The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-03-06
THAT TALL, DARK MAN
BY OLIVE ROBERTS BARTON.


per Syndtcate.)
Don met them at the train - Lor-
raine, her mother and father. It
seemed centuries since he had seen
her, Lorraine, Of course, although 1t
had been but two weeks since she had
gone away.
The parting had been full Of fore
boding for Don. Such q trip was sure
to be prolific in young men. To make
things more ominous, Lorraine had
intimated before leaving that Signo-
rina Lotts had foretold tantalizingly
vague things of tall young man with
brown eyes and dark hair. This was
thorns and nettles to Don, whose eyes
were gray and hair decided auburn.
He now searched her face anxious
ly. Had the dark young man mate
rallied in the fortnight's vacation?
There was nothing there to tell. Lor-
raine was as sweet and smiling-and
baffiing-as ever. He sighed.
He was asked to stay to dinner and
accepted gratefully. He had a logged
determination not to leave until he
had verified, or dissipated, his fears.
Two things favored him-the moon
and the arrival Of the preacher. The
back yard swing soon had two occu-
pants.
Lorraine suddenly became talkative.
The whole thing was heavenly, Don.
From the minute we left until just
now"
"Thanks!"
You're welcome, grouchy! I'd
think you'd be glad to see me back.
Instead you've been glooming around
like funeral. Well. I'm going to tell
YOU all about 1t anyway. I've just
got to tell someone. Do you remem-
Der about Signorina Lotta-all she
said about a dark man and every
thing?"
mol" killing a mosquito. What
did she say? Surely you don't be-
lieve the rot a fortune teller gets
or"
"Oh, but I do. It all came true;
almost every word Of it. You see, 1t
was this way" gazing rapturously at
the moon. when we got to Balti-
more the city was all decorated for
the big centennial. After we had seen
the decorations and all that dad want
ed to 60 on q battleship."
well. where does the fellow come
in?"
Ssh! I'm coming to that! We
went across the bay to a great whop-
ping man-of-war that made you feel
all glorious and patriotic"
"But when"
BE quiet! Tn coming to him
soon. They let us on that one. We
went up a funny little pair Of stairs
they lowered over the side of the
| boat"
But what has your brown.eyed
friend to do with"
For goodness sake, be quiet, Don.
You're worse than Prince barking
for q bone. Well, mother and were
looking all around everywhere. Dad
had wandered of by himself, and in a
few minutes he came back with the
tallest, handsomest, darlingest, brown.
eyed"
Don coughed painfully behind his
hand.
Poor boy! What a cold! Well.
as I was saying. dad came back with
the tallest, hand"
II heard you the first time"
"Oh. did you? Well, he was. And
he treated us just lovely. He took
us lots Of places other people weren't
allowed to 60, for he was an officer.
His uniform was grr.a-a.nd."
Silence.
And then that night we went by
boat to Old Point Comfort and Nor
folk. We were at luncheon in the
hotel when who should walk in but
Lieutenant Erickson He took us
through the fort and everywhere"
Eyes, I know. I've been there!
Then suppose he went back to An
napolis where he belonged"
Who? Oh. indeed he didn't! Dad
and mother and l got on the boat
that night and went to Boston"
"Well-that's all, suppose"
mo, indeed! The best"-very in
nocently-"is yet to come"
Heavens! l suppose he suddenly
developed pair Of wings and"
why, Don, you act SO funny! I
don't understand you at ALL"
"Humph! Well, 60 on about your
brown-eyed god Of Olympus. What
next?"
why. that very day We were COM
ing out Of shop on fremont street
in Boston, when whom should we run
into but"
Lieut.. Jupiter Won Erickson. I sup
pose!"
YES" wonderingly. How did you
guess? And his wife!"
His wife! His wife, did you say?'
"M-hum! And she was as beauti.
full as he was handsome! Her hair
was a beautiful light"
But what her hair was like Don
never heard. You little tease!" he
cried, holding her tight to his breast.
Tell me what color of eyes you like
best. before let you CO."
Gray" confessed Lorraine softly.
Estate Use System" Favored.