The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-02-14
DIvERTlNG LEoRIE
BY ELLIS BROWNE.

Mar1ory tried her best not to lister
but the conversation fioated across tn
table to her ears with almost fiendisl
clearness. Mrs. Fanshaws voice wa
a bit high pitched, and just now sh,
was radiant with excitement, contra
dieting Tommy fatty about Willard.
My dear child, was there. He wa,
simply mad over her He can say wha
ne pieases now, but l know and 81
does everybody else who saw them to
gether."
Tommy tried to divert her, catchins
sight covertly of Majory's face, the
expression in her clear blue eyes, the
hurt, close lines around her lips.
"Oh, don't know, Mrs. Fanshaw
Will was Just cub. / don't think he
ever really cared for her"
We'll, he certainly did, and IL you
could have seen her face last night at
the box party Airline gave, when she
heard he was in town, oh, my dear,
my dear! Women are far more faith
full than men. Hasn't she the most
beautiful red hair you ever saw in all
your life?"
I can't bear red hair" said Tommy
blithely. Marjory knew she meant
Leonie Raleigh. She had met her at
a tea that week and had noticed what
an unusual type she was. And VIII,
her VIII. had been in love with her
only three years ago. She fingered
her engagement ring absently. He
was really very nice, a gentle-voiced,
well-mannered, middle-aged French.
man. And suddenly something he was
saying caught her attention:
you know. so few artists have ever
been able to catch Titian's tone. Red
hair has always exerted an extraordi-
nary effect on artists, yet it is rare.
My friend the marquis is quite wild
over young Californian he met at
tea yesterday"
Miss Raleigh" suggested Mar
jory. OF course, it was Leonie. The
men had flocked around her like bees
at the tea. She had made a complete
picture in the fading sunset light of
the studio.
Yes. He cannot get the inspiration
for his work until he has the divine
thrill for his subject-you see? And
he has sought for a model for his
Francesca. She must be this same
F1orentine type that Titan loved to
paint, ah, the Florentine women with
their dark eyes and red hair and faces
ike whitest pearls"
The next day Tommy took Marjory
in to dinner, as Will was west for a
lew days, and he noticed her look Of
"You know. / expect you to purr,
my moment. What have you been up
o?"
Tommy" Marjory answered, has
he marquis any money!
mot much. But he's q really fine |
'ort of chap, and his title is o. X. An
,ient regime, you know Some of his |
'eople lost their heads in the same
basket with Louis, believe. Why?"
Nothing" Marjory changed the
subject. The count kept her post.
ID. Both he and the marquis belonged |
o the little group Of marooned CONT
rentals in New York, too old to go to |
var. marking time in the new world. |
And it appeared that the red-haired |
California girl was splendid success.
She had enough money in her own
light to make the attentions Of the
marquis acceptable. Even before
Wills return. everyone was mating
he two and talking Of their romantic
Meeting Marjory smiled and said
lothing, not until the night when
Win came back. She was at the opera
With her mother, and two boxes away
N the same tier we're Leonie and the
you know her, don't you, dear?"
he asked, very imperonally Tommy
'yed her from the back Of the box
llertly. "Leonie Raleigh from Santa
Barbara"
Willard sat up, his eyes suddenly
teen with interest.
Where is sher'
Right over there in the Seward !
'ox. Isn't she lovely, VIM Such
wonderful red hair?'
"Ah. they will be engaged in less
han two weeks, could wager" the
count said happily. next her mother.
He is most devoted to her. He 10 per- |
'ectly mad over her. And she is quite |
willing to be the fair marquis, ali, yes,
quite willing
you know" said Win appraisingly, |
she always seemed an awfully ordi- |
nary girl to me. If it hadn't been for |
her hair she'd never attracted any at
tention."
You knew her out West. didn't
you, dear?'
"Oh, in way Glad she's going to |
marry marquis. Leonie's the kind
Of girl that requires plenty Of back
ground"
Then, feminine to her pretty finger |
tips, Marjory could not resist just the |
one question::
Were you ever really engaged to
her, WIFI?
Never" very emphatically.
you don't have to say that Just to
make me feel happier, dear | don't
suppose you can be blamed when you
hadn't met me yet only /, dread to
look e.en in the eyes of any girl who
may have been kissed by you, don't
you know