The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-04-25
An Unfinished
Song
By JEROME sPRAGUe
1911, by Associated Literary Press.

The man leaning over the deck rail
caught the echo of thrilling burst |
of melody He looked about him to |
discover the source. Not soul was |
in sight The deck chairs we're de-
serted
Again there came the thrilling notes |
and Granger, following the sound
came upon girl wrapped in q steam
er rug.
1t was a wild song, and it stopped as
he came up to her. The steamer rug
in which she was wrapped was red.
The girl was a dark little thing with
scarlet lips and cheeks and with
brown curls blown into tangle by
the beating wind She smiled at
| Granger. There seemed nothing un-
conventional in such a greeting. The
| girl laughed up into Changers face.
Isn't it fine?" she said.
He stammersd reply. He was not
a man of many words. All his life
he had worked hard, and had little
time for pleasure and none for hirta-
ton. Woman nature was to him an
undiscovered country. Yet his heart
! leaped, as this girl said to him in her
musical voice, Isn't 1t fine?"
| He wished that he might reply cas-
fly but he only blushed and went on.
Some instinct made him turn, how
ever. to see the girl struggling to
keep her balance. The heavy sweep
o! the wind, and the slant Of the deck,
was too much for her. and, before he
could reach her. she fell. He picked
her up to find her laughing. DO you
still think 1t is fine?" he managed to
say
It's great" was her response. The
wilder it is the more | love it,
His spirit seemed to exalt with hers.
In all his life he had never known
such sense of triumphant freedom
as he now experienced. The work-a-
day-world seemed miles away.
I'VE had better go in he gasped,
} but she said No"
Il hate it in that stuffy cabin" was
her explanation when she could make
herself heard Did you hear me
singing" was her further question in
another intermission.
Yes, what was it?'
The wild hawk to the wind swept
sky,
The deer to the lonesome void,
she crooned.
l Go on" he said breath.esSly.
But now the storm was upon them
in full force.
Within the cabin, unfolded from the
rug she showed herself slim crea
ture in a blue serge gown. Back
: again in conventional surroundings
y Granger once more lost his tongue
He bowed and left her That night al
dinner she was next to him at the
= table Il asked for this seat she
. said frankly. You saved me from
y the storm-perhaps you may save me
-" she stopped and as he looked dowr
at her in surprise.
. IF tn ere is anything can do" he
!, said, you must let me know" Blu
u she was laughing again, gay and ra
diant.
That night, as he stood late alone OF
;. deck watching the moon float through
the ragged clouds, she came to him al
=, pale and trembling.
- Perhaps | am all wrong" she said
: ito ask you. but somehow | feel tina
= you can be trusted. VIII you keel
:. these for me?" She put into his hant
- little box They are my pearls,
:, she whispered, "heirlooms in our fam
= ily My cousin who is with me think
a they should have been given to her
=. She has told the captain that | an
Ill and not responsible, so II | Civ
. them to him he will take them bacl
:" tC her But | am perfectly well AM
they ara mine.
Granger was a practical man O
N business 'Fll keep Them" he sal
promptly, and give them to you jus
a before we leave the boat
Thank you" she said, and left hin
He was glad that she had furnishe
him a reason for intimacy. At tn
d. breakfast table the next morning h
u watched the cousin and found her
ip cold sort of person.
ar He resolved to watch over her, an
as that afternoon he had his chance. ii
ny heard a controversy between the tw
as they sat in their steamer chairs.
tn What have you done with them
y. asked the cousin.
IN But his little friend would not tel
ct Wait till we get to New York" sh
a said. you haven't any right to then
ed GRANDMOTHER was in her dotage whe
she left them to you They belong t
he me. Helen
nd Granger saw the young girls eye
ed sweep the deck and light up as the
he rested on him Then she flung her d.
!! fiance at her cousin. Il would rattle
ed fling them into the sea" she sal,
nd than to let you have them"
Ip Granger strolled over to the pal
Dr- will you walk with me-" he aske
the girl.
es Yes" she said eagerly
be Who is gentleman" the cou
"a. In asked icily.
ef Granger took out his card "Th;
le- will serve to introduce me" he sal
al The Captain knows me and | thin
you can find several other people Q
ID board who will furnish all the or
I'm dentiLls necessary.
sd After that Helen and he were muo
together. All the youth in Grang,
woke in response TO the child in he
One morning Granger appeared b
mr.. fore her with a drawn look on h
face. Il have lost your pearls"
10. said