The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-07-13
ENGLISH MDERD

ana lives
"oh, Jasper!s
I'm! What is it," Jasper Dunning
asked, looking into the face Of the
girl who Shared the road wagon seat
with him.
Margaret caught her breath. It
might hurt him, but what he had Just
said hurt her. Would 1t do any good
She looked refectively along the coun-
try road that stretched away In front
Of them.
Did you ever hear OF Q widow who
was not woman?'
What an ideal | don't git you"
oh. please do not say git And
| the other is such colloquialismi II
you say q woman IL widow, that's
enough"
Jasper drew up on the lines until
his spirited bays reared.
See here, Margaret. Before you
went away to college I talked good
'nough for you." he blurted.
The girls eyes met his; she was
conscientiously honest, even with her
self. 1T always annoyed me a little.
but / had heard people talk In that
way all my life Not until went to
0irton did ! come to see Just what
such things mean" she said
Il wish you'd never gone. You see,
/ didn't so much mind waitin', cause /
planned to FIX up the farm 80 it'd be .
| good 'nough home for you. But them
two years spilled you"
The silence endured so long that JAS
/ per thought the victory was his. With
q superior smile he said: 1T don't
matter"
| Why could he not have said
"doesnt2" Margaret's brown eyes
flashed. "It does matter to me and
to ell who care for really good things"
she declared. And IL you cared for
me. Jasper, you'd try to please me,
especially when I'm wholly in the
right. Why would be ashamed to
have Professor Larned hear you talk
-sometimes.'
That last word was added almost
desperately when she saw the color
fade from Jasper's face. Before he
could reply, they were at the gate OF
the village home where Margaret
boarded. A half dozen young men and
girls who were sitting on the verands
came trooping down the walk to meet
them. laughing, talking. making plans
for the evening.
III Those plans were so well carried Out
that Jasper had no opportunity fol-
further words with his betrothed.
'Shamed to have that professor
hear me taik!" Jasper said to him
self ~ he rode home under the calm
stars. Il s'pose I could do little bet
ter, but l hain't agoin' TO stand It Il
be nagged all the time"
| At that same hour Margaret was cry
ing softly, her head ON the window sill
To go through life blushing for hus
bands mistakes, ashamed to have PEG
pie hear him talk-could she do 1t
Could she hold fast to her own ideal
IL she were 1ssper's wife?
For three days. she pondered thes
questions. Then she did two things
she promised the school board tina
she would teach another year and sh
wrote . note which ran:
Dear Jasper:
There has been no change in m
feelings. love you. but cannot b
happy with a man who disregards tn
things / hold essential. Therefore
must take back my promise to be you
wife. Sincerely yours,
MARGARET"
Jasper made no reply to the note
no effort to see Margaret. A mont
went by. He began to hear rumor
Of the many letters she was receiy
ing from one of the Girton college pre-
fessors. When on overtaking Jan
Harris, plodding along in the rain, jas
per took her home, the story was re
ported to Margaret so many times tina
she became convinced that 1t was
matter OF daily occurrence.
The Grange picnic came early Il
July. For years Jasper had takel
Margaret.
"I1l not go this time" he decided
Everybody would look and smile
even II they did not say anything. II
work In the harvest field"
He found his task wearisome one
Recollections Of past Joys crowded OF
him. Suddenly he strobe on, resolv
ing 20 go to the farm wood-lot. I
was there. in the shadow Of q grow
of birches that grew on the bank o
stream, that he had told Margare
OF his love.
She never loved me. though" b,
thought, as, entering the dim, COO
woods, he slackened his pace. Il
she'd really loved me, how 1 taIket
wouldn't a. made any difference"
Just then he came in sight OF tn,
hirches and Margaret seated on tn,
ground, her dark head leaning agains
trees silvery-brown trunk. A breez,
stirred the branches, and the wavinl
mosaic of light and shade that fel
across her face showed that she had
been crying. AS IL. in some vagu.
way, aware Of his presence. she lifteC
her eyes. and their gaze met.
II 1t was b1st q moment that eacl
looked into the others face. Yet the