The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-02-22
JACK HAS HIS way
BY LOUISE OLIVER.

You don't love me-so there, Jack
Haven" sobbed Lura
Don't love you! Just because l
happen to have an idea Of my own
about a wedding, like that"
It's such-such a horrid idea. I'd
rather not get married at all than
have it the way you say. All my life
I've dreamed of a white satin dress,
and a veil. fluffy bridesmaids and
millions of roses"
And all my life I've had a horror of
marching through crowd Of people,
wearing white gloves and a flower in
my buttonhole. and learning to keep
step to that internal Lohengrin'
music
You don't have to- eagerly. THE
groom doesn't have to march in.
Don't, Lura, dear. 1t makes me
shiver even to talk about it. Think
| of having to stand on exhibition for an
hour afterward while a crowd OF peo-
ple YOU never saw before in your life
weep over your shirt front. or fall on
YOUR neck and kiss you! When all
want on earth is you. Lura, why
should l have to have the whole town
around?'
Lura got up and faced him angrily.
Il think you are hateful, horrid
man, Jack Ravens! II you aren't will
ing to endure little bit Of discomfort
for my sake you don't care enough for
me to marry me-that's all! Here's
YOUR ring! won't wear it an instant
longer! goodnight" Lura rushed
out of the room and up the stairs
Then Jack heard door slam some-
where above.
The days that followed were lonely,
miserable ones for Lura, followed by
sleepless nights and hours filled with
disturbing dreams
After one particularly bad night
spent in trying to rescue Jack from
cannibals, Lura called him on the
phone. Jack, dear. will you come
around tonight? l want to talk to you
I'm simply wretched'
Yes, dear. If you hadn't called I'd
have come anyway. I've reached my
limit too
So the flowers in the moonlit garden
witnessed an interesting little scene
that evening, and the moonbeams
caught the light that flashed again
from the diamond on Lura's left hand.
Dearest" whispered Lura, lets not
talk Of a wedding any more. l know
it makes you wretched to think OF 1t,
SO I've decided to get married any way
you say"
He caught her to him exultantly.
Then move that we get married this
very night Just we two! No dress
ing and no fuss. Just little walk to
the preachers and home
Lura drew sharp breath. Then
she smiled bravely. All right. Jack,
I'll do it. Only you forgot one thing
II we go alone, Doctor Luke will won
der about father and mother not be-
ing along and he'll want to know all
about it. He wouldn't marry me with
out their consent
Then we'll elope! We can 60 to
Sharon in the car and be married, We
can take a weeks honeymoon and let
things blow over before we come back
What do you say, girlie?"
I've already promised
The compact was sealed properly.
Then as there was little time to lose,
Jack departed to arrange for the trip
while Lura hurried to her room to do
what she could toward her trousseau.
She had promised to wait in the
kitchen. Jack was to leave the car In
the alley and come in the back way
through the garage.
Lura CROPPED her way uncertainty In
the darkness of the kitchen, intending
to watch for Jack from the window.
| Outside everything was as bright as
| day in the moonlight.
But in a shadowy corner near the
stove she stumbled over q chair, and
something heavy that had been on the
seat lost its balance and fell upside
down on her feet. 1t was Nora's pan
of dough raising for the mornings
baking. Lura sprang back startled,
but she was too late. The dough was
sticking like chewing gum to her
shoes.
Finally she heard. "St-st!" from
the direction OF the garage. II 1t was
Jack, why didn't he come to her? 1t
must be cat!
: Keeping in the shadows as we'll as
! she could. she made her way through
the garden.
jack"
Here, Lura. I'm caught on an in,
fernal nail. | can't move. The cloth
won't give. Unlock We-will you? II
it was only my coat l could slip out
but it's"
Lura was giggling HISTORICALLY. but
! managed to extricate her lover from
his uncomfortable position.
, Jack near. Lura was happier. Look
dear! can't go in these shoes.
got into some dough, And mammals
!. awake, so can't go through the house
for others. Do you think you could
get me a pair out of my cupboard
The russell ones with the low"
Heavens. Lura! Let's get out oil
here. Where's your bag?"
Il won't be married in these shoes!
"Oh-alI right"
Jack got the shoes. but returned
bumped, bruised and wild eyed
They got into the car. Jack touched
: the starter. A whirl and they wer'