The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-11-08
WHAT ABOUT SHIRLEY?
BY lola FORESTER.


No. You kind of give it the French
uplift, don't you know? Marianne!
Mrs. Shirley Evarts Dean. She mar
ried Shirley Dean three months before
he was killed in an aeroplane accident
abroad. He left her an awful lot of
money and Anita, his only sister. The
long and short Of it is that Marianne
is on this side now and she has Anita
with her. Anitas twenty and she's
thirty, and they've got eight millions
between them
Peter had been listening idly to his
sisters chatter 1t was the late Sun
day morning breakfast hour and he
sat in wave of newspapers. Sud.
denly his eye caught a line so star.
tlingly pertinent to the subject in
land that he was held by it.
Briefly, it stated that the Dean es-
tate was finally settled and, owing to
depreciation of securities and stocks,
it would barely reach $4,000. The
main residue, amounting to Sc, 000, 900,
had been conveyed by trust deed be-
fore Mr.. Deans death to his beloved
daughter.
BY George, Jane; listen" Peter
read it over hurriedly. That cuts off
Mary Ann and Anita. 1 didn't know
he had daughter
Jane sat speeches.. Mrs. Deans
letter lay in her lap. They had taken
over one of the handsomest cottages
on the mountain for the fall season.
The whole little select colony was on
tiptoe waiting the arrival of the two.
1t waited later on with more expec.
fancy and alertness, wondering wheth-
er Anita or her pretty sister-in-law
would win the richest bachelor in
Georgia, Peter Sewall But Peter was
called North repeatedly on urgent
business, and it gradually leaked out
that Dean had appointed him trus-
tee over his daughters estate.
oh, Peter, you are almost abomin-
able sometimes Jane told him.
When you know how anxious we all
are to know what she's like and when
he ever married before"
Her name is Shirley said Peter,
pleasantly. She is a very beautiful
girl and altogether charming. Her
mother was a New York singer She
died when Shirley was a baby. That's
ALL"
Il believe you're in love with her."
suspiciously.
Peters blue eyes twinkled.
Il am | think she's adorable
Then you should stop riding with
Anita every time you're here, and
leading her on to think you
Jane, you women are so delight
fully vague and indefinite in your at
tacks upon poor devil of a male. Are
you warning me against Anita"
Il shall warn Anita against you,
Peter"
Nevertheless Peter rode late that
afternoon with Miss Dean. Peter looked
now and then at her fine clear profile,
, the nose that just escaped fitting
challenge at the world, and the lips
that always held smile for him.
Has Jane warned you YETI" Peter
asked.
She smiled and nodded at him.
Did you need warming" Peter was
particularly aggravating.
i don't think So" She glanced at
him amusedly. This affair over the
estate has worried Marianne so
nave not had time to think much of
myself"
lie was peculiar fellow anyway.
lie had an idea that modern wealth
spoiled girl or boy for the big aims
or life So he kept his daughter in
ignorance of his riches"
Did you find her well bred?"
she is charming" Peter said
dreamily. She has lived with her
grandmother up in New York state,
| and Is mighty sweet, mighty sweet
| wish you'd go to see her OF course
know how you and Mrs. Dean must
feel
Il don't, not at all, and she will
marry again, of course. | am only
glad that Shirley found real love
somewhere. think his marriage with
Marianne was just an adventure.
don't you know.
Love is at best an adventure, pos.
sibly the great adventure. it seems
to illuminate life when it comes.
Peter paused, adding musngly, You
see, | am in love"
Anita's head lifted. She watched
the road ahead of her. To her the
road looked dark, yet Peter had Just
said it was illumined Into her life.
with all it's little petty superficiali-
ties, Peter had come. and he had
seemed some way to measure up to
what a man should be even when he
was handicapped by wealth. 1t
seemed almost as if Fate were put.
ting an extra twist in its torture when
IL gave him to Shirley's daughter.
gave her both the fortune and Peter.
Il am in love- repeated Peter glad
somely, reverently.
You don't mind my telling YOU so
soon? | don't like to encourage Jane
too much in her sisterly plans. but
this time she may consider herself a
ministering angel. love you. Anita
He rode close by her bay mare and
leaned toward her.
Anita caught heI breath with a
quick little laugh. Surely the path
was all aglow with light. She closed
her eyes moment
What about Shirley?"
Shirley? Peter smiled whimsi-
cally. Shirley will love you. Wen
take her and lool aftor har apd 1o,.o