The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-03-01
THY NEIGHBOR
BY lola FORESTER.

|
Perhaps the fault which led Eliza
beth into the most perplexing situa-
lions was her habit of jumping at
conclusions
so now, as she was mounting the
stairs to her studio suite and heard
a decided moaning behind the doors
OF No. 3, she went straight up the
hallway and tapped on the door,
Please. please go away" came a
smothered, fearful sort Of voice from
within. Whereupon Elizabeth felt
capable and protecting and she spread
her wings at once in brooding fashion
over the unknown neighbor in evident
| distress.
But Elizabeth was gently, firmly in
sistent, and finally the door opened.
On the couch. face down in it's pillows,
was her girl neighbor. Beside her on
| the table lay many parcels, and stand
ing by the door which he had just
opened was a young man, gloomy and
thoroughly resentful of the intrusion.
Why. I'm sorry-I thought you
were alone" faltered Elizabeth.
NO, I'm with her. returned the
young man grimly. But she does not
approve of men. She has lived alone
in this internal little dumping ground
of art-and starved"
Elizabeth looked at him fixedly. as
she would have at any strange new
specimen. The young man went on
to Elizabeth:
| Il knew there was something wrong,
| and came up to see how she was get
ting along. l found out she hadn't
eaten in two days. And she refused
to let me take her out and feed her
up or lend her any money. So went
out and bought up things and brought
them back. and now she's insuted"
1t was brutal of you" The girl
sat up, and pushed back her hair.
Really, she was awfully pretty at
short range. She fairly glared at the
young man. Did ever give you the
least reason even to imagine you
could buy me groceries,"
We'll, that's all right. too" re-
turned the young man. But what |
want to know is this-where do l
stand?'
On your own feet, Just I intend to
stand on mine," came back his answer
swiftly. You told me you would never
allow wife of yours to peddle pic
lures around magazine Offices"
| Neither would l." came back the
decided answer why should you?
l have plenty for us both, more than
plenty. You may paint and exhibit il
you like. You don't have to peddle."
II prefer independence in matri-
mony. So long as l have a special
gift"
But you haven't. l appeal to this
lady, your neighbor. Look at her pic
tures!" he pointed around the studio.
Look at them. Seventeen thousand
other girls all over the civilized world
could paint just as well as she can.
That may be exaggerated-sligh
but it is partly true. She is not
genius. Is she?"
Elizabeth felt delightfully."- inclined
to laugh and agree with him. The
paintings and sketches around the
studio were lacking in everything that
went for success. And the girl was so
pretty and so fearfully sure Of herself
Cant you COMPROMISED" she asked
eagerly. THAT is, if you care for him
| at ALL"
"Oh | care for him." retorted the
girl scornfully. That is why he knows
he can come here and worry me. I'm
engaged to be married to him. l cant
escape him.
why not break the engagement"
She looked at the young man
thoughtfully. He stood with both
hands in his pockets, hopeful, but ag-
gressive.
She's tried that" he answered
briefly. Il won't let her. | am abso-
| lutely certain that she loves me and
will be happy with me ultimately. But,
| meantime. | refuse to let her starve"
Then I'll tell you a way out Marry
her. Let her keep up her work here.
Don't interfere with her. Fix up some
| attractive home elsewhere If you like,
or take hotel suite. And gradually
win her"
Elizabeth paused, fairly glowing
over her plan. Romance had not come
to her. She was rather plain and too
clever but it was delightful to help
others. I'm go upstairs and start
making tea, and 1 want you both to
come up in fifteen minutes. Then you
can let me know. But don't haFgle
and worry each other. Either settle
it one way or the other Compromise
if you can
She went out softly, ran upstairs
| and started making tea. And in Just
fifteen minutes they came up, her
neighbor and the masterful young
man, and both looked oddly contented.
I'VE re going to try it," he said
I'm going to let her paint pictures of
me. In fact, I've promised to live
down here for a while, not here ex-
actly, but in this quarter, you know.
She likes TO call it the quarter We've
both given up points"
Il shall still peddle a little,' said
the girl. She bent over the tea table
and helped arrange the cups and
saucers. You We been so sweet and
neighborly, Miss Dunbar"
I