The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-05-19
CHARACTER IN PASTEL
BY HARMONY WELLER.
I5I0, Dy tIIt MCCIl
per Syndicate.)


Priscilla Walker was not exactl
dull, but she never sparkled. Sh
was not exactly homely, but she wa
not pretty.
IF l should try to describe her,
one man in her set was heard to sa
in speaking of Priscilla, "she has
personality that is Of pastel shades.
Hire a hall and make speed
about her, why don't your" asket
Tom Royden: for it was to him tina
the remark was made "Or writ,
her about 1t. l never heard SO man!
eloquent compliments about any one
little drab-colored GIRL he said, with
some heat.
Never drab-colored, Tom. Any
thing but that"
That's so, Bill; old maids are drab
aren't they?"
And. thereafter. in spite of himself.
Tom was drawn toward Priscilla. The
more he was thrown with her-the
more he danced with her, dined with
her, talked with her-the more he had
to admit her fascination.
Her personality seems to be al
ways just what l need She invari.
ably fits into my mood. Now, what
bothers me is this: does she fit in
this way to every fellows notion?
Does every one think she's Just the
right girl?"
Tom pondered these questions
through more than one night. At
length he became a frequent guest in
the home of Priscillas parents in
their country place on Long Island
And 1t was during visits in her home
that he began to gather, through close
introspection, the reasons for her per.
sonality.
Her father, an unusually success
1ul business man, was bluff and noisy
self-centered and very proud of his
achievements in the material world
Her mother was the antithesis of |
the father; she was diffident. quiet, |
retiring-but sweet. Priscilla born
unselffsh, had tried all her life to
please both parents She had listened
TO 'and admired her father on all oc-
caslons, drawn him out on his ia.
Vorlte topics, flattered him a little
With her mother she tried to be as
interesting as possible she attempt.
"a TO make the little woman feel that
me was part and parcel of the
Sorio instead Of retiring, almost
ubdued. creature And Priscilla suc.
'eeded In bringing more color into
er mothers personality than any.
ne else had ever been able to do II
ars. Walker was almost at ease when
'r1scflla was about.
Priscilla" Tom asked one night as
hey sat at coffee before the log fire
the dimly lighted living room, Is
mere anything you cant do-anv.
ing you are not interested in?"
priscilla laughed softly and studied
10 PACK conee in the tiny CUP she
eid. Why-yes. suppose there
re many things cant do. For in. II
ance, l can't vote" Il
And don't want to. I hone !" s.,d
ON, testify.
'Oh'h! but I do! I'd like very
UGH to have the privilege Of Tho
lilot. but it is hardly my way to- II
eii' TO get out and fight for it." she II
i'd. ~ QUO II
Next" persisted Tom
oh, don't force me to talk ~ INV II
II; 1t isn't an interesting topic" H
NOT to you, perhaps. But. pris. III
Ia, Tom leaned toward her, at III
s become the most absorbing tonic III
thought. conversation and cons,d. III
atomic me-"
Priscilla only smiled a sweet non. III
mmittal sort of smile. III
Girl, don't you know most p,r,s III
uid have blushed-if they weren,t IL
81 olushing-or simpered or looked u!
'cked? And yet you receive that =
you know very well ia -
" the forerunner of more and 90.
US ones-as If l had said II was . II
asant day Priscilla, look at me"
'riscilla turned her soft blue ewes Z
upon him. Slowly a smile dawned i
tnem even as she looked at him
en-" she asked. What them" +
What them I love you. I cant :
40 IT to be away from you for a I
:. And yet I have that awful feel. i
that you are all things to all mon T
all people in the world. And !
er could stand that, dear. I'm T
Gus; want you to be mine +
SUTTON" she said. calling him J.
me familiar title for the first t,me I
lgL ne had long discarded formal. i
with her What makes you think z
am so much to every one?" 8
IN, the fellows are always makinv -
nc remarks about you: THEY'RE al
s looking at you: always want;nn
10 something for you. And tho =
ADORE YOU So where do 7 coma sNg
Can you tell me? Or is it against E
tantalizing policy of yours to tell Isl
Priscilla?" .e" ia
,ou come Unjust whore r,n E
she said with characteristics IN
tness. 's'ie b
I'm jumped to her side, "pr;s. 81
Say it again! You love meo b
really care for me?" he aslad III
cnine ner face. Il did not dare b
ope, and yet-oh, I wanted Won Ia