The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-08-12
4 WINNING PENALTY
BY JEAN GREY.

! Elsie turned upon him, her dropped
hands clenching hard. If you starved
for an ideal, disdaining to work un-
worthily, l could love you. starve
I with you joyously." she said. but
when you let weak pride and pure
vanity stand in the way"
Il don't understand" Davis inter-
rupted, looking uncomfortable.
H"You do understand" Elsie retorted.
You think 1t beneath your dignity to
listen to reason. Graham wanted you
to rewrite an act You put the play In
drawer and have not looked at 1t
since. Because, forsooth. he's an ass
OF the stage. know it-everybody
does. But he has the instinct that
tells him what will get over. You.
lack it. Your way may be ever SO
much finer"
Thanks for them kind words" Da.
Wis tried to say with merry scorn, but
hurt and angry in spite of himself
Elsie went on pitilessly: 1T was
SO with your book-first half is ador-
able-fresh and witty and clean. Ev-
erybody says so-but you will lug in
dirt all through the last half. Need.
less dirt! Yes, you shall hear the
truth. II your soul wore dirty gar.
ment I could understand your sticking
by 1t. It doesn't. You are clean -
your uncleanness is just affectation-
no matter how you pirate about
strength"
This grows monotonous," Davis
broke in, like the Mona Lisa smile.
I'd rather be sworn at than have you
so perfectly reasonable. Maybe I
ought to let impotence do her per
feet work Still it occurs to me you
are perhaps more acutely aware Of
my shortcomings from viewing them
through the lens of another mans
projections.
Only partly right" Elsie answered.
I've felt this coming all along-but
until you brought in Maginn
wouldn't let myself say it-even to
myself +"
so / fetched a stick to break my
own head. Well, it shall be bless
you my children" Davis interrupted
superbly. "Maginn, the little busy
bee. improves the shining hour Nat
urally he hovers over all sweets"
"Maginn has just this to do W B
It," she cried, her nails dug into er
palms. He's below you-world be.
meath youth every way except e.
he does what he can and does with
a sincerity of belief in himss that
quite redeems his conceit II you
tried only half so hard"
you forget. ! am not a Bankers
son." Davis cried, now thoroughly
angry. Don't waste nc breath,
my dear. understand. You are
tired Of waiting, Of hopin of believ.
ing. Masinn. with his Expectations,
his sweetly solemn mind, tempts you
sadly. Take him an4 welcome. |
offer you my felicitsltion, and wish
you q very good evening"
AS you will. but take this" Elsie
answered. slipping fon his ring, a
mere thread Of gold with q winking
fire opal on top. Her hand trembled.
Was It for this, she had but half an
hour earlier sent Masinn away with a
NO 90 kind 1T was irrevocable? She
knew 1t was wicked, but she had been
kind a. . penance for hating poor
Maginn because Of his humble per.
fections. They were bearing him so
much farther and higher than Lynn
Davis better parts were ever likely
to CARR him.
| Aren't you truly q sybarite in
love with luxury?" Davis asked,
drawing pace nearer.
She shook her head, her breath
Coming quick. Il don't mind lack.
ing things-hardly little Bit" she
4 said. THE hard part is doing with.
out, because you must. II l we're
only rich enough l should let myself
be really dowdy now and then"
rs that why you are suddenly so
severe with me?" Davis asked, his
eyes beginning to twinkle. She flung
up her head. saying bravely with a
crimson flush, moi"
Then why, Maginn and his per.
fections aside?" Davis demanded.
j She turned on him, her eyes fash
ing Let Maginn alone!" she said.
Mention of him is-insulting. My
concern is-you. You only! Do you
think 1t does not hurt me to have
you slothful, Indifferent, to see men
unit to black your shoes going ahead
OF you In the race of life? You are
not great, but I do believe you have
In you the makings Of greatness. I
thought love and trust would help
you to show 1t. Now I see my mis-.
take. You say you love me?"
1t may be delusion-but love to
hug It," Davis answered.
Then IL you do-if you care
enough to think Of me as a wife, lis
ten! Put it to yourself thus: Here is
prize worth winning. I'm going to
win 1t, though the job IL q mans size.
1t means hard work and putting
dragons to rout-dragons of shyness
and conceit-"
"Ah, me! How highly some people
esteem themselves!" Davis broke in.
Say. guardian angel, what will hap.
pen, II I refuse?"
Worse things-much worse" Elsie
said promptly, coming very close and
looking up In his face. For I shall
marry you and make you work,
whether or no"
In that case" he cried, kissing
her, Il refuse absolutely"