The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-04-19

again. AT least I couldn't possibly
TN after We were married-and he'll
never ask me again till after I've ex-
planned, and so-and So"
The fluffy head sank down to the
arm Of the chair and she sobbed.
Weeks passed and the youth and
the girl passed each other with
averted looks or frankly belligerent
stares. Once, notably on an evening
| Of the fragrant, glamour-filled variety.
the heart Of the youth softened and
he started out through the moonlit
enchantment toward the porch and
the wicker chairs. But as he neared
the familiar environment there came
soaring through him the memory Of
his innocent remark and the strange
look and vivid blush that had greeted
It. His resolution turned to gall with
In him. He drifted aimlessly down a
side avenue, whence he wandered to
the outskirts to sit on q lone rock and
curse fate.
Gradually he began to meet the
maiden and Bennett going about to-
| gether. Presently he met her at q
| dance. Though she kept far from his
! vicinity, and her silvery mirth seemed
| oftenest mingled with Benefits bray
ing laughter, he imagined with a
thrill of rising hope that her vivacity
was not quite so genuine. her eyes
not quite SO sparkling bright nor her
beauty SO radiantly undimmed as in
the days of his uninterrupted devo.
ton.
! Nevertheless rumors began to reach
him that the girl and Bennett were en-
gagged.
| There came an October evening
chill and gray. The blood-red rays
of the setting sun struggled through
banks Of stormy cloud, across wind
| swept reaches of dead leaves and up
on wide, vine-hung porch, where
two wicker chairs were drawn stif1y
apart. In one sat girl, slimly plain
as to long ulster and jaunty cap, dis
concertingly distant Of mien. In the
other sat youth, mournful, Swallowed
Of eye, of an ensemble which accorded
cheerlessly with the girl, the night
and the general atmosphere of ruin
and decay.
age" he was saying bleakly, mot be
cause thought you would care fol
1t, or value it as from a one-time
friend, but merely as a symbol of the
death of Our-er-"
Thank you," she murmured alb
sently.
He leaned back heavily, and the
wind moaned in dirge-like cadence
through the deepening gloom.
1T was good of you to let me sex
you, for the last goodby"
81 had nothing else to do" she ad
mitted with faint regret. "Mr. Ben
nett is out Of town."
The youths eyes burned with {
dull fury. The fiery rim of the Grim
son sun shot an angry CLEAN at theil
feet. Suddenly he leaned forward
cheerless decision in his air.
"You needn't pay any attention t
1t, Of course" he chanted YEARLY
Il don't expect you to. But I'm goinl
to do 1t again-just to round the thint
out and-er-because I'm accustomed
to doing it, and miss 1t. Here it is
I love you. have always loved you
I am going to love you to the bite
end. Will you marry me?"
"Yes," said the maid.
The sun shot down precipitately
wrathfully. The youth sat petrified
immobile, his mouth still partly oper
The girl looked back at him with leve
eyes.
II said you looked silliest doing
In the moonlight" she tainted. "Yo
don't"
why did you blush?" he aske
tenderly.
Annoyance spread over the face o
the maiden.
II refuse to discuss It," she said.
Again the mystery, unsolved! Fo
one fateful moment the heart of tn
youth grew cold with doubt an
! things threatened to 60 wrong agai
! for evermore. Then an illuminin
; thought leaped in. She was going t
marry him. What mattered It?
II have it," he announced exult
antly. "You were blushing over tn
, thought of being silly enough to blus
over Bennett"
Exactly" she murmured with JOY