The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-11-30

had taken MIN at his word. He was
afraid that she was waiting. But
when he was thirty he had alto
gether forgotten her. Once. in fact.
he looked out Of the carriage window
while travelling along the new spur
line. and had been surprised to recog-
nize the mountain down which he had
fallen. Then he had reflected that,
during the hours wait. he could walk
over into the valley and see the girl.
But he only went back to the game
of cards which had been begun.
The valley thrived. For months
after Halsey had returned the
girl waited to hear from him. For
nearly two years she waited. Once
she had vivid dream that q strange
woman, with gentle eyes, came to her
bedside and looked at her and put
her hand caressingly upon her fore
head. The woman reminded her odd
, ly Of Philip. That was the night his
mother died.
The valley thrived. New settlers
rushed in. Her father died, and she
was offered big sums for the land, but
she chung to it, working it single.hand.
ed. Some day this is to be Philips"
she said to herself. For his sake she
studied; the uncouth little girl had
become q woman fairly well educated,
and versed in the ways of life. All
this was to be Philips.
She told herself that on her twenty.
eighth birthday, when she stood be-
fore her mirror and saw that youth
was gone. And then for the first
time she yielded to fear, and that
growing sense of desolation that was
always with her now.
IF he does not arrive when | am
! thirty / shall go to him." she said to
her reflection. Then. very softly, Il
shall go to see what sort of woman he
mas married"
Two years later woman, we'll
dressed, yet with an air of strange
ness, stood in the Office of the III
surance company and asked for Mr.
Halsey.
The manager looked at her strange
ly. He has gone; he left us last
year." he told her.
Where can find him." asked the
woman.
The manager parted her question
Are you friend of his?" he asked
An old friend said Lily Of the
Valley.
The manager looked at her in sur
prise. Halsey's friends had not beer
of this kind, for the most part
Lily looked at him with an in
tensity that disconnected him. If he
is dead" she whispered, tell me SO
Don't keep me in uncertainty out Of
kindness. If he is dead it is bettel
that l should know"
He is not dead,' said the mana
ger.
You know where he ISL" asked
Lily.
He could not lie to eyes like those
Yes, | know where he is" he an
swered.
Tell me, then. Never mind wha
the truth is-tell me- Is he ill?'
He is in the penitentiary for forg
ing check said the manager. HI
was sentenced to serve five years. l
will be at least three before he Il
set free. But perhaps you will b.
able to get a permit to see him., h.
added kindly.
Lily of the Valley went back to he
farm. There she worked three year
longer. At thirty-three she had streak
I of gray in her hair; her beauty lin
gered, but it was no longer the wilt
and elusive beauty Of her youth. Lift
!, had come home to her at last.
On the day Of the expiration of Hal
sey's sentence the warden informed
, him that q woman was waiting to SCI
him.
, Halsey. a man OF thirty-eight, shifty
eyed. gray-haired, bearing not only thu
, prison stamp but also the indelibl'
stamp of the life that he had previ
, ously led, looked at the warden II
, horror.
No! Tell her won't see herr" h
2 cried. None OF them stood by M
when / was in the tolls. None o
, those on whom had lavished none!
came forward with q cent to ai(
me-
!. This woman looks different" sale
3 the warden compassionately.
Il won't see her." said Halsey.
a He strobe out into the free all
, in his cheap suit Of blue. prison.made
, like himself In his pocket was $50
He had long ago made up his mind
, what he was going to do when he
came out He was going to pull on
, job with Slim Joe, prison pal, who
had been released a week before. II
} was daring forger's game. Joe was
to meet him at little stopping place
20 miles out along the line.
Halsey was utterly unconscious OF
the woman who. having followed him,
not daring to speak, but watching over
him like his good angel. She stepped
aboard the car that carried him to
the place.
She got out when he did. The lit
tie settlement had become village.
There were plenty of passengers.
There was so much change that it
was a shock as Halsey looked up and
saw the mountain down which he had
fallen, now dotted with vineyards and
fertile fields.
Then his friend came forward and
took his arm. Phil. old boy" he said
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