The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-12-30
where REASON RULES
BY HOPE AINSllE.

ITS just this way, Uncle Ted.
There's girl up home, Betty Rob-
erts, and we used to be rather sweet |
on each other. We both went to the |
same church and the academy, and l |
suppose did write letters to her, and |
so on when l was seventeen or
around there. Mother likes her and
she's always said Id marry Betty.
Last year l went after that concession
and met Mrs. Leonard. She loaned
her collection of Chinese porcelains
to the exhibit and give you my word,
Uncle Ted, from the instant we looked
at each other | didn't give a rap
whether l ever saw Betty or any 9th
er woman as long as lived"
Good locker, jack
She's Just divine" Jack spoke fer
vently, reverently. She's been wild
ow for four years; married at nineteen
to a brute"
All good-looking widows husbands
were brutes,' murmured the major.
| Go on
That's all. told her l loved her
and she was giving me at least
| chance until mother came out to Fris-
CO and queered the whole thing. She
met Mrs. Leonard at Aunt Annals, and
told her l was an impressionable boy
perfect slave to sympathy and all
that rot, always used to being petted,
etc. Finally showed her Betty's pic
ture as the little girl sweetheart back
East waiting for me to get through
my travels. You know the way she
can put thing over with that tone
of her voice and her eyes. Well,
didn't have a chance after she had
lett. Dolores left for Santa Barbara
the next day
"Humph,' unused the major. Nov
she comes here. Did she know yot
were with me at the Springs
mo, sir. We haven't written
well, / don't blame you. mind
Jackie. She wonderfully attractive
woman And you're twenty-six, yo'
know, old enough to toddle withou
the maternal apron strings. | shoult
say, Lucia is fine woman, good SIS
Ter 10 me, Out Slili-"hat . Ills p0'''
like?'
"Oh, she's all right said Jacl
| vaguely.
There goes the widow said tn
l major, suddenly leaning forward
: Cad, she can ride!
Jack vaulted the veranda rail an
J. made for the mounting stone to NEE
! the chestnut mare as she gallopod u
o the shore road His voice was 81
l. husky when he spoke to Mrs. Leonard
a slim and erect in her black habit he
o hair wind blown around her face, he
eyes dark and evasive as he leane
o toward her.
Don go in yet" he begged as tn
y boy took the bride. II must spea
o to you. You've avoided me ever sine
n you found | was here Dolores"
Hush. Jack. Someone will hes
G you, you foolish boy
Don't cali me boy he swur
10 back miserably I'm not. Con
II along the pine road just little wa
70 You wouldn't speak to me hardly
=, to see me here"
" "Oh, no, | was not 1t was plea
u ant surprise really it was, Jack.
"A pleasant surprise. 1t made II
. perfectly mad to see you again
'. "'rhe train service to Santa Ba
- bara IS quite regular" she said d
murely.
You wouldn't have seen me. VI
;, left without a word. You believed @
- cry last thing mother told you abo
me and Betty
:, "Dld II"
IL You cared didn't you? Even thout
@ you went away. Never mind Betty.
n. haven't thought OF anyone in u
world rut you for the last six month
Uncle red took me under his wing al
r brought me South because wasr
= fit tor anything else.
She smiled leaning forward as
crushed her hands IN his, and quote
softly unde. her breath
! had not drcamt that love would sta
n Yet here he fingers many "A day
,g Don't go away from me again, u
IT, iores. swear III follow you this Gin
ne to the ends OF the world
IN She laughed her eyes brimful
tenderness.
IN on Jack, Jack, why didn't you #
n low me then if you really cared.
The major came Ieisurely iowa
NJ them, the tate afternoon mail in h
as hands.
ID by George, Jack boy, here's new
Us Good afternoon. Mrs Leonard. Bet
IS Roberts eloped with Batcheller Ph
~ lips saturday
i' Il know Betty SAID Dolores gent
I'VE are distant cousins. but 81
20 writes to me.
d" yes? Writes to Jack, too, shou
ID say. Here's one with a return line {
~ it, Mrs Ratcheller Phillips. Was
ington. d. c.. Hotel Grosvenor.' hrei
g the news TO US, Jackie.
81 Jack opened the letter with frow
~ ana then smiled He handed it to /
lores. 1t was typically Betty.
m Dear JacE: know what everybody
ID SAY. nd don't care I've always hk
- Raity and "a lih' to know why ! ca
ay man. nm If want 10. 80 w".r" "l"pit
I'm inst as sick and tir'd as YOU are
fortot b. INK hurled al your head. j
vritt.u Dolores she's my cousin | wi
an. goa '''' BETTY
., Jacks shoulders unconscious
Strengthened lie turned resoluteiy