The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-04-05

used to do. And IL only | were sure
II should break the engagement.
But ! am not sure.
More than once | have started to
write him letter. releasing him, and
then-then | have torn it up because
| didn't know. How can | know? He
is too honorable ever to tell me if he
has ceased to care for me. How can
l know"
Il don't believe that he has ceased
to care" said Julia. Now listen to
me. dear There is all the difference
in the world between being engaged
gagged the whole world seems new.
Everything is wonderful. You think
you are going to live in paradise.
But that isn't what counts at all. How
many married couples do you know
who live in that state of rapture?"
But Harry and l were going to be
different" sobbed the girl
so everyone thinks. but afterward
you understand your mistake. 1t is
the building up OF the life together
that counts, my dear. know that.
And long engagements are mistake.
You have simply come to take each
other for granted, that's all. When
you are married your real happiness
will begin"
oh. do you believe that. dear?"
asked May.
Il am sure of it," said Julia. You
and Harry ought to marry at once.
and then you will understand. know
he cares for you. and 1t is possible
that he. too. has felt something Of
the same thing. That Is the whole
trouble. Well, l suppose we must
have lunch il we are to catch the
early train back"
They went into the hotel, while
Harry waited above. So the girls had
only come over for the day! They
would not look at the hotel register,
of course. Still, he feared detection;
| they could not but know that he had
| eavesdropped.
He waited till they came out and
stood on the porch together. Evident.
| ly Julia's conversation had raised
Mays spirits, for she looked less un.
happy but she was still pathetic lit.
tie figure as she stood there.
Come, dear. let us be going said
Julia.
Harry watched the two women walk
down the path toward the station.
And, looking after them suddenly he
felt the fog lift from his heart.
Julia. with her woman's intuition
had guessed rightly. or course he
loved May, and had never ceased to
love her. 1t was the past, the other
faces he had seen, that had lifted them
selves like ghosts between them. And
he had not understood.
He saw now that it is only by faith
and loyalty that love endures. Love
must be grappled and held. Every
thing that he had attributed to May
the GOODNESS, the WEAKNESS, was moth
ing but the reflection of his own innel
heart. He saw her again as she haC
been on that wonderful day when she
had promised to become his wife.
And his own heart was singing will
happiness. He went downstairs ant
told the landlord that he was return
ing.
When he got back to the city h
found that his business troubles ha,
had the same Interpretation. Moth
ing was wrong. A man is as he think
eth. He had thought wrong-in ever,
way he had thought wrongly he neal
ly lost the hand Of happiness Out
stretched to him.
It was with beating heart that h
walked up the road toward hi
fancee's house on the next day. Blu
it was with a heart steeled against it
weaknesses. He knew it's strengt
beyond all doubt, it's power to hold.
And, even as he held May in hi
arms he saw her troubled face clea
and grow radiant. There was a ne,
warmth in her kisses. She chung 10,
ingly to him, and was again his swee
heart of old.
Harry do you really love me?" sh
whispered
He smiled at the question I'VE
i, enough to ask you when you are e
ing to make me happier STILL" he al
swered
Seize the Leisure Moment.