The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-11-04
ANOTHER DAY
BY HOPE BROWNING.

IF you could give me just a days
option, Mr.. Betz." Marian frowned
slightly. looking around the big. rest
full studio longingly.
I'm sorry but l must give myself
a chance to think it over. I'll phone
early in the morning"
She went out into the square and
sat down near the fountain, trying to
make UP her mind. 1t had been eight
months since she had left there. Sea-
bury had received his appointment as
staff artist at the front, and it had
meant so much to his whole career.
They were engaged. Sometimes 1t
seemed to her that they had always
been engaged ever since she had
taken the studio below his and he had
dropped roses ON her window sill.
Go up to mothers and stay with
her until get back. You can write
all you want to, and she'll love to have
you. She has me all dead and buried
already, and it will brace her up to
have you laugh at her. Go along,
Marian"
And Marian had gone. Up into the
heart of Vermont to great, rambling
old farmhouse perched on spur Of
land. that overlooked mountains and
valleys for miles. Seabury's mother
was darling little old lady, cheerful
and motherly-too motherly. Marian.
after seven months, began to feel like
progressive duck with a hen par
| ent. She fretted after town environ
ment and the incentive to work. Her
stuff was fiat and she knew it. Sea-
bury was on the point OF sailing when
| he got an offer from an English pa
per and wrote he would wait three
| months longer if she did not mind.
| If she did not mind? Marian packed
| furiously and sent back a cablegram:
| Going back to work"
That night she dined out with
friends of the Quarter down at little
Italian place ON West Eleventh street.
| And someone spoke his name,
"You knew that Seabury was back,
didn't you, Miss Earle? Made
smashing record for himself, too.
Looks awfully fit | met him up at
Mamie Bells last evening at dinner"
Marian smiled. No, she had not
heard of Mr.. Abbot's return. but she
was so glad of his success. He was
always such clever, nice boy.
I'D like to see him marry Mamie
Bell" went on her right-hand partner
at the long table. she's just the sort
OF girl to develop and supplement the
gifts of a man like Seabury."
"Yes?" Marians tone was sweetly
interested and impersonal. Are they
engaged?"
II don't know, but l suppose SO.
He's been around everywhere with
her since he got back"
Marian slept little that night.
Wrapped in kimono, she sat by her
window thinking. And here she had
been ready to even take back the old
} , studio for sentiments sake. 1t was all
very well to tell herself that she
needed the old environment. She just
, wanted tC be back where they had
first met and been so happy together
loioWih6 hioi hiho 'AAo W."
rather late, but determined. Mr.. Bet2
stood on the basement steps, talking
, to the janitor, when she came along
go right up, Miss Earle. Ill be
there in a minute" he called to her
and she went UP the long flight OF
stairs. The door was ajar. She passed
through the high, narrow passageway
into the studio and stopped short
Over by the window, looking down on
; the little patch Of garden, stood Sea
bury.
He turned around at her step, and
gave a quick exclamation. brimful OF
the boyish. explosive happiness she
loved in him.
, by Jove, It dragged you back, too
didn't it," he cried. catching her
hands in a grip that hurt. 1--WE been
, trying to rent the place from old
Betz, but he's put me of, telling me
he had another party after 1t, and I'D
have to wait another day. Lord. it'e
, good to see you again, Marian"
You're looking we'll" said Marian
, trying to draw away.
| II am not. I'm sick and Disguised
: and miserable, and | cant eat OF
8 sleep"
NO? l thought you were dining
rather regularly
l What do you mean? Oh, with Nan
ME Bell? That's only business. She's
v doing the writing end of my series fol
p the Dispatch. 1 didn't think you't
mind"
i why should ! mind?"
"Why?' He glanced beyond her Il
be sure of privacy and caught her sud
denly in his arms. That's why" HI
told her, after a minute. Because
you happen to be the only woman tina
can upset my life tor better or worse
= ! don't you see? l dropped everythin,
i when got your cable and came over
= understood how you felt. And wheI
I got here 1 couldn't find you, so
. did the next best thing. | was goinl
to rent the old studio because | knew
you'd come back here some time"
Let me 60" she said, struggling
: Somebody's coming"
+. Mr.. Betz whistled jovially as he al
/. preached, perhaps as a kindly sigma
of warning.
We'll" he asked, what do 20
think about it3"