The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-09-01
4 BROKEN LANCE
BY STELLA AVERY.


Blind-and all due to quarrel with
Frank Edgarton on the verge Of the
cliff at Roselea. Frank had pressed
Lorry to the edge of the cliff, the
earth had given way and young Ora
ham had fallen 40 feet to the beach
below. Frank had reeled home, still
intoxicated, to give q garbled account
Of the affair. He had disappeared for
awhile, but now gossip said he had
returned to lay siege to Nancy's heart
while Lorry Graham was blind!
After Edith Vantine had impaired
the news to Nancy she moved along
over the putting green; Nancy watched
her with wide-open, smarting eyes.
How she missed Lorry's tall. white
clad figure swinging across the field.
his deep voice. the IRE in his glance
when their eyes met. And now that
glance was dead-forever.
With q choking sob Nancy brushed
away the tears and swung . club to
her shoulder. She grounded 1t clum-
silly as Frank Edgarton's voice sound.
ed close beside her.
Good morning, Nancy. Waiting for
me?"
/, NO." said Nancy carelessly. I'm
just thinking about Lorry Graham.
They say he is blind"
Edgarton paled under his tan. He
was q dark, lean-jawed man with
onyx-black eyes and hair. His brown
hands fumbled nervously with his
clubs.
His own fault" he muttered sui
lenly.
What did you quarrel about"
asked Nancy quickly.
"You!" he flashed back.
rs that the truth, Frank Edgar
TOM" Nancy looked him full in the
eyes.
"On my honor!" he acclaimed trag-
ically, his glance shifting.
The girl laughed CONTEMPORARY.
Don't swear by something you
haven't got" she retorted, and turned
her back upon him. Il pity you'll"
They say pity is akin to-a tenderer
feeling!" he insinuated.
Its sometimes close to contempt"
was Nancy's last retort, as she saun.
tered back to the clubhouse.
She sank down in q corner where 4
high.backed settle hid her from chat
ting groups of people. Voices reached
her now and then. Once the clear
tones Of Mrs. Amory came to her, hold.
ing her captive in her seat, an unwil.
ling eavesdropper.
"Lorry Graham is not only blind, but
he Is poor as WE'LL" said Mrs. Amory
ITS hard luck!"
"Poor!" echoed mans voice.
What has happened to him? Il
thought he was as safe as Gibraltar"
MY husband told me this morning
that Lorry was bankrupt; that's all l
know about it. Isn't it dreadful, on
top Of his blindness? Certainly.
troubles never do come singly."
Nancy slipped out of the nearest
door. her heart in a tumult. Lorry
Graham not only blind, but poor as
we'll!
She crossed the lawn and entered
the estate owned by the Grahams.
Under wide-spreading maple she dis !
covered Lorry reclining in q ham.
mock chair and leaning over it's back
was his sister Mabel.
Mabel saw Nancy coming, put 4 I'm.
ger to her lips and tiptoed out of ear.
shot of the man under the maple tree.
Go to him. dear" whispered Mabel.
He's awfully down and he would |
rather see you than anyone else"
Nancy squeezed Mabel's hand, and |
the latter went toward the house.
Nancy approached the lone figure I'm.
der the tree, her heart in a tumul, of
fear and pity.
That you. Mab?" asked Lorry's deep
voice as she came up to the back of
Ills chair. Before her voice was steady
enough to risk an answer he went on:
AS was telling you, Nab. Edgarton
was drunk-plain drunk. and he made
sneering remark about Nancy. l re.
'ented 1t, Of course. and he threw him.
self against me and bowled me over.
Rather humiliating when a chan was
.rying to break a lance for the ladv
If his heart!"
Nancy's hands slipped down until
hey covered Lorry's bandaged eyes.
Who is 1t? Where is Mabel?" he
demanded sharply.
1T is Nancy" she whispered
remulously.
Then you heard what said-you
Inow-"
know-everything. my brave
might" quavered Nancy, kneeling be-
lde him. You were breaking lance
or me. Oh. Lorry. you can see-you
re not blind at ALL" she cried in a
'anic.
For he snatched of the disfiguring
andage and his wide-open and loye.lit
yes were .beaming upon her with all
heir old-time alteration, only multi
lied hundredfold.
Why, of course can see" he
aughed tenderly. who said | had
one blind?"
Edith Wartime said" Nancy's
oice turned traitor at this point. She
Id her crimsoned face against Lorry's
road shoulder and abandoned herself
passion of tears.
II was Nancy who broke the blissful