The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-05-24

on her in the city. And he saw an
answering light leap into Miriams
eyes as she gave him her address.
"Good-by. Mr.. MacIntyre."
That was all, but there was world
Of meaning in the futter Of the little
hand in his.
No, that was not quite all, for. at the
very end, as he leaned from the bug
gy:
EAU revoir, Mr.. MacIntyre."
Then Harry was gone to spend
three miserable days at another hotel,
q 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; 1t
was dark except for a 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 1t is too late"
Il have considered them. May" an
swered Norma. And they tell me that
I have not erred in my choice"
But at least Willis was more of
your ideal than Harry" suggested
May.
I'm a way-yes, May. Willis was
my Oldest friend. you see. We shared
all our tastes in common And Harry
is comparatively stranger. We do
not know each other yet"
Norma, DEAR" said May Arbuckle,
do you know the fate Of woman
who marries a man like that? At best,
even if their marriage is to be happy
one, she must be the slave Of his
moods"
Il have thought Of that" said Norma
miserably.
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 hav-
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 a grave danger,
Norma" continued May Arbuckle.
Zone 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,
dear"
Eyes. It is too late" Norma an.
swered. Harry loves me. and a wom-
an Is as much bound by honor as any
man. am engaged to Harry, I am his
afianced wife. and nothing can come
between u.s."
but suppose Harry does not love
your"
"Then he must tell me so.''
And you would let him 60 gladly,
then? Consider your heart carefully.
Norma. Search into its depths. Con.
fess that you would be glad to let
Harry 60 and to have Willis back"
mo"
"Why not?"
Because. May, when a woman
gives her love, in my opinion, at least,
she gives 1t for eternity. What do diff
ferences Of mood matter so long as be-
meath them there is the spirit, with
its resolutions of fidelity, and its real
love?"
Harry listened in awe. He had not
meant to play the eavesdropper. But
this was a new Norma whom he had
not known or suspected, and suddenly
it occurred to him that Norma's ma
ture would unfold for him, developing
in unexpected ways, If only he was
faithful to her.
That's not q real reason" said May
Arbuckle scornfully.
well, then. I'll give you another"
answered Norma. rising Because l
love him, more than a thousand vii.
Uses all put together. Because l in.
tend to love him. with all my heart,
SO long as I live. There. May!"
There was new sound in Norma's
voice that Harry had never heard
there before. And. remembering his
position, he crept quietly away and
down the street.
Suddenly the memory of Miriam be-
came very faint and dim. He realized
that this new love of his was nothing
but an image. drawn from the depths
Of an unstable heart and projected
upon the mirror OF his mind. Why,
Miriam was nothing to him, and never
could be anything. Once more he had
enwrapped himself in phantasies when
the one woman of his heart was wait.
Ing for him. with love that would
never change
He felt very humble and small. And,
In the train that night, he vepeated
this prayer over and over.
God, give me constancy and faith.
that l may be true to Norma In all
my thoughts as long as / live"
And when. returning the next day.
he held her in his arms, he knew that
his prayer would be answered.