The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-04-21

night and Sunday" There was a sud
den increase of the pink color In her
cheeks.
Mr.. Carter who was here last
month";"
Yes. Aunt Bess, and did want to
look nice. I've always felt SO shah
by-not that he cared, but | did,
Aunt Bess nodded. He's a nice
young fellow" she said II hope
everything will turn out all right.
Then she kissed the young face.
When the girl had left the room
her aunt stood before the open door
where the odorous honeysuckle hung
like curtain that has been drawn
back. She looked out on the brilliant
flower garden with unseeing eyes,
thinking of the time when she, too,
had lived only for the time when "hs"
would come back
1t was the opinion of everyone
when the curtain rose on "Margue-
rite" in her softly clinging satin. a
daisy in her slender hands, that it
was the fairest picture of them all.
Isn't she lovely?" said Lawrence
Carter to the elderly man beside him
whose acquaintance he had made on
the train that afternoon.
There was no answer but, turning.
Lawrence saw that his companion
was staring thoughtfully at the pro-
gram in his hands
do you know her." he asked at
last.
DO II" Then with little tender
laugh, "She's-mine My sweetheart"
The elder man shook his head ST.
lently After long pause he spoke
again.
I'D like to meet her. 1 think I
knew her people some years ago,
back in Indiana"
Yes, they used to live there, a good
many years ago. though. After this
next tableaux there'll be a dance and
III introduce you," answered the
other.
In the shadow of the vines the
other Elizabeth sat alone. She had
pleaded sudden headache after
dressing the girl in the Write gown
and had left her to the care of Mrs.
Harris and Mr.. Carter. Try as she
would she could not shake off the
memories of the past; she lived the
days over and over again, and wept
bitter tears.
A step on the gravel made her draw
back into the shadow. Elizabeth was
returning early. Up the steps came
heavy tread, surely not Elizabeth's!
She moved forward quickly
Who is there" she asked. STEP
ping into the brilliant moonlight.
A man stood in the shadow, but at
the sound of her voice he moved into
the light
It's l." he said in low tone.
YOU"
For minute she stared into his
race and then fell a limp heap at his
feet. When she came back to her
senses she found herself on the old
sofa in the hall where he had laid
her; the same old sofa where they
had sat SO often in days gone by He
was on his knees beside her.
Best" he whispered, "Bess,"
Then he leaned his forehead on the
cushion under her head
1T was all my fault. I'm sorry.
Sorry, That's not the word for Il.
Forgive me-"
The fault was all mine" she said
TREMENDOUSLY. Il saw it tonight when
was sitting out there by myself. |
had no right to let anyone come be-
tween us. My sister could have taken
Elizabeth, just as we'll as l. but |
loved her father so; he was always
my big brother, and then, she was
named for me and looked so like me
every one said | couldn't let her go
away from me. 1t was a mistake |
see it now. She's going to leave me
here alone and make a home for her
self I've tried and tried to do what
was right, brokenly,' but it always
turned out to be the wrong thing in
the end"
You're the most self-sacrificing
woman God ever made" he said soft
ly. Dear, we've lost fifteen years
out of our lives, but it's not too late
for us to find happiness, is it? l
won't let it be, If you care for me
even little. love you, dear
She gave little gasp. Thought
you married YETI" she cried.
You were the only woman In the
world for me fifteen years ago and no
other woman has taken your place"
"Tom-Tom!"
He made no answer except to hold
her close in his arms