The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-05-13


ana glorious time when some wag cut
the electric light wire.
Instantly terrific confusion followed,
Girls shouted that they were going to
Ialnt, and tainted in the arms of the
men nearest them. Freddy, embrac-
ing an unknown creature, who lay like
dead weight upon his shoulder, felt
regular devil He thought of the
Square with a profound sense of the
irony of life.
Help! Make way for lady what's
tainted" shouted the landlords stem
torian voice through the darkness.
And somebody appeared, a dimly
deserted shadow, supporting the figure
OF girl, petite and slim, with black
mask covering what might have been
an uncommonly pretty face.
I'm the boy" shouted Freddy-he
had learned that phrase the day be-
fore-and snatched the lady from her
escort. The escort. not owning her,
turned his attentions to the nearest
girl. And the struggling mass gradu.
ally made toward the doors.
The girl had really tainted Freddy
carried her, but when he reached the
entrance he felt a sudden disgust for
the crowd. He picked her up bodily in
his arms and made toward the lake,
some fifty PAGES distant. The moon
had not risen, it was almost pitch
! dark, and he could see nothing but the
shadowy trees and in the distance the
| level top of what must be the water
! The shouts behind him had died away
! and Freddy for the first time began
! to be frightened
| He tried to arouse the girl, but her
| Inconsistencies was profound, and
only the least catch of the breath re
assured him that she was alive. He
decided that the proper thing to do
would be to dash water into her face.
! He set her down at the margin of the
lake and plunged forward to scoop up
/ some water in one Of the tin cans that
lay in numbers among the rushes.
He got his can, and as he stopped
to fill it, the soft, marshy ground gave
under him. and he stumbled forward
into the water, falling fiat on his face
A minute later a gurging, putting
g! figure, composed, according to appear
| ances principally of slime and mud,
arose from the bosom Of the lake, still
! clutching the can of water, and strug
! gled back mp the ascent, For several
moments Freddy hunted disgustedly
for the girl, cursing himself for a
fool Why hadn't he been content TO
stay quietly in his room?
He loathcd himself just then, and
in the reaction, thought Of Cyrilla fol
the first time in a week almost
Then he came upon the girl. and
forgetting his condition, he kneeled
down beside her and raised her head
on his arm. and dashed the tepid water
into her face.
She sighed and suddenly opened her
eyes. At least, Freddy imagined so
for he could see only the black shadow
of the mask. He removed it from hel
face.
Where am II" she whispered in ter
ror.
IT'S all right. miss, said Freddy
he had learned that mode of address
too. Somebody cut the wire and vol
tainted. We'll have you back to you
place in half a jiff"
The girl was quite silent. Suddenly
the Don Juan mood came over Fredd!
again. Deliberately he bent forward
and planted a kiss upon the girls un
resisting lips.
They were as cold as ice. Suddenly
with a dreadful sense of horror, Fred
dy leaned forward In the light of thu
lanterns which had been swung from
the hotel porch, Freddy could see tina
it was Cyrilla!
And she knew him! She got up ant
surveyed him. Her face was inscrut
able.
You're rather muddy, Freddy" sh
said quietly.
yes, dear Fancy meeting you here
; l knew it was you, as soon as
Don't be untruthful, Freddy 70,
kissed a girl whom you didn't know
from Adam"
From Eve, you mean" said Freddy
We'll and will you tell me wha
brought you here, Cyrilla? How d.
know what you've been doing?"
Il wanted some fun Cyrilla sal
: defiantly.
Well, so did I" said Freddy.
She took a step forward. "Yo,
wanted fun, Freddy? Why, your,
the last person in the world who eve
looked like fun to me. If you knew
how wanted to break out
MY Lord" cried Freddy. "Cyrilla
, you mean? never thought. Blu
who's kissed you, anyway
Nobody but you" she answered
They've tried to, all Of them, but
wouldn't let them, o, Freddy. you ar
human. after all, them"
He clasped her fiercely in his arms
= You bet | am" he shouted. why
Cyrilla. this is the happiest day of m,
= life, to find you out. And well maxi
our marriage a dream of happiness
And you-you won't kiss any othe
strange girls. them" asked Cyrilla
How many, Freddy
Freddy held up one finger. "Onl,
you, dear" he answered, My, what {
peach you looked, too! Say, what d.
YOU think Of getting married here to
morrow"
"And-and starting now"
Right away But not at this hotel
- A little place l know where ther'
won't be anybody around but you ant
me-"
All right" said Cyrilla. Good lucl
to the Square when it discovers tina
it has stood for an elopement.
81 guess we'll turn il into a parable