The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-04-30
not. VERY WHITE LIES
BY GEORGE MuNsoN.

fire while the winter gloom came
down and filed the living room with
shadows. Jack Strange was to return
that night from his trip West; she had
not seen him since he had slipped the
engagement ring upon her finger the
night before he was called away on
business trip to California in Au-
gust. And now-she was trying to
think how she should meet him and
what she should say to him.
She was . sensible girl. She had
never believed in romantic love. and
Jack, too, was Of the matter Of-fact
temperament. She knew Jack was ~
true as steel; he was rising in his
business and had excellent prospects.
After Jacks departure she had brok-
en- down and gone with q girl friend.
Louise Martin, to q small summer ho-
tel in the Catskills. A week was all
she could afford; besides. there was
no one to look after her aunt and the
old woman was largely dependent on
the kindly neighbors. So she had
FASTENED back, leaving Louise to
spend the second week Of the vaca-
ton alone. But by then the mischief
had been done.
The mans name was Frank War
ner, and he had made love to her
from the beginning. At first amused,
later the girl had been thrilled by the
impassioned nature of his love-mak-
ing. He had been everywhere and
done everything; his stories read like
romances. and the thought that she
was the only girl who had ever en-
raptured him gratified her pride. He
touched her heart too. How different
from prosaic Jack Strange!
She remembered, with a mixture Of
penitence and delight, that last eve
ming he had taken her into his arms.
81 love you, May" he had said. "and
! shall always love you"
Then she had blurted out the story
Of her engagement. She had told him
that her fiance was away, that she
could not in justice release herself
until he returned. after he comes
back shall know my heart, and write
to you; till then cannot see you
again." she had said, and fled from
him.
She had the address he had given
her in New York 1t was a fashiona-
BILE hotel where Frank Warner lived
most Of the year. And now, with the
lapse of two months. she was still
uncertain.
She was waiting for Jack. She ex-
pected him that evening, and she
started up as ring came at the door,
her heart beating wildly. But 1t was
only Louise, who often came in to
see her at that hour, on her way back
from the Office. where she was de.
tanned an hour later than May.
HE hasn't come Set?" she asked.
"No," answered May.
you must be anxious to see him.
May. II my flance had been away for
two months, you bet I'd have worn
out my shoes running to the door to
peek up the street and see whether
he was coming"
Il hope you will have one soon.
Louise" said May.
Louise Martin giggled. II came near
having one this summer" she said.
Listen, May. Can you keep a Sc
cret? You won't tell a soul, because
well. there's somebody l shouldn't
like to know about It,"
May promised.
do you remember that awfully
good-looking fellow at the hotel. who
seemed interested in you-what was
his name? Frank Warner, to be sure.
Well, after you'd gone he just fol-
lowed me round same way he followed
you. My! used to laugh at him at
first, but he had sort Of irresistible
way about him, and-and I let him
kiss me once. That was the night be-
fore went away"
May felt her heart grow colder than
ice.
well. what do you think? found
out after. through the Hofimans-you
remember those nice girls from Sara
toga, who were staying there?-that
he'd tried the same game with half a
dozen Of the young women at the no.
tel. and some Of them had fallen for
It. And what do you think he 10? A
professional lady-killer. I mean. he
does 1t for living"
'Louise!"
Il shall never 90 there again, will
you. May?"
Indeed. no." answered May Halli.
we'll.
well. that's all, dearie, and now I
guess I'll be going. because I don't
want to spoil your pleasure when Jack
arrives" And she made her way out
Of the house.
May looked into the fire, and the re-
membrance Of Jack came home to her
with a flood tide of bitterness. She
thought Of his goodness. his unfailing
kindness, his tender consideration for
her. his eternal faith.
I've been a little fool" she said,
"and I've been Justly punished. And
now-I must make II my task always
to love Jack. and never let him sus-
pect ~"
The door bell pealed. She opened
1t. and the figure upon the threshold
caught her In its arms.
May"
Jack. dearest!"
And she knew the episode of the
summer was the merest forgotten
phantasy OF dreams.
In her own room Louise Martin
stared thoughtfully out Of the window.
What liar am! But I'd lie hard.