The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-06-25


place she was entering was pawn
/ shop. 1t was tucked away in a quiet
thoroughfare off Regent street and
Mary Ellen just happened to be stroll
ling through the quaint Soho district
when an antique locket in the win
down caught her attention
She bought the oddly beautiful
locket and was persuaded to purchase.
also, an equally curious old ring that
the shopkeeper had in his possession.
Mary Ellen was shy, imaginative
little person, whose world was peo-
pied by fanciful characters. She was
queer; she was merely different
enough from the average girl to be
mysterious.
Back in New York there we're sew
eral suitors who wanted Mary Ellen's
dainty hand for their own 1t was
partly owing to the persistent wooing
Of these admirers that Mary Ellen
found herself in London. She had fed
from the temptation to marry when
she was not really as much in love
as her fancy told her she should be.
: And her dream man possessed all the
qualities that existed, respectively, in
each Of her suitors,
She held her new locket closely in
her hand and looked at the face in
1t. She began to wish that she had
lived in the age when he had lived
in the age of powder and patches.
An idea thrust itself into her dreams.
She would return to America as the
betrothed wife of the man in the
locket. This would be a fitting way
for her to avoid marrying any one of
her suitors. She had long sought an
excuse that would satisfy them. Her
fictitious lover would be the excuse.
And the antique ring would lend color
to her story
Few girls but Mary Ellen would
have conceived so fanciful a plan Of
clearing her patch Of lovers. And his
name is Davie!'" she said to herself
when she had discovered an engraved
inscription inside the locket with
II shall call my fiance David Wood.
man, and say that he Is an actor MY
miniature of him was made in the
character Of Sir Charles Surface"
Mary Ellen laughed at her own in.
genuity. Indeed, so delighted was she
with her fabric Of romance that she
sailed for home a week sooner than
she had expected.
The romance woven around the man
in the locket came to be acknowledged
as a natural one Mary Ellen had
gone abroad and she had met her fate.
One night Jimmy Vale stood in the
ballroom of the Deerwent home look.
ing at Mary Ellen as she danced with
one Of the men, She was as light as q
zephyr. and even had Jimmy not been
possessed Of hopeless love for the
girl he would have enjoyed the grace
of her.
Someone touched his arm. THAT
slim. quaint. beautiful little dancer in
mauve-who is she?" David Garland
asked him.
Jimmy turned to look at the man.
He was the guest Of the hostess, and
they had merely shaken hands in be.
ing introduced.
I'll present you-with pleasure"
Jimmy fastened to say.
When Mary Ellen looked into the
blue eyes Of David Garland she would
have turned and fed had not Jimmy
restrained her. wait a minute, Mary
Ellen. I want to present Mr.. David
Garland. Miss Moore" Jimmy added.
with his best society bow. Then, with.
out another word he left them.
David was SO like the man in Mary
Ellen's locket that the girl was
stricken with amazement. She could
scarcely raise her eyes to his scrutiniz.
ing gaze.
There are two reasons for my
wanting to meet YOU she heard him
saying. Zone is-that locket," he
said, looking at her treasure.
Il bought 1t in London" Mary Ellen
confessed, blushing, and taking the
locket in her hand. "And this ring 7
bought at the same time," she ad.
mitted, extending the ring for him to
see.
Her heart beat fast; her dream was
coming true. This man and the man
whose face was pictured in her locket
were in some way connected.
Il say. this is most curious" David
was saying, half to himself. as he ex-
amined the ring on Mary Ellen's fin.
ger. He looked up at her. DO Won
know that you are wearing my grand
mothers engagement ring?
Mary Ellen shook her head: she
could not speak.
And I believe there is a miniature
OF myself in that locket," David added
"Are-are you Davie?" Mary Ellen
asked. breathlessly.
I'm Davie." he laughed.
He then explained that his Grand,
mother Garland was so keen on him.
that she had had his miniature painted
and set IN locket She had had II
done In powder and patch costume be.
cause. In that dress, he was more like
his grandfather than ever and It had |
pleased the elderly woman to see him |
thus. The locket and the ring had
BEEN stolen by a maid and had eyi.
1ently been sold.
Mary Ellen looked up in startled
amazement. do you know, 1t was
pawnshop that bought them in-l
n Soho?" she asked.