The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-09-11

er introduce her to my folks at home, |
II ever went back. 1t was not that i
would have been ashamed Of her, but |
it would have been impossible for her.
The day before our marriage / re-
ceived letter from England. My IA |
Their and brother were dead; both had
been killed instantly in train wreck.
was heir to the title and the family
estates and fortune. In my elation
told Eva
II shall never forget the scene that
occurred. How she refused to marry
me. how her old father discovered
the cause and threatened her, plead
ed with her, implored her. He was
not avaricious. he would never have
left his ranch; but he felt that his girl
was good enough for any man. In
the end we overcame her opposition.
We we're married the next morning.
and Eva cried all through the cere-
mony.
There was to be no honeymoon. It
was haying time, and after the mar
riage I went OF to work as usual.
: leaving Eva to keep house in the little
cottage old Aaron had built at the
head Of the valley. That night, when
l came home, Aaron stood at the door,
waving letter, frantic with rage and
humiliation. Eva had run away. She
, would never come back, she said,
would never acknowledge the mar
rage; was to be free. She had timed
/ hnr catch tho
night train east II was just the fool
ish act of an ignorant girl. She may
have had a hundred dollars saved.
don't know what became Of her. De
tectives failed to find her. Old Aaron
died cursing her and asking my for
| giveness for having ruined my life"
You did not want a divorce?" asked
the woman softly.
No How could l? l knew that
the brave little spirit that had given
itself into my keeping was mine al
ways; that | was morally responsible
for her; if ever she appeared should
have taken her home and asked no
questions. | kept the detectives at
work for years. And lately l have
felt that / must do something more
earnest to find Eva. So | am going
out to Colorado, to the old ranch, if
it is still there, and | shall try to dis
cover whether she has not come back.
Perhaps have hoped 1.-THE early
memories will draw her home again.
He ceased and the woman withdrew
her hand and placed it on Lord Al
wyn's shoulder.
stop, dear!" she said. Now look
at me. l want to ask you a question
Do you love her as much as you love
mo-"
Lord Alwyn laughed rather bitterly
II don't love her at ALL" he said
land how much love you you know
But my dear, because ! do not love
her feel my duty the more strongly
So l am going to try to find her-and
So"
Goodbye" she whispered, and rails
ed her lips to his. For moment they
chung to each other with all the
strength and passion of two who know
that thence forward their lives must
be sundered forever. Then she waf
gone and he was alone in the star
light and with his sorrow.
Lord Alwyn spent three days II
New York. He called on his detec
tive agency, but they had learned
nothing. Then he took the train FOL
Colorado.
1t had changed hardly at all durin,
: ten years, that wild, mountainou.
country. When he stepped out at thu
depot he found the same little station
!, and the same station master, though
the man did not recognize In him th'
boy whom he had speeded heartily OF
his way home decade previously
Lord Alwyn hired rig and drove thu
: ten miles to old Aaron's ranch. Thu
: road was still deserted. still bordere'
by barren plains wherein no crop
grew. It was not until he reache,
the ranch that he came upon signs o
cultivation Then his heart leaped
a The little house still stood in its loca
ton, and smoke was issuing from tn
3 chimney.
But 1t could not be she! No doub
i the place was leased. That account
ed for the cultivated fields-for tn
:, girl W. uld never have come back Il
I manage the farm alone. Alwyn drew
8 rein at the door, hitched his horse t
/ the old post, and knocked. A womal
t opened It. 1t was Eva, dressed as
. rancher's daughter rake over he
+ shoulder, her hands dusty with hay
!. but Eva matured-No, It was not Eva
d 1t was Alice Pasquale!
g Lord Alwyn staggered against tn
t door and his hands, cropping feebly
- found hers and held them.
/, do you know me now, dearest?
q she whispered Have you found he
> again. this Eva. this ignorant girl?
d "Alice," he said, chokingly, ut
] you? You are Eva?'
She placed her arms round his nee
4 and drew his head down to her breast
q "You couldn't have known. dearest.
n she whispered 1T was cruel of me
I try you so long How could you hav
n recognized the ignorant farmers gil
A in Alice Pasquale. the singer, the tia
ian noblemans adopted daughter? Blu
= | have waited for you so long, m
n dear!"
!. Copyright. 1913, by W. G. Chapman)
Scared Them or.