The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-08-12
TIE Love LAeGARO
ev JOHN ALlARDYCE.

John Rochester had inherited q
little money from his father, the bulk
going to his younger brother, who dis
played that business aptitude which |
he had never possessed. ohm was
nothing but an author. He never |
aimed at anything but the scribblers
trade, but he had that fatal fire which |
cannot be Quenched. though it can be
| dampened. For fifteen years he had
toiled, struggling to win fame and
/ achieve success.
At thirty a little squirt of popularity
with his stories had enabled him to
turn to novels. But here he failed dis
/ mally. The critics roasted him un-
mercifully. They condemned the very
qualities which John aimed to put into
his book to please the public.
For at thirty he had suddenly grown
worldly wise. Lesbia had come into
his life, and to make enough money to
marry cher he had thrown his ideals
overheard, trying only to write the
sort of tales and books that the pub
lie wanted. 1t was a fatal error, but
excusable, John believed. under the
circumstances. He awoke to realize
that he had sold his soul, and he had
not been paid for 1t.
For his first two novels were utter
failures, and his publishers had re-
fused to accept the third.
Then the iron entered into the mans
soul He sat down and wrote the book
that he had always wanted to write.
He hardly stirred from his room dur
ing those two feverish months. But
when the manuscript lay before him
he knew that he had at last achieved
what he had always hoped to achieve.
He sent it to his publishers and
went to see Lesbia. He meant to tell
her about his long struggle for her, to
ask her If she would share his life,
that Of a failure. And he always re-
membered her look, her words, sobbed
out despairingly:
"You waited too long! You should
have told me years ago! am en-
gagged to be married."
: At once the mans plans fell crum.
: bling into ashes. He tested the bitter
ness of life in all its fullness at thirty
five. lie left the city that day and
went into New England, choosing the
d most secluded village there. He de-
voted the small capital that remained
to him to starting a small poultry
farm and garden. That was q year
e ago. He had dropped out of the lives
n Of his associates. None was dependent
on him. Nobody would care what hap
t pened to him. And he resolved never
c to set pen to paper again for literary
,, use. He kept his vow. too, though al
t times the old impulse was strong up
on him.
. A neighbor came to him, waving 9
newspaper.
l. Say, Mr.. Rochester, there's some
% thing about you In the paper,
n reckon" he said, handing him thu
sheet. "They got your photograph OF
6 the front page. Hain't done nothing
:, have YEP"
70 mo, don't think So" answered
+ John, taking the newspaper. Az tn
n old man had said, his photograph
stared out from the front page, an
q under It was his name.
ID There was . long article accompany
g ing 1t. 1t said that John Rochester
tho famous author. had at last been IL
y Gated in Massachusetts, after tn
world had been honeycombed for hin
He learned that his book. Hearts DE-
SIRE" had been published and was tn
30 h1 hNAk tn vanr{N
r. and In England. 1t had been trans
lated into seven languages. And Johl
Rochester was in Massachusetts, al
the while, keeping bees and cows
n. Here followed q long and fancifu
,e sketch Of him.
v. The postman, on his morning rount
a. let off a young lady at Johns gate.
n Il amt got no mail, Mister Rochei
h ter" he called, but guess you'll lik
AZ this party most as WELL She was II
IN quiring for you particular. Mister RI
"a chester, and so ! gave her q lift. T.
m be back in half an hour, miss"
r added, whipping up his horse and dri,
~ ing away in the shaky postman's car
John, emerging from his cottag
u door, found himself face to face wit
m q charming young woman in q me-
N hat and fashionable dress. For q m,
ment his heart leaped; he hoped
IN was LeSbia. Then he recognized he
!. one OF Lesbia's friends, who ha
n been q good friend Of his once, befor
n. she passed out Of his life.
10 why, Mr.. Rochester," she e,
n. claimed. And so you have been foun
in at last. was-was visiting som
"A friends at Cedars, and came over e,
pressly to see you on my way hom'
a. and congratulate you. And now your
n, coming back to town, aren't you
a Everybody is crazy to meet you an
n. honor the famous author"
~ John smiled bitterly.
~ i've done with that sort Of life." b
=. answered. mo, I'm q rustic for goo
a. now. Nothing would drag me back I
q. the city again."
8. well, I'm sorry" said the girl.
wanted you to meet my friend-suc
q nice girl, and dying to know yol
There wasn't room for three In tn
postman's cart, SO left her at tb
40 corner. Won't you Gomez"
10 mo. thank you" said John grimly
~ she gave me q message for 20,
~ She said was to tell you man ca
" be too late and yet succeed. She sal