The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-01-03

his ardor nightly as two days of
dreary isolation passed by.
Ware tried fishing. but it did not
fill the bill The cartridges were run
ming and he got down his gun. There
was little zest in the sport however.
He would start covey and then list
lessly neglect to take a shot before
they were safe in covert.
He would sit down on fallen log,
ostensibly to rest, and rouse himself
from a gloomy and distressing rev.
erie over Leila-always and ever
Leila!
He had not estimated his nearness
to the Lodge until he caught the
sound of singing and the echo of man
dolins. He hurried from the spot with
more vivid sorrowing memories than
ever.
A form dashed off into the under
brush just then from the direction of
the Lodge. Ware, scanning its flight,
made out a 1.-the, graceful feminine
figure. Then it had vanished He
fastened his steps. discerning in the
speedy dash Of the person he had
seen some runaway frolic of guest
of the Lodge, and he did not wish to
meet any of them.
He slackened his gait as he got
out of sight of the Lodge. He yawned
YEARLY as he turned his face toward
the camp. Another long, eventless
day promised. A partridge whirred
over his head and beyond. He thought
of dinner and raised his fowlingpiece.
The bird was diving into nest of
underbrush as he fired. 1t escaped
scatheless, but as the small shot
ratified among the bushes a shrill
piercing scream rang out.
Great heavens! | have shot some
body!" cried Ware in CONSERVATION.
He threw down his gun and dashed
anXiously toward the brush. He part
ed the bushes. There. hiding her face
with her hands, upon her knees and
rocking to and fro in mortal terror
was the girl he had seen running
from the Lodge-he recognized hel
dress at once.
You are hurt-I fired not knowing
there was anyone near-Leila!"
In stupefacton he scanned the face
of the girl as her hands were with
drawn. She turned deathly white
sentence
1T is fate!"
For the space of fully a minute
those two, 50 singularly, so tragicall.
met, stood staring spellbound.
Il was only frightened faltere'
Leila TREMENDOUSLY. II was-was run
ming away and heard footsteps, AM
hid"
From whom-why?" inquired War
in sheer mystiication.
My mother had traced me. hope
they would not think of my bein
with my cousins at the Lodge"
but your husband?'
q am not married" she whispered
her glance dropping. Il ran ava
from-from that man, whom | detes
on my wedding day
Again, why?"
J She answered him with furtiy
| look her face crimsoning. His heal
gave mighty bound, and he asko
| calmly, Shall take you back to I'll
| Lodge"
ITO meCt-him!" she cried bitterl
Never. Oh, Randall Mr.. Ware &
t, me away as quick as you can. Surely
am my own mistress. Surely you w
not put me back in that old captivit
! when you know-when you know
L Could he resist her? Could he mi
! take the timid eyes that pleaded, y
u were abashed?
'If | dared think" he said. that
g could offer you my protection, II
| love ="
It Il would defy the world she erie
G They fastened like children, han
r in hand, towards the village. I'll
d clergyman they visited marveled
L their trepdation. 1t passed aw;
II with both, as, erect manly, feeling
y king with the dearest woman to hi
J. in the world on his arm, Randall Wa
o left the quaint little parsonage with
{ his bride.