The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-04-13

.,.,r "At least / couldn't possibly
~, after we we're married-and ne II
never ask me again till after We
plained, and so-and So 49,.
The fluffy head sank down 10 'n'
arm of the chair and she sobped.
Weeks passed and the youth anu a,
the girl passed each other WIZ
ayerted looks or frankly peliieerens
stares Once, notably on an eVehihs
Of the fragrant. glamour-f1lled Vaiie..'
the heart of the youth softeneo anu
he started out through the moonn,
enchantment toward the porch anu
the wicker chairs. But as he neareu
the familiar environment there came
soaring through him the memory VI
his innocent remark and the stranss
look and vivid blush that mad sree..u
II. His resolution turned to gan WILL
in him. He drifted aimlessly down
side avenue, whence he wandereo ~
the outskirts to sit on lone rock anu
curse fate. .,o
Gradually he began to meet the
maiden and Bennett going ABOUT W
eether Presently he met her at
dance. Though she kept far from MS
vicinity, and her silvery mirth seeiheu
oftenest mingled with BENEFITS pray
ing laughter. he imagined WIN
thrill of rising hope that her ViVaciiy
was not quite so genuine, her eyes
not quite so sparkling bright nor hei
beauty so radiantly undifnmed as III
the days of his uninterrupted deVo-
ton.
Nevertheless rumors began to reach
him that the girl and Bennett were en-
gagged.
There came an October evening
chill and gray. The blood-red rays
of the setting sun struggled through
banks of stormy cloud, across VINO
swept reaches of dead leaves and up
on a wide, vine-hung porch, where
two wicker chairs were drawn stimy
apart. In one sat girl, slimly PLAIN
as to long ulster and jaunty cap, dis
concertingly distant Of mien. In the
other sat a youth, mournful, Swallowed
of eye, of an ensemble which accorded
cheerlessly with the girl, the night
and the general atmosphere OF ruin
and decay.
81 brought you that autumn foil
age" he was saying bleakly, mot be-
cause l thought you would care for
1t, or value 1t as from a one-time
friend, but merely as a symbol OF the
death Of our-er-"
Thank you," she murmured alb
sently.
He leaned back heavily, and the
wind moaned in dirge-like cadence
through the deepening gloom.
1T was good of you to let me see
you, for the last goodby."
II had nothing else to do" she ad-
mitted with faint regret. "Mr. Ben
nett is out Of town."
The youths eyes burned with q
dull fury. The fiery rim Of the GRIM
son sun shot an angry CLEAN at their
feet. Suddenly he leaned forward,
cheerless decision in his air.
you needn't pay any attention to
1t, Of course" he chanted YEARLY.
Il don't expect you to. But I'm going
to do it again-just to round the thing
! out and-er-because I'm accustomed
to doing it, and miss 1t. Here it Is.
I love you. l have always loved you.
I am going to love you to the bitter
end. Will you marry me?"
"Yes," said the maid.
The sun shot down precipitately,
wrathfully. The youth sat petrified,
immobile, his mouth still partly open,
The girl looked back at him with level
eyes.
II said you looked silliest doing II
In the moonlight" she tainted. you
don't"
why did you blush?" he asked
tenderly.
Annoyance spread over the face OF
the maiden.
II refuse to discuss it," she said.
Again the mystery, unsolved! For
one fateful moment the heart Of the
youth grew cold with doubt and
things threatened to go wrong again
for evermore. Then an illumining
thought leaped in. She was going to
marry him. What mattered it?
II have it," he announced exult
antly. you were blushing over the
thought of being silly enough to blush
over Bennett"
Exactly" she murmured with Joy
full pride. "How clever, dear"