The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-06-01

pied all his thoughts. They Wake
together, danced and drove together
Yet, with mighty effort of will Han
ry, conscious as he was of Miriam
power over him, refrained from an.
love-making. Only, at the moment o
parting, he asked permission to cal
on her in the city. And he saw al
answering light leap into Miriam's
eyes as she gave him her address.
| "Good-by, Mr.. MacIntyre"
That was all, but there was a worl(
of meaning in the fiutter of the little
hand in his
No. that was not quite all. for, at the
very end, as he leaned from the bug
gy:
"Au revoir, Mr.. MacIntyre.'
Then Harry was gone to spend
three miserable days at another hotel
a little place miles distant, where his
days and nights were haunted by Wis
ions of Miriam.
And at the end he came to the con.
clusion that he must offer Norma her
freedom.
And yet the thought Of her grief
maddened him with remorse. He did
not know what to do.
In this undecided frame of mind he
approached the house where she lived.
He had gone there in the evening; it
was dark except for single light that
shone in the parlor. AS he approached
the door he was arrested by hearing
the sound of voices. Norma and May
Arbuckle were talking.
you say you never loved Willis.
and yet you think of him. said May.
Norma, dear, consider your hearts
promptings before it is too late"
Il have considered them, May" an.
swered Norma. And they tell me that
l have not erred in my choice"
But at least Willis was more of
your ideal than Harry" suggested
May.
In a way-yes, May. Willis was
my oldest friend. you see. We shared
all our tastes in common. And Harry
is comparatively a stranger. We do
not Know each other yet"
Norma, DEAR" said May Arbuckle,
do you know the fate of woman
who marries man like that? At best,
even If their marriage is to be happy
one, she must be the slave of his
81 have thought of that" said Norma
Harry started. Had Norma thought
Of that? Why, that had been in his
own mind from the beginning; but he
had never credited Norma with hay
Ing the ability to analyze these OBJ
scure fashionings of psychic thought.
He did not know Norma had seen what
he had seen.
You are running grave danger,
Norma" continued May Arbuckle.
One man you know-the other you do
not know. And Willis loves you still. |
He told me that he could never be
happy without you. 1t is not too late
lear"
Yes, 1t is too late" Norma an.
Harry loves me, and a WON
IN Is as much bound by honor as any |!
nan. am engaged to Harry, am his
'ffianced wife, and nothing can come
u.s."
But suppose Harry does not love
vou?"
Then he must tell me So"
And you would let him 60 gladly,
hen? Consider your heart carefully.
Norma. Search into its depths. Con-
ess that you would be glad to let
Harry go and to have Willis back"
NO"
"Why not"
because. May. when a woman
ives her love. in my opinion. at least,
he gives it for eternity. What do diff.
erences of mood matter so long as be-
eath them there is the spirit, with
is resolutions of fidelity, and its real
over"
Harry listened in awe. He had not
meant to play the eavesdropper. But
his was a new Norma whom he had
OF known or suspected, and suddenly
occurred to him that Norma's ma.
lre would unfold for him, developing
unexpected ways, if only he was
aithful TO her.
That's not real reason" said May
scorniully.
"Well, then, I'll give you another"
nswered Norma. rising. Because l
I'VE him, more than a thousand VIII
ses all put together. Because in.
end to love him. with all my heart,
long as | live. There, May!" /,
There was new sound in Norma's
dice that Harry had never heard
here before. And, remembering his
osition, he crept quietly away and
own the street.
suddenly the memory of Miriam be-
anne very faint and dim. He realized
lat this new love of his was nothing
Ut an image, drawn from the DEPTHS ,
an unstable heart and projected
pom the mirror OF his mind. Why.
liriam was nothing to him, and never
ould be anything. Once more he had
wrapped himself in phantasies when
lie one woman of his heart was wait. |
lg for him. with love that would
ever change
He felt very humble and small. And.
the train that night. he vepeated
lis prayer over and over
God. give me constancy and faith,
lat | may be true to Norma In all {
y thoughts as long as / i've"
And when. returning the next day.
held her in his arms. ne knew thar
IS prayer would be answered.