The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-06-09
ON her WEDDING EVE
BY GRACE HARcOURr.

am to be married tomorrow. TIL,
man who loves me is middle-aged
rich. and unromantic. He has ap
praised me and thinks that / shall sui
his household, lend dignity to his din
ners, win him that social success hi
Graves to complete his business sue
cess. His name is William Smith, anl
he looks it.
The man love is young, handsome
daring. He is not success and new
er will be successful. His name II
Roger Renfrew. He has been every
thing in his time, and do not know
what he is today.
! remember SO well the time wher
I first met Roger. We were staying
at a fashionable hotel in the noun
tains. I was being escorted by my
aunt and accompanied by a girl ant
two young men from the hotel, for 8
walk through the forest. There was
an encampment Of gypsies near by
and we stopped to look at them. One
was a young man with a bold, hand
some face. After we had satisfied
our curiosity we threw them some
coins. The younger man caught my
coin and quickly pressed his lips to it
Our eyes met.
That evening, feigning headache,
retired to my room Immediately after
dinner. The window opened upon a
veranda. I slipped out, hurried down
a side entrance, and made my way to
the gypsy camp. My heart was beat
ing wildly, and did not even know
why I was going. At last l reached
the camp. He was waiting for me in
the shadows Of the pines. He drew
me to his heart and kissed me.
Il knew you were coming to me,
he said.
And he was not a gypsy after all
He was an artist, travelling in this
way with the band because it meant
freedom. How my heart leaped at the
word! Freedom, which had SO long
desired!
/ do not know how long l stayed
there, but when slipped away it was
understood that was to return. And
! did SO the following night, and the
next. Soon l began to learn some
thing of Rogers life. We were en-.
gagged, and were to be married as
soon as Roger came for me, and we
would travel all over the world to.
gether.
He could not marry me then be.
cause he had a wife. He had been
tricked into marriage with her while
he was a boy. But he was going to
get divorce. gave him my city
address on the last evening before
we left.
I heard nothing from Roger. We
had agreed that If did not hear from
him In a year and day l was to
consider myself free. That time
passed-and William Smith came into
my life. He was an excellent match,
my aunt agreed. They said that
should marry him.
Smith has never kissed me. He is
. typical soulless business man of
forty.five. When l think of Roger !
am mad with anger. He has failed
me, and life means nothing to me
nothing at all.
Much has happened within the past
hour. II retain what have written
1t is to mock at the instability Of hui
man thoughts. The noise at my win.
dow was Roger. He had returned
He told me he could not get the
divorce; he hadn't money enough. II
l would come with him, we could get
money from my uncle. and use It to
legalize our union.
1t was not the proposal disconcert-
ed me SO much as something disillu.
sionizing in Rogers words and face.
Somehow he made me think more
highly of William Smith.
Come with me now, DEAR" Roger
pleaded.
As he spoke I heard steps on the
graveled path. Instantly l motioned
Roger to conceal himself. l could not
imagine my uncle walking in the gar
den SO late at night-but Judge my
amazement to find Mr.. Smith con.
me.
Il saw your light" he said. 81
couldn't help coming to you. want
you to tell me truly, dear; do you
love me? II you do not. it is not too
late"
I looked at him, dumb with amaze
ment. His homely face seemed trans
somehow / could not bring
myself to tell the truth.
Roger stepped from behind the cur
tain and stood facing him.
well. see you have trapped me-"
he remarked casually. What are
you going to do about it?"
Mr.. Smith did not drop an eyelid.
Shall we let the fellow go, dear?'
he asked me.
What do you mean? What do you
take me for? A burglar?" shouted
Roger.
And then l realized his coup. Pos
ing as my lover, he hoped to compro
mise me hopelessly, to induce me
thereby to go with him, and later to
use me as lever for extracting money
from my uncle.
III you're not gone inside of half
minute you'll be the worst handled
burglar l have ever seen," said Mr..
Smith, advancing.
ran back into the room. don't
know just what happened, but when
saw Mr.. Smith ten minutes later
the knuckle of his hand was bleeding,
and he said