The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-10-27
ARMS and THE GIRL
BY FORBES DWIGHT.

EDWARD frlsby, sadly perturbed,
mounted the steps of the Stanwoods'
mouse and rang the bell Of the maid,
VINO opened the door for him he asked
so sharply if Miss Stanwood were in
that the girl involuntarily stepped
away from him. Presently Helen was
standing there before him
Why at this unseemly hour of the
day, Ned?' she was asking.
Il came to set my mind at rest"
said he. Il want you to tell me it
isn't true-that you're going to ride
at the head of the procession as Joan
of Arc tomorrow"
She tried to smile nonchalantly,
blushed little, and turned away her
eyes.
Yes, it's true" said she. Il wasn't
originally cast for that role. you un-
derstand. 1t was Alice MARI. But
she's ill. So they've asked me and
I'm"
Good heavens! OF course you
can't" said he.
She made wry little face. Also
her right hand went out in little i'm
patient gesture.
''Neddy, don't be horrid," she urged.
I'm not" said he. why, goodness
gracious, child, it would be- You'd
have to be in armor, of course?" he
broke off suddenly.
"Of course" she admitted with the
faintest of added color
We'll, don't" said he.
For what specific reason?" she de-
manded.
Because | ask it,"
That isn't enough"
He frowned
Isn't it?" said he. Then let me
say, because, if you do persist-if you
don't think any more for me than that
| don't think I'd better come here any
more"
She looked at MIN wide-eyed for a
moment. Then quietly she slipped of
the ring on the third finger of her left
/ hand and passed it to him.
"As you like" said she II shall be
Jeanne dare tomorrow"
Before he could demonstrate she
was gone. She stepped past him anc
he heard her going very firmly up the
stairs He started to call after her
but instead he squared his shoulders
and went out, and he did not close the
front door quite as softly as was his
wont.
70 hN oil, hot nj h mr.
to forget his troubles he plunged into
game of bridge with Norton ant
Babcock and old Colonel Haskins. HI
played later than he had meant to
also he played very badly. In conse
quence he oversight next morning
and he had an important appointment
with client at his office at 9:3'
clock 1t was after ten O'Clock wher
he rushed downtown
Martial music gave him pause
Hand-clappings and cheers also greet
ed his ears or course, the parade
He started on, but at that moment thu
head of the parade came abreast him
Behind the band was a huge banne
with the legend:
VOTES FOR WOMEN
And just back of that was wonder
full vision, girl in flashing armor, trim
and 1.-THE and straight on snow
white horse. The shimmering helme
she carried in her hands leaving he
ham nKe spun GOA greamrng m m
morning sun.
Frisby stood quite still while tn
rest of the procession passed. At tn
end was handful OF men. marching
sturdily and looking very sheepish un
der the gibes that were hurled at then
from their watching brothers on tn
curb.
Frisby had quite forgotten that eli
ent at his Office. All he thought o
was that wonderful girl at the head o
the procession on the snow-whit
horse
He pushed through the crowd. II
another moment he had joined thos
shame-faced. marching men at the en-
OF the procession. Then he marches
grmly, unmindful apparently that b.
was being invited to go home ant
wash the dishes and that he was beinI
told in many falsetto voices how pei
fectly sweet he looked.
There was reviewing stand Il
front of the Womens clubhouse. o.
the stand were various notables, mel
and women, and before 1t while tn
procession passed. the matchless Joal
of Arc sat her white charger in he
glittering armor.
AS the tail Of the procession cam
along she caught sight of the standard
bearer. She gasped in surprise. Sh
said, Edward" very softly, but quit
distinctly. Then. as the banner wa
dipped to her in salute, she bent he
head and Embossed upon him the mos
dazzling smile imaginable.
She had just reached home and ru
inside, and old William, their gardener
was holding the horse, when Frlso
hurst in In his excitement ne ma
oven forgotten 10 ring. She starte
with an embarrassed little laugh {
run upstairs she was still in the al
NOR, but he caught ner N ID a:il'
"Dearie. ne cried ccEtTitoiE. as n
0sbed in his pCchct, take # hat II
an Of a gauntlet ana lCt ne slip TIA
hack again. please. | was wrong "a
wrong. as usual Please let ne put
\ back
on. Neddy," She laughed, do loo
ont This armor IS all covered owe
win sharp points. BE careful