The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-08-03

the sauvyamofsco expedition. She
would stag armour while they changed
engines. lWsodad he meet herr
"Thanks,,. said VIII to the telegraph
list, and watched him ride down the
hill.
Yes, he was going East, and going
back to Marion. For a moment the
old life came rushing over him, with
its memories, its thousand allure
ments. And the new life meant moth
ing
He mounted his horse and rode
slowly down the valley. He had no
destination in mind, but suddenly he
realized that he was approaching the
homesteader's house. And at the door
stood Norma, in her sunbonnet.
She greeted him. Wont you come
in and take some tear" she asked.
Il hear you are going East. Mr..
Thorpe"
He dismounted, and now he saw
that her lips were trembling. How
had she known he was going East?
Did news fly as fast in this settlement
as in the great world? And what did
it matter to her?
yes. l am going East, Norma" he
answered, taking her hands In his.
Il congratulate YOU" she an
swered quietly. But he saw the tears
in her eyes.
you have meant SO much to me-"
he said impulsively, Il hate the
thought Of going. And yeti is my
duty. suppose"
Then you must Co." said the girl
softly. She was smiling very bravely
at him. Won't you come in?"
MOL can't now" he said crudely.
Norma, l SHALL shall see you again
before 60"
She nodded. and he knew the mean.
ing Of her silence. The girl cared for
him. and in her unsophisticated way
was incapable of concealment. He
saw her walk back quickly into the
cabin. 's.ss.ss,-
Marion's train was to arrive the fol.
lowing morning. VIII rode down to
the depot with q heavy heart. The
old and the new were tugging at 1t,
and he did not know which pulled him
the harder. There we're 50 many
memories here-yet the thought OF
Marion came to him like q flood OF
sunlight. How he had loved Marion!
She had tacitly released him by her
silence, and yet doubtless she would
explain that. He would follow her
soon. He saw the old life wildly.
their marriage, the quiet home in Bos.
ton.
The train was pulling in. He had
stood on the platform in q sort OF
daze. Now he awakened suddenly,
and he felt his heart beating hard in
anticipation. The men about the plat.
form were watching him curiously. He
looked into the carriages Of the train
as 1t came to a halt. He walked its
length. Marion was not there Had
she missed her train?
Still dreaming, WIZ" asked a hard
voice over his shoulder.
He started round. to see Marion.
with q party Of girl friends, dressed in
the height Of fashion. looking at him
with . smile.
Dear me. must be very hard to
md" she said. Well! When are
you coming homer"
The hardness Of her tones struck |
him like q blow. Surely he had
changed out Of all recognition II he |
had ever thought Marion's voice beau. |
tiful. The girl whom he had loved |
to the point Of infatuation stood re-
vealed to him as an artificial, hard
young woman. without the slightest |
charm.
Il think 1t was very wrong Of you
not to write to me for 80 long," she
continued. But forgive you, VIII.
We can forgive a man with millions
anything, can't we, Dora?"
The girl addressed as Dora muir.
INJURED something The whole party
was taken aback, not to say shocked.
at the sight Of this man in the cowboy
clothes. And he was a millionaire,
He was VIII Thorpe of Harvard and
Boston!
Perhaps Marion shrewdly OWNED
the change that had occurred in him
Tor she drew him aside.
viii. I know l ought to have been
more serious" she said, But Won
can't think how startling and ridicu.
lous you look. dressed like one Of
these natives. Listen, Will, and let
me explain. have always cared for
You Just as much, but I couldn't he
engaged to a beggar. You see that
for youself. don't you? And every.
body understood that your father was
going to cut you out Of his will, in.
stead OF leaving you the sole heir
am Just as fond of you, Will" n
VIII Thorpe looked at her with allow.
~ rising anger. She did not realize
what she was saying. Had he ever
been like that? Was that the kind Of
man that he had been, that she so con.
ndently imagined he was still?
so when are you coming home.
WIFI she continued. when are Won
coming home to me?" she add.d
softly.
me train conductor blew his vhis.
lie. VIII looked her full in the face.
Never!" he answered roughly.
inc party was moving toward the
rain. VIII saw the look of amazed
Indignation upon Marion's face. He
oroke rom her He mounted the