The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-07-05
The CALL OF THE HILLS
BY lola FORESTER.
Copyright. 1915. by the Mcclure Newspa-
per Syndicate.)


! Copyright. 1915. by the Mcclure Newspa.
per Syndicate.)
Il don't think you'd better see him
Juliet: don't think it's either neces
. sary or-or judicious." Mrs. Truxhill
struggled for the adequate expression
! as she squeezed her foot into one new
satin slipper. Your early acquaint.
ance with any of the boys back home
hardly warrants their coming to see
you now"
Juliet fingered the card in her hand
doubtfully. She was twenty. In her
dinner frock of white satin, made
simply, she looked even younger. Her
brown hair was bound around her
head In soft bands. Her eyes were
dark and full of mischief Somehow
just the mere sight of Hal Thurber's
name on card reused mischief in
her.
"Just for a few minutes. mumsie,
while you're dressing" she pleaded
Don't you see. went to school with
him. and it looks so little and snob.
bish not to see him now. I'm not
anybody special yet anyway"
Your life is apart from all that"
Mrs. Truxhill said solemnly. 1T is
what l might call consecrated to art.
I'm sure that is what Doctor Justin
said when he called last week-con.
secrated to art If Runnymede Hills
hn III no r.
cause you lived there once. And no.
body knows what your father and
have sacrificed to bring 1t about"
I'll see him in the little red writ
Ing room at the left side of the ele-
vators, dear" Juliet leaned over to
kiss her mother, her soft young arms
wrapped closely around the old neck.
Sometimes | get awfully sick and
tired Of 1t all, mumsie, don't you? I
know Dad does"
Hes fearfully unstable" sighed
her mother, Don't put creases in my
neck. child. No, don't regret any.
thing. I'll see you through it. Four
years abroad and the victory's won.
French opera in Paris, Italian in
Milan and German right under Mrs:
Wagner's nose. I guess you'll amount
to something when you get through"
Juliet stepped from the elevator and
into the little red writing room.
There were snk curtains at the door.
She let them fall behind her softly.
At the dinner hour this room was de.
serted, she knew, and only Halls fig
ure showed at the end as he stood
looking down on Fifth avenue.
She tiptoed up to him and slipped
her hands over his eyes.
Guess" she whispered. who is it?"
He pulled them down to his lips
with grip that could not be shaken
OF. and wheeled about. She caught
her breath at the fire in the big boys
eyes. the hungry, yearning love of
her in his whole face.
Don't push me away. Juliet" he
begged. "Nobody's here. Oh, it's
SO good to see YOU"
And then very unconventional
thing occurred. Right in the little
red writing room the future songbird
from Runnymede Hills. VT, was taken
forcibly in pair Of strong arms.
"Scold all you want to-" Hal said,
doggedly, when he had released her.
TITS been eight months since I saw
you"
did you come way down here spe-
cially to see me?"
Il had to see your father, anyway.
You didn't know the governor and I
have been in correspondence for some
time"
About me?" Indignantly.
mo, It wasn't about you. It was
strictly business. wish you were as
good at taking advice as he Isl
"Oh. don't make love to me now
when I want to know things"
who's making love to your" he
laughed. II know it isn't time for
that yet-not until you've had your
Hing and sung all you want to. Then,
maybe some day you'll drift back to
the old town and be glad to see me-"
Both hands went out to him eagerly.
"But. Hal, I'm terribly glad now.
I've been here long enough to find out
that any number Of girls have just as
good voices as have, and better, too.
and seeing you makes me-"
Say 1t quick! Here comes the gov.
ernor," said Hal, crushing her hands
In his.
Juliet looked up at him just as Mr..
Truxhill came into the room. He
looked flushed and triumphant, and
was waving telegram.
by George, Hal, boy, we've got
them cornered; we've got them dead
to rights! Well hop home tomor.
row morning."
What Is 1t. Dad?" Juliet pleaded.
HAL won't tell me anything"
Truxhill's arm went around her
shoulders and Halls. too.
"Just this. I had sold a half inter-
est in the hotel. and old Beggs up
there, who owned the other half, has
been trying to get me to sell out for
cash to him for months. I suspected
there was something up his sleeve be-
sides his elbow, but Hal here put me
next Hal found out the railroad
planned cutting directly through the
hotel property. taking In the whole
place. Hal here wrote and let me
know. He's got an option ON half the
other land in town that the railroad