The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-08-21

and chartered and waved his hands
and stalked away. And do you know,
the wretch had actually refused to re-
turn It!
suppose they have different code
in France. Now that you tell me
Monsieur actually has money OF his
own I can acquit him Of the grosser
crime. Perhaps he was sincerely In
love with her and showed it in his own
fashion. But, anyway. the upshot was,
he told her that unless she married
him he would write to George, enclos-
ing the memento, and then there
would be pretty price to pay.
Edith famed up then and told him
how unutterably low he was. Monsieur
answered that she had played with his
heart before he knew she was engas-
ed, and broken it, and now he was
going to show her how a Frenchman
wiped out an insult Of that sort. It
was . queer, perverted pride-and
after all he was no coward. He did
write to George, and sent him the
hair, and told him he was a coward
and that he and Miss Edith had made
him . laughing stock. and IL George
would come over to France with him
he would show him how gentlemen set
tied such matters in his own country.
He offered to call on him at his home
in New York, and, until he heard from
him, he would await his pleasure at
Seal Harbor. and he signed himself
his respectful servant.
OF course, in Monsieur's mind, that
settled everything between George and
Edith. And Monsieur, not dreaming
that George would come. was taking
the air upon the beach when George
Turner and Edith came strolling along,
arm in arm.
At the sight of them Monsieur al
most tainted. Then he stood up brave
ly and began to denounce Edith in
unmeasured language, while she
smiled scornfully at him and chung to
Georges arm.
you little fool" said George. when
he had finished; I'VE don't fight duels
in this country. and, anyway, II l did
fight one 1t wouldn't be with a fellow
who betrays woman as you have
done. Do you know what I'm going to
do with you? I'm going to leave you
alone"
Monsieur Rambouche began to ex-
plain.
You don't understand" he STAN
mered. she gave me her hair, this
lady who is engaged to marry you!
Don't you understand now? She is
false, like all American women. Bien!
II she does that before marriage
what will she do after? She 10 q fiirt."
He shot that word forth as thought
It were the acme Of insult, and George
was 30 amused he said afterward he
hadn't the heart to hurt the little fel-
low. Besides. everybody knew all
about the affair, 10 1t didn't matter.
"See here. Monsieur Rambouche,"
said George, taking him by the arm.
I'm going to overlook all this be-
cause OF your disgusting ignorance. In
his country, my friend, 1t is a girls
privilege to fiirt, whether she's en-
gagged or not. It's expected of her.
That's what has made our nation
yreat-that and the battle Of Bunker
Hill. Now, II you'll come back to the
,otel. I'll buy you something cool to
rink. You look as though you need.
I'd It,"
And 30 you say Monsieur has be- |
,ome naturalized now. Dear me! I!
'uppose the shock of this intelligence !
upset all his preconceived ideas. Yes, !
knew they were good friends. but
didn't know he had married Miss
elsie. But in strict confidence, dear, ,
wonder just what George did say to
Edith afterward.
Copyright. 1918 by W. q. Chapman.)