets and roses.
! "Oh, bother!" he snapped as he
clumsily tried to remove the delicate
tissue. Then he saw initials embroid-
cred on the delicate hem.
| e. ". E."
John Gray laughed aloud as he
folded up the veil and tucked it away
in the breast pocket of his coat.
Il wonder who E. v. e. can be-"
he chuckled. Eve by all that's
wonderful! How shall ever find this
unknown Ever"
/ He was still bordering this Ques-
ton while he waited for an uptown
bus: 1t was tempting evening to ride
home on the roof Of a motor bus.
One came along just then and he
found a vacant seat beside distract
ingly pretty girl.
John Gray caught one fleeting
glimpse of her profile, for her face
was upturned to the windows Of the
building where his Office was located
The girl faced about and John could
not look ut her without positive rude
ness. so he stared straight ahead. All
at once ne became conscious that the
air was fragrant with that odor Of
mingled roses and violets. Could It
be from that veil in his pocket!
He furtively thrust a gloved hand
in the pocket and. finding the veil in
tact, withdrew his hand and quite un-
consciously the veil came with It.
"Oh!" cried voice at his elbow.
John looked down at her in polite
inquiry.
my veil!" she explained hastily.
pointing to 1t.
"Yours?" repeated John incredulous-
" and his Tigers frightened their grasp
on the chifIor. Impossible"
But It is!" she insisted gently.
"See. there are my initials. An hour
or two ago l WAS riding down the ave
nue. on the top Of bus when gust
Of wind took the veil from my hat and
swirled It up. II disappeared through
an once window am sure II 10
NINE"
II am afraid 1t is." said John Gray
reluctantly giving 1t to her. II thought
1t was a cloud from heaven itself when
It drifted into my ONCE; am not 50
sure that 1t isn't" he added to him.
self, for the look in the girls eyes was
most disconcerting
1 T, Inhv Nrov'c tisfo otion kha v,,va
FERROUS "E. v. E." did not leave the
bus until 1t stopped at his signal. Then
with little nod, enhanced by a rose.
tinged smile, the girl tripped past him
and down the steps to the street.
| When he reached the apartment
house where he had a suite OF rooms
in his sisters home, he was amazed
to find that the girl had preceded him
She hushed with annoyance and
when he made for apartment B she
stopped short and glanced haughtily At
him.
This 10 too much, sir!" she said.
John paused with his latchkey In
hand.
"But-you see. live here" he said
helplessly.
1T II too-absurd to be true!" she
protested, looking a. II she would cry,
Really" John was beginning when
the door Of the apartment opened and
his sister. dressed for the street, ap'
peared.
John. John. you homo 90 soon ?"
cried Mrs. Remer: and catching sight
Of the girl. John. let me present you
to my old classmate. Edith Emmons.
Have you ever met befofe?" she
asked. struck BY their embarrassment
"Why-er-yes." said John hastily,
and Miss Emmons blushed deeper and
. dimple came into her cheek
We are going to Throcton's to tea.
John: will you Gomez" asked bis sis.
ter
John looked at e. ". =. and her
eyes said, do GOMEZ" 80 he went, and
before they returned homo he learned
that her initials stood for Edith
Valerie Emmons, but he said that he
thought Eve was much the prettier
name. And he considered It perfect
when later on he persuaded her to
add Gray to 1t.
| Badge Of Sanity.
The badge Of sanity IL the ability to
cooperate with other people; and the
more people you can work with. and
for the bigger and better you are
Wy A.