The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-06-23
MARY. Ell1rss MAN.
BY HOPE AiNsLEE.
right, 1915. by the Mcclure .
per Syndicate.)

ICooyright. 1915 by the Mcclure Newspar
per Syndicate.}
Mary Ellen did not know that the
place she was entering was pawn
shop. II was tucked away in quiet
OF Regent street ana
Mary Ellen just happened to be stfoF |
ling through the quaint Soho distrios ;
when an antique locket In the WIN
down caught her attention.
She bought the oddly beautifui
locket and was persuaded to purchase.
also. an equally curious old ring tnss
the shopkeeper had in his possession.
Mary Ellen was a shy. imaginative
little person, whose world was peo'
pied by fanciful characters. She was
queer; she was merely different
enough from the average girl to %
mysterious.
Back In New York there were sew
eral suitors who wanted Mary Ellenb
dainty hand for their own. 1t was
partly owing to the persistent wooing
Of these admirers that Mary Ellen
found herself in London. She had ned
from the temptation to marry when
she was not really as much IN love
as her fancy told her she should be.
And her dream man possessed all tho
qualities that existed, respectively, In
each of her suitors.
She held her new locket closely IN
her hand and looked at the face IN
II. She began to, wish that she had
lived in the age when he had lived
in the age Of powder and patches.
An idea thrust itself into her dreams.
She would return to America as the
betrothed wife Of the man in the
locket This would be fitting way
for her to avoid marrying any one OF
her suitors. She had long sought an
excuse that would satisfy them. Her
fictitious lover, would be the excuse.
And the antique ring would lend color
to her story
Few girls but. Mary Ellen would
have conceived so fanciful plan OF
clearing her patch of lovers. And his
name Is 'Davie!'" she said to herself
when she had discovered an engraved
inscription inside the locket: with
love- Davie," the line ran!
IT shall call my fiance David Wood
man, and say that he IL an actor. MY
miniature of him was made In the
character of Sir Charles Surface"
Mary Ellen laughed at her own in
genuity. Indeed, SO delighted was she
with her fabric Of romance that she
sailed for home a week sooner than
she had expected.
The romance woven around the man
in the locket came to be acknowledged
as a natural one. Mary Ellen had
gone abroad and she had met her fate.
One night Jimmy Vale stood In the
ballroom Of the Deerwent home look.
ing at Mary Ellen as she danced with
one Of the men. She was as light as
zephyr, and even had Jimmy not been
possessed Of hopeless love for thu
girl he would have enjoyed the grace
Of her.
Someone touched his arm "Thaa
slim, quaint, beautiful little dancer II
mauve-who is she?" David Garland
asked him.
Jimmy turned to hook at the man
He was the guest Of the hostess, ant
they had merely shaken hands in be
ing introduced
"I1l present yon-with pleasure
Jimmy fastened to say.
/ When Mary Ellen looked into tn,
! blue eyes Of David Garland she woul,
: have turned and fed had not Jfmm,
restrained her. "Wait q minute. Mar
I Ellen. I want to present Mr.. Davi
I Garland. Miss Moore" Jimmy added
J with his best society bow Then, with
out another word he left them.
: David was so like the man in Mar
Ellen's locket that the girl wa
!. stricken with amazement She coul
scarcely raise her eyes to his scrutini,
Ing gaze.
There are two reasons for m
+ wanting to meet you," she heard hiI
saying Zone is-that locket,"
said, looking at her treasure.
Il bought It in London" Mary Ellie
confessed. blushing, and taking til
locket in her hand. "And this ring
bought at the same time," she q
mitted. extending the ring for him [
!. see.
d Her heart beat fast; her dream WI
. coming true. This man and the ma
q whose face was pictured In her lock,
were in some way connected.
:: 'T say, this is most curious" Dav
was saying, half to himself, as he 9
- amined the ring on Mary Ellen's a
. ger. He looked up at her do "
!. know that you are wearing my gran
y mothers engagement ring?"
= Mary Ellen shook her head: 81
!. could not speak.
J. "And I believe there is a miniatu
- Of myself in that locket." David adde
"Are-are you Davie?" Mary Ell,
- asked, breathlessly.
I'm Davie," he laughed.
He then explained that his Gran
mother Garland was so keen on hir
that she had had his miniature paint
and set in . locket She had had
~ done in powder and patch costume I
NJ cause. in that dress, he was more II
IN his grandfather than ever and II b
~ pleased the elderly woman to see b
n thus. The locket and the ring b
MT been stolen by . maid and had q
n. IDENTIFY been sold.