The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-10-23

J..
He told me he's saving up for an op.
GRAFTON on his ear. He says it's like
ly to prove serious some day if he
doesn't have it done"
She's too good for him." his wife
repeated. following her train OF
thought Il don't see how she came
to marry him. If | have ~ chance
I'm going to open her eyes Why, he
isn't even a gentleman, dear
Elsie Van Trevor had gone to their
bungalow at the seashore and taken
her secretary with her. The little
Welshman was cstaloguing the books
in the library alone.
He missed his wife greatly. 1t was
their first separation. Somehow he
felt that Mrs. Van Trevor's sudden
friendship for Leila BODIED i'll for them
both. But Leila had been crazy to go;
there were to be house parties and all
sorts of gayety, and later Evans was
to be invited for day or two.
Somewhere a bell had been ringing
furiously all the morning. The little
Welshman' wondered where it could
be. He threw up the window and
looked out. Suddenly violent pain
shot through his head. as if a knife
had pierced him, The bell was in his
own head. And the pain was stab
bling without cessation.
He screamed with the agony of it.
He tried to stagger across the room.
collapsed, and moaned upon the floor.
He saw Van Trevor standing over
him, look Of fear in his eyes Then
through period of unconsciousness
he grew to a dim realization of the
Jolting ambulance. the hospital. the
white-capped nurses, and the sicken.
ing stencil of the ether cone
He opened his eyes to find himself
in bed in the hospital. His head
was swathed in bandages.
You'll do finely now" the nurse
said, and he opened his eyes a second
time to see Van Trevor at his side.
How are you. my dear chap" he
asked, by George, that was touch
and go. but the surgeon says you're
all right now
You haven't told my wife," asked
Evans weakly
NO. | thought it best not to alarm
her" answered the other.
Van Trevor never came again
through the slow days of conva-
were unanswered Gradually sick
ening fear began to come over the lit
tie Welshman, sense of some I'M
definable tragedy. At last, when two
weeks had passed. he was permitted
to leave the hospital lie hurried to
the Van Trevor house The butler.
who opened the door. stood in his
way.
Mr. Van Trevor left d letter for
you, sir" he said. handing him a mis-
sive.
The little Welshmen opened it. 1t
stated briefly that the work had come
to an end and included check for
five huodred dollars.
Evans tore the check to pieces and
turned away from the house in blind
agony and rage.
The bungalows stood side by side
I'm their trim plots at the edge of the
shore. Near by, at the huge hotel,
were music and dancing, and the
mirth of hoiday-makers, Many
couples. strolling along the road,
looked askance at the seedy little
man with the bandage about his head.
who walked hurriedly toward the
bungalow at the end of the row.
In the shadow of a pine tree Evans
halted The bungalow was ablaze
with lights. He heard the voices of
Van Trevor and his friends, and the
tittering laughter of his wife. Then
came a laugh that made him clutch
at his heart-Leilas
Then suddenly the little Welshman
seemed to become inspired with a
strong personality that had never been
his. He strobe through the open door
into the livingroom and stood there
at the door.
He saw look Of fear in Van Trev-
or's eyes. establishment in the guests,
wonder in Leila's. The little, shabby
man suddenly dominated the situation.
Hugh" exclaimed Leila, leaping
to her feet. you are i'll! What is
the natter"
Il have come TO take you home,
dear" said Evans.
Mrs. Van Trevor advanced with
mincing steps. This is Leila's hus-
band' she explained to the group.
He has been unwell, you know Mr..
Evans. 1t would really have been moro
seemly to have written"
Come. dear" said Evans, taking his
wife's arm in his In that moment he
saw all the struggle in the girls soul;
the old love and the new pleasures It
was a hard test for her, beaten by the
storms of uncertainty
Leila is certainly not going away
with you. exclaimed Elsie Van Trev-
or angrily. This is an outrage!
Leila, dear, we will protect you"
With swift, passionate gesture
Evans tore the bracelets from Leila s
arms, the pendant from her neck, and
cast them down. And, while they still
stared at them, they were gone, and
Leila chung to her husbands neck in
the darkness
81,