The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-08-23
|HE GREATER LOVE
ey cLARlssA MAckiE.

Uncle Gregory waved his arms in a
,sture of dismissal.
very well. Roy, marry the girl if
), wish to ruin your career. have
Dsnced your art studies tc the point
s.re all you need il q couple years
nsrfect freedom abroad. where you
absorb the best there is in paint
and sculpture. Then, and then
10 will you be able to throw your
i; into the work and produce. per-
ans a masterpiece-for, boy. you can !
hint!"
Row Benton listened and knew that !
/. uncle spoke the truth. but his
cart rebelled.
There was Eve Alison, to whom he
.d been engaged for many months.
Ris acceptance Of Uncle Gregory's
Nor meant their marriage must be
ost ooued for two years. He would
:, let her decide, for women were
e,f.sacrificing, but she must be told
Uncle Gregory's ultimatum. 80 she
ould understand why he was going
i've up his painting and return to
M profitable, though inglorious. bust
oss of commercial art-the illustrat-
No Of high-class advertisements. He
.ould earn enough to support them in
comfort. and some day he might be
Ihle to save enough to pay for his
rim abroad-with Eve, of course
vheu he would take time to paint the
,reat picture silence" that had found
form in his fancy.
ANYWAY, he would have Eve, and
Eve Alison would make up for every
hing else, even for the abandonment
NJ a career. Eve was poor, a self
supporting girl who was making her
lonely way in New York. She had
heen a bookkeeper in that great ad'
yeltising company which was anxious
TO secure more of Roy's work.
oh. there was absolutely no choice
in the matter! Roy shrugged his
shoulders and told Uncle Gregory JUS
how matters stood. I'll marry hel
now and 60 back to illustrating ad
yertisements," he told the old man,
VERY well, Roy, marry her now ant
YOU need never expect penny of m.
money, I'll leave it all to the Puddi
ford Orphan asylum. won't TAX
your final decision now. Go and tel
the girl what I've said and let he
decide
Roy picked up his hat and left nj
uncle without another word. He wa
to meet Eve at six o'clock and the
we're to dine together at quiet littl
restaurant. His mind was entirel
clear as to what course he should TO
low. He was in a rage with uncl
Gregory. How dared the cynical Of
man insinuate that Eve-whom b
had never seen and whose name
did not even know-would refuse
marry Roy II she found he was NJ
his uncle's heir?
Eve, cool and fresh in her viii
frock and smart little hat, locke
across the table 1T her big lover WI
hazel eyes meltingly lovely. Her Gle
olive skin was pink-tinted, and n
dark hair, delicately arched brows al
roseleaf lips made her look like an
quisitely painted Japanese miniatul
"Well?" she asked, when tn
greetings we're over
1--WE will be married at once-ne
week." he said, finality in his tol
And, Eve, darling, l hope you wo
mind very much II l 60 back to IN
bighs."
Her eyes widened with dismay.
"Denbighs?" she faltered. And g
up your career-give up 'Silence'?'
He nodded. "And give up I'm
Gregory's help, too. He thinks tina
ought to travel for couple OF yea
and simply don't see it that way
wife and home look good to
darling. will be just as happy
our humble way, eh?"
All the lovely light died out OF EN
eyes and left them dark and broodi
Her face was white and wistful
her little hands were tightly clincl
in her lap. At last her pale lips spo
81 think you are very foolish to
tagonize your uncle, Roy-and-an
I've been thinking for some time
our engagement was mistake
ter mistake-and-you will underst
some day. Good-by."
She picked up her gloves ana
ished from the table before he
time to rise. His bewildered eyes
on the white cloth the little pearly
gagement ring which had pilgi
their troth.
So Eve had only cared for VI
Gregorys money after all. Tne
man had been right-of course,
years of experience would endow
with an understanding of women
Roy groaned bitterly, put the
in his pocket. called for his cheek
went back to Uncle Gregory.
On the deck of the great liner W
was to bear Roy away, Uncle =
CRY uttered last word OF al
Seek the silences, my lad-in
loneliness Of the Sahara, the ten
of India, the great bronze Budon
Kamakura-and your picture
come to you!"
Roy smiled cynically. AS II
could ever see any other picture
that sudden. woebegone face OF
girl he loved! And he would not
get tit would be his amulet az
the charms of women the rest o
life.
Mr. Gregory Benton's httie
Cracker faoo looked more irr1