The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-03-24

her as he dropped tablet into a tiny
glass of hot water. Close your eyes.
he ordered as he sat down beside her
and pushed back the sleeve from her
round. white arm.
Il will stay with her for a while,
Mrs. Hunt. Go and get some rest,
he told her mother when he had bound
up the girls sprained ankle and made
her forget her pain.
While Eileen slept Thrane idly
picked up magazine on a table near
him. 1t fell open where a telegram
had been thrust in. The words on the
yellow slip seemed to leap into the
mind of the man against his will. 1t
was addressed to Eileen Hunt. "Ex-
pect to sail for Japan the first. Can
you go with me? Wire at once.
Tom"
Thrane looked at the girl. then
back again at the telltale slip of pa
per She had precipitated their quar-
rel because it was necessary to find
some excuse for breaking her engage
ment to him. Who was Tom?
At the same time that Eileen wax
ened, her mother came in. thanking
Thrane profusely for allowing her
few hours OF sleep. The young sur
geon was merely professionally cour-
teous when he declared that 1t was
nothing more than he should have
done under the circumstances. He
hoped that his patient would rest well
and he would look in on her some
time during the day, he said, and pick
ing up his bag, without word TO the
girl, left the room.
His quiet acceptance of changed
! conditions hurt the girls pride. She
| had had sufficient amount Of time
| in which to regret her folly and she
was ready for Thrane to pave a
pleasant way for her confession, but
the young surgeon came and went
daily, coolly. impersonally profess
| sional
| 1t was late Sunday afternoon when
! Thrane came in to see Eileen. II
had been a strenuous day for him and
he dropped into chair and sat silent
unmindful of the efforts of callers tC
interest him in the general converse
ton. In short time he rose to &C
and Eileen beckoned to him.
Il want you to wait until these
people go, please. | have something
for you. 1t is your birthday, 20,
know
IAN right" he said, provided you
won't open up the wound. It's toe
fresh a hurt and always will be fol
that matter to bear any unnecessar,
probing.
She knew then that his apparent in
difference was a mask to hide his lov'
and hurt pride, and her heart sanl
in her body for sheer JOY
Il promise" she answered lightly
mot to hurt
When they were alone he move'
his chair so that he could watch he
face in the light from the west win
Tom and her trip to Japan, he +,
Elected, and braced himself for tn
ordeal
Il had this made for you. Mai
shall" she said. and slipped velve
case toward him along the arm G
her invalid chair
He opened it and there was
locket set with diamonds.
For me-now?" he asked, wonde
ingly.
Yes, open 1t" she commanded.
He pressed the spring and her ow
face smiled up at him.
rs this rosemary-for remen
brance?"
"Oh. Marshall, cant you understand
Don't you see?" cried the girl seem
the shadow on his face.
He looked up then and stumble
toward her blindly. What does
mean?" he urged I've suffere
. enough. Eileen"
, Her arms went round him at sigi
r of his pain. 1T means that l-thi
+ can't give you up"
But what about Tom and Japan
:. he questioned. afraid of his new hapI
= ness
:. How did you know about that"
o Il read the telegram the night yc
+ were hurt | opened magazine al
. the words on the blank just fiasht
a up at me. | didn't mean to read"
Tom was my chum at college. 81
. was named for her father"
How | have hated the poor inn
cent" laughed the man all wearine
= of the flesh dissipated by his chang
a spirit.
y This week has been terrible, Ma
= shall. | wanted to die"
), when anybody wants to d.
sweetheart" said Thrane happily,
is better not to put in an emergen