The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-11-15

of an exquisitely beautiful woman,
whose great eyes filled with tears.
"Ah, me-" she stammered How like
all other men you are-cruel-un-
kind"
Madam" cried, ten thousand par
dons!" Then my remembrance Of
Boniface's gossip came to my aid.
"And you are the runaway countess"
said eagerly. Small wonder the
! earl was furious over your leaving
him"
And you will betray me-" she said
slowly, her marvellous sweet voice shot
through with leaden despair. You will
claim the reward"
Am l hound,' l asked angrily,
that you should insult me so? My
poor girl, honor you. But this is no
place for you, your groom may be
on your heels"
She wrung her hands,
Men are searching for me already
in the lower part of this village. Oh, I
am lost-lost!"
AS l looked on her wonderful face,
filled with charm which no other
woman had ever borne for me, a dar-
ing idea flashed through my mind.
Countess, I said eagerly, Il was
about to do mad thing tonight. You
can make it sane one l was to wed
a woman of wax will take one of
flesh and blood. If you will stand in
the great dolls place. Nay look not
on me in such alright. Plain am I,
but of clean life and able to maintain
your honor with my sword. Nor saw
ever woman whose favor liked as
l do yours. Search my eyes with those
clear orbs of yours and read my soul
You will find only pure intentions
| there"
| Search my soul she did, with that
anxious yet piercing gaze of hers.
What she found there seemed not
amiss. for she suddenly dropped her
head. her cheeks flushing scarlet, and
| murmured that | would think her too
| bold.
| took her hand. Nay, sweet" l
said. And be sure. dear heart. will
| teach thee to love me-"
When Boniface returned his waXen
woman, had he but known it, was back
in her cage. In the Swallowed corner,
! only family touched by the freight,
stood another figure its very duplicate
in height and roundness, robed in the
waXen woman's brief wedding finery
and heavily yelled.
Boniface slid in smiling. Close on
his tread came villainously familiar
form.
| Il have here witness of wit
nesses.." said the innkeeper, fourishing
his hand-"none other than the earl
himself, Sir Charles. He was here on
search for his bride, overheard me
| telling your tale to the priest, and de-
clared that he and his valet should suf.
| fee"
"Gads life-yes." returned the earl
bowling. his lean, shrunken stature try
ing to assume the pose of young gal
liant. ''Nought has amused me SO in
years as this idea of thine"
Let us hope 1t may continue to
amuse you" said slowly. And you,
reverend sir, kindly begin at once
Boniface, have up Margery to make
the responses for my wife, who seems
F.! somewhat dumb
They all grinned as at an excellent
joke, while my poor waxen woman
stood there bravely
Margery seemingly made the re.
sponses, but I, standing with my sweet
changelings hand in mine, knew
that her voice, in whispers, mingled
with Margery's.
| 1t was over. The earl broke into a
sharp At of shrill laughter
Cooks, Sir Charles, you have
strange taste in women! IA rather
risk spoilt gypsy like the bride am
hunting than to rest content with so
cold piece as yours!"
Then my gentle "waxen woman"
exhausted with the pose she had been
forced to keep, grew faint, and STUN
bling forward would have fallen, but
that caught her in my arms.
Let me sit down." she gasped, II
can bear no more"
At the sound of her voice Boniface
went white with terror.
"A miracle of the devil" he groaned.
But the earl was not superstitious.
Before I could stay him he had
caught away the waxen woman's veil
and, to Judge by his howl OF rage. what
| he found beneath did not please him.
Eleanor = shameless mink" he
foamed. "Gad's my life, you shall pay
! for this-this mock marriage"
mo mock marriage, but a most
substantial one" I answered thrusting
him away. This lady is my lawful
wife, doubly welded because the re-
| sponses were made twice over, by her
self and little Margery in chorus"
The earl lacked not for courage
1T is no marriage," he squeaked.
Speak, PRIEST"
| thrust ten guineas into the priests
hand. whispering that would double
| that
Tis indeed true marriage" he
| averred boldly to the earl. They are
hard and fast, my lord-hard and
| fast"
ont flashed the old earls sword, but
| sent it spinning by blow from mine
in its shaeath.
Go home" | said scornfully, "and
tell your friend who would have sold
his daughter that she hath exercised
a woman's mos; sacred right-the
right of choice"
Foaming, impotent to harm US, the
| earl stumbled from the room The