The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-05-22
The Result Of
An Infatuation
BY EUNICE BLAKE

Two men were sitting together at a
table in a cafe in Madrid, the one
young American globe trotter. the 9th
er a Spaniard who had taken some
pains TO cultivate his acquaintance.
you noticed the lady," said the
American. who sat few seats in
front of us last Sunday at the bull
fight, the one in red and blackT
81 noticed that you admired her"
"She is very beautiful. There is
something about her to drive a man
mad"
"For that reason l shall not intro
duce her to you"
''You know herr
yes"
Introduce me-" ......
THAT you may be driven madT'
1T would be very thrilling to be
driven mad by her."
"Oh. well, If you insist upon it."
what is Der nationality? She does
not look like a Spaniard."
italian. but she has dwelt in many
lands"
| Renaud, the person who was to give
the introduction, after asking the
lady's permission, took the American
| to call upon her. She received him
graciously.
"Ah, Mr.. Albertson," she said, Il am
| only too glad to make your acquaint-
ance. You Americans interest me.
1 I, ~ n xynVX
that there is about Europeans. You are
so enthusiastic. so generous, so intel
ligent."
Albertson was as refreshed by these
| encomiums In behalf Of his country
men as he would have been by roller
! on the beach on an August day, espe-
+. cially as a pair Of compelling eyes
above the lips were fixed upon his
/ while the words were spoken. If a wo-
man has this great power over a man
1t is usually instantaneous in its eff
feet. 1t was with Albertson as IL he
had quaffed an intoxicating nectar. He
passed an evening in a delirium and
afterward night dreaming of Senori-
ia Morelli
His visits were frequent 1t cannot
be said that his infatuation increased,
for 1t was born perfect. He was full
of gratitude to Renaud for the intro
duction and could not understand why
the Spaniard was not also an adorer
Of the beautiful Italian. Renaud, in
stead of encouraging him In his pas
sion, told him to have care not to
hncOrun tnO dnpnlv involved
There was nothing by which Albert
son could judge of the lady's social
position, for she was stranger in
Madrid and not expected to have a
place In society there. She took care
to observe the proprieties and would
not accept gifts from her admirer ex-
cept such as lady might properly re-
ceive from man. But one day when
Albertson called upon her he found her
irritated at not receiving an expected
remittance from her banker She need
ed money to make certain payments
and the delay was annoying Albert
son asked to be permitted to advance
the amount. but was refused for the
time being, though the next day, the
funds not arriving. his offer was ac-
cepted
Three days elapsed, but no remit
lance came. Albertson said nothing to
Renaud about the loan, but one day
when the two men were walking to-
gether. passing a gentleman evidently
of high degree, Renaud said:
Behold your rival for the affections
of your senorita."
Albertson's heart stood still. He had
begun to suspect that there was some
thing wrong about the expected remit
| lance. and this accusation on that &C
count had more effect However, he
repealed the imputation. Remand told
him that If he could get sight of the
lady's private papers he would be con
WINGED.
After much discussion Renaud sug
- gested a plan by which Albertsor
might make the test. Albertson wal
to take advantage of his intimacy t.
steal the keys of certain escretoire IL
her rooms. Then he was to take he
out to dine While she was gone Re
maud was to take the keys, go to tn
rooms, open the escretoire and brini
Albertson any proof he might fint
there of the existence of his rival.
Albertson at first promptly declines
to have anything to do with such pry
ing. but Renaud artfully worked Of
his jealousy until he consented. H
|. waited and watched some time for Al
3 opportunity. but at last 1t came. "a
Z carried the keys away with him an
J gave them to Renaud. The same aft
= ernoon he took the senorita out for
] drive.
! The next morning he read in a new;