The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-04-21
)o0OOOO
HIS unsELFIsH LOVE
sx VICTOR REpcLIFFE.

9ooooooooooeoooooooooooooc
,c,nvr,,b, 1915. by W. G. Chapman)
well" faltered Cynthia, as W"
have seen the photograph
yes of Richard Graydon-go Oh
dear" pleaded Leila eagerly
"We-we are engaged"
Leila sprang up with a wild snrieh
n, iov She clasped her arms aoou'
Cynthis. her eyes dancing with SIN
cere appreciation Of the announce
ment. a,.
ooh nv dear, am so delighted'
abe said. Il was afraid you were 30,
ing to fade away into a settled olo
widow"
81 have been one for two years. you
know" intimated Cynthia, and there
was q species Of anxious entreaty IN
her voice, land. Leila-l was starving
for love! love! love!"
Her very Utmost soul burst tne
leaden trammels Of years at this WHO
outburst. Cynthia fell to weeping IN
the arms of her plying and loyal
friend. .,
mo woman was ever a truer wlfe'
said Leila earnestly. your new nap
piness is your reward.
It seemed true. Four years pre-
vious, through the arts Of maneuver
ing mother Cynthia had given up hei
girlhood's fondest dreams and hao
married Professor Russell, wealthy
old scientist. There was no love In
the union. The professor was al
sorbed in his work and was away
travelling most of the time, but he was
very proud of his beautiful wife. Gym
thia was faithful helpmeet and duty
made up for the lack of affection.
Two years passed by when Cynthia
found herself a wealthy widow. Pro
lessor Russell had been making some
scientific explorations in Nicaragua
when rebellion broke out. He and
his valet, one Dorkins, were reported
killed in an ambush.
Cynthia felt that the freshness and
joy of life were past until she met
Richard Graydon. 1t had been a case
Of love at first sight. It seemed as II
the subdued affection of her depressed
nature budded all at once. There was
to be quiet wedding and Cynthia and
Richard felt that the fullness Of life
had come to them at last.
Never we're two persons more fifty
mated. Cynthia was in the prime Of
young womanhood, Richard was a
model of perfect manhood Blissfu
happiness and peace seemed insured
for those two ingenious beings when
the unexpected came with the sudden
ness of a thunder crash.
A hasty agitated call came over the
telephone to Richard one day.
1T is Miss Lane" was spoken In
fluttering accents. Please come tc
my home at once"
Richard found the friend of his
fiancee in a distracted state. She was
pale and trembling. She simply
handed him telegram. It was from
Tehalca, Nicaragua. 1t was signed
James Russell and it ran:
Escaped after dreadful peril. Wire
me five hundred dollars to return"
"Then-then he is alive" hoarsely
uttered Richard, white to the lips.
"Yes." replied Leila, and she pitiet
the strong man battling to show com
posture. "Oh. Mr.. Graydon! l have
just come from Cynthia. She IL
crushed. she says she must see you.
Il do not dare." spoke Richard, hi.
hands clenched to emphasize hi.
strong resolution. Tell her, the true
faithful wife, the good woman tha
she is, that it is duty now-clear ant
sufficient. Tell her l have gone ava,
not to forget, but to cherish"
Then Richard Graydon became ;
wanderer. He wondered If it was {
trick of fate that his journeyings {
year later brought him to the city O
Tehalca. He stood near its prison
fields gloomily regarding a file O.
shackled convicts pass by. One onl,
OF the number was not native.
Who is that man." Richard casual
ly asked the guard
"Ah. that" volunteered the volatil,
ofhcial. 1T is Dorkins-he OF the Rus
sell case. Both he and his maste,
were supposed killed in the revolu
ton. but this one escaped after rob
bling his dead employer Later h,
sent q false telegram to the wife a
Professor Russell to secure money ant
was unmasked."
Then Cynthia is free," breatbet
Richard. and that night a teleera "
new North bearing the simple words:
shall l come to YOU"
one day, two days-no reply. Ha6
Cynthia forgotten him? All an.
might write! A week passed bv
Richard gave up hope.
one afternoon servant appearef
az MS room. where he sat lost in q
subdued reverie.
A caller, below. sir" the menia, ad
vised him. 'N
AS ne entered the parlor of the III
tie hotel a lady. yelled arose to rras,
MIN. He advanced with inquiry in hi.
face. ~ "'s
Richard"
The veil was thrust aside With az
.enoeo arms and beaming eyes Cvn
tina Russell confronted him.
You! You" he sasnoa