The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-08-07
THE LOVE LAeeARD
By JOHN ALLARDYCE.

going to his younger brother, who dis
played that business aptitude which
he had never possessed. ohm was
nothing but an author He never
aimed at anything but the scribblers
trade, but he had that fatal fire which
cannot be quenched, though 1t can be
dampened. For fifteen years he had
toiled, struggling to win fame and
achieve success.
At thirty a little squirt of popularity
with his stories had enabled him to
turn to novels. But here he failed dis
mally. The critics roasted him un-
mercifully They condemned the very
qualities which John aimed to put into
his book to please the public.
For at thirty he had suddenly grown
worldly wise. Lesbia had come into
his life, and to make enough money to
marry her he had thrown his ideals
overheard, trying only to write the
sort of tales and books that the pub
lie wanted. 1t was a fatal error. but
excusable, John believed, under the
circumstances. He awoke to realize
that he had sold his soul, and he had
not been paid for it.
For his first two novels were utter
failures, and his publishers had re-
fused to accept the third.
Then TIE iron entered into the mans
soul. He sat down and wrote the book
that he had always wanted to write.
He hardly stirred from his room dur
ing those two feverish months. But
when the manuscript lay before him
he knew that he had at last achieved
what he had always hoped to achieve.
He scnt it to his publishers and
went to see Lesbia. He meant to tell
her abou. his long struggle for her, to
ask her if she would share his life,
that Of failure. And he always re-
membered her look her words, scbbed
out despairingly:
you waited too long! You should
! have told me years ago! l am en-
gagged to be married."
: At once the mans plans fell crum-
bling into ashes. He tested the bitter
ness of life in all its fullness at thirty
five. He left the city that day and
went into New England, choosing the
most secluded village there. He de-
voted the small capital that remained
to him to starting small poultry
farm and garden. That was year
ago. He had dropped out of the lives
of his associates. None was dependent
on him. Nobody would care what hap
pened to him. And he resolved never
to set pen to paper again for literary
use. He kept his vow, too, though at
times the old impulse was strong up.
on him.
A neighbor came to him. waving a
newspaper
Say, Mr.. Rochester, there's some
thing about you in the paper, l
reckon" he said, handing him the
sheet. "They got your photograph on
the front page. Hain't done nothing,
have ye?"
NO, l don't think So" answered
John, taking the newspaper. As the
old man had said. his photograph
stared out from the front page, and
under 1t was his name.
There was long article accompany.
ing 1t. 1t said that John Rochester.
the famous author, had at last been 10.
Gated in Massachusetts,, after the
world had been honeycombed for him
He learned that his book, Hearts De
SIRE" had been published and was the
hit of the season. both in America
and in England. 1t had been trans
lated into seven languages. And John
Rochester was in Massachusetts, all
the while, keeping bees and cows
Here followed a long and fanciful
sketch of him.
The postman, on his morning round
let off young lady at Johns gate.
81 amt got no mail. Mister Roches
ter" he called, but l guess you'll like
this party most as well. She was in
Quiring for you particular, Mister Ro
chester, and so ! gave her a lift II
be back in half an hour, MISS" HI
added, whipping up his horse and driv
ing away in the shaky postmans cart
John, emerging from his cottag,
door, found himself face to face will
charming young woman in a new
hat and fashionable dress. For q mo
ment his heart leaped; he hoped 4
was Lesbia. Then he recognized hel
one Of Lesbia's friends, who hat
been good friend Of his once. befor,
she passed out of his life.
why, Mr.. Rochester," she ex
claimed. And so you have been founs
at last. I was-was visiting som,
friends at Cedars, and l came over ex
pressly to see you on my way home
and congratulate you. And now your,
J coming back to town, aren't you
Everybody is crazy to meet you an,
honor the famous author"
John smiled bitterly.
I've done with that sort of life" b,
answered. mo, I'm a rustic for goo,
now. Nothing would drag me back I,
the city again."
Well, I'm sorry" said the girl. I"
wanted you to meet my friend-sucl
} nice girl, and dying to know you
There wasn't room for three In tn
postman's cart, so I left her at tb,
corner. Won't you GOMEZ"
mo, thank you" said John grimly.
She gave me message for you
She said was to tell you q man cal
be too late and yet succeed. She sal,
it's broken on, and-O John, com
and meet Lesbia. She doesn't dar
come to you. Are you a man or
stone? No, never mind your hat, John
Lesbia won't care. It's only a fev