The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-07-18

And have to pretend to understand
because Of this silly plot. Why did /
you ever let me into 1t, Elizabeth"
That was Elizabeth's TANKS. She
smiled; she could afford to smile, for
she knew from Charles letters that
she held his heart absolutely, although
he never dreamed of 1t. But that night |
she prayed for his sake that he might
not marry Doris.
The prayer seemed to be strangely |
answered. For the next week Doris
came to her. after a longer interval
than usual. She sat down at her feet
and began patting her hand.
What is it, Soris?" asked Eliza
beth.
Il don't love Charlie" Doris burst |
out. 1T was all a mistake. have |
found the man love. and he loves |
me. So you will not have any more |
of those horrid letters to write. He
isn't the sert of man who is above me-
He is Frank Bewlett."
THE actor?"
YES" answered Doris meekly.
What viii Charlie say?"
Il want you to write and tell him.
answered Doris. Promise me. You
know, you got me into this trouble,
Elizabeth, and you must get me out
you must!"
Elizabeth sat down that night with
heavy heart and wrote to Charlie.
Doris was going home; she loved an
| .Nta H., GvA
write to her nor try to see her again.
She did not sleep that night, and went
' to work with heavy heart next day.
That evening Charlie called, and
she was totally unprepared for it.
i He came in with white face.
. Il haven't been to see you since
met Doris" he said. II can't forgive
: myself for neglecting an old friend in
I my happiness, as supposed 1t to be.
= Do you know-know-?
r Elizabeth nodded. She could not
a manage to utter the trivial sympathy
h in her heart
why did she do it?" he demanded.
4 1--WE loved each other. II you could
/. have seen the letters she wrote me!
They were not the letters OF q foolish
girl. There is something can't un-
| derstand in this. The man she thinks
she loves now is--well, not the sort
of man that girl would love-"
He forgot himself in his despair. He
paced the room. Suddenly he stopped
| before Elizabeth's desk. Elisabeth
sprang up. He was looking at half
finished letter she had been writing
| when he came In.
He turned ana faced her. What
does this mean?" he asked, looking al
the handwriting. Doris has beer
| here this evening. See, the ink ia
scarcely dry! She has been here, and
she is here now"
| mo, Charlie" said Elizabeth help
| lessly. you don't understand. Oul
writing is very much alike"
4 II have never seen her writing" h,
answered, with slow suspicion. But.
know that the writing OF that letter Il
hers
TT isn't. Charlie, +"
Then you wrote those letters at hel
dictetionl She showed you my letters
and dictated her answers to you. 81
they filtered through two people-al
those fine professions of love and eter
nal loyalty!" he said bitterly.
Elizabeth did not know what to say
v And she solved her problem in q won
ans privileged way, by sinking dowr
10 into her chair and bursting into bitter
It tears.
% She looked up at him. 60, now
pleased" she sobbed. Yes, think any
d thing you please. wrote them fol
N Doris, II you like. What does It mat
Is ter. now that your trust has been be
B. trayed by heartless girl?"
70 He stood irresoiutely in the door
a way; then he came forward to where
she sat, her head bowed on her arms
=. striving to still the sobs that rent her
n as she thought OF the bitterness that
W had overtaken their two lives.
% 1T means a good DEAL" he said. did
3, you-did you help her to compose those
letters? And were some OF those
u thoughts yours? Believe me, see her
D in her true light now, and 1t seems to
me incredible that she can ever have
| WTllJeH 10 nlc hh BIG uiu. II nc WOul'
% an who wrote those letters was a
l. woman OF a soul as far above
It Doris"
10 "Hushi Do not think unkindly of
It her," said Elizabeth softly, raising her
streaming face. ut is all over now.
t. She would never have understood
a what love means"
o You inspired them" he persisted
'. doggedly.
t Il wrote them all, Charlie" said
Elizabeth, rising and facing him. she
a was afraid you would look down on
It her. She loved you in her way
l. remember that. She is only a child.
She asked me to help her keep your
Z love, and l wrote them"
q He held her hands. Il thank God,
g he answered gravely, that at least /
I can keep my faith in women"
And he was gone. But Elizabeth
D Gray's heart was singing. For she
Q knew that he would come back, and
I that her love for him would find its
Teward-some day.