The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1917-01-18
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What a Kiss
Cost
A Story of Southern
Persons Long Ago
Blu F. 4. mitchell
Blu F. 4. mitchell

my feeling for her Il hard to specify.
She was Marian whitlock, and there
was but one Marian whitlock. 1t was
not that she was q strong character,
for she was not She was not only
needless, but blind to the result Of her
heedlessness. But she was lovable. In
deed, she was loved through her faults
rather than her good qualities. At
least I, her grandmother, loved her on
that account.
Marian used to tell her grandmoth-
er more about what was going on be.
tween her and her young men asso-
ciates than any one else. Why she did
this / don't know unless ii was be-
cause / realized and therefore sympa-
thized with the conditions under which
she labored. Candor compels me to ad-
NIT that she possessed traits which had
shown themselves In me when l was
her age, and 1t is more than probable
that she inherited them from me.
While l endeavored to guide her out of
the effects of her indiscretions never
lectured her for having been indiscreet.
realized that indiscretion was a trait
born In her and was not likely to be
eradicated till she had grown beyond
the age when 1t would lead her into
trouble
Marian used to come to me In light
hearted way with her perplexties, but
one day she gave evidence that what
she had to tell was of serious nature.
Grandma" she said, II have gone
and done it now and no mistake"
What is 1t, child" I asked.
"You know Elliot Walker?"
Eyes"
"Well, Elliot and were in the mu-
sic room, l at the piano, he turning
over the sheets"
She paused. l gave her time.
Elliot bent lower and lower over
my shoulder. l suppose should have
moved, but didn't"
"Well?"
"He kissed me-"
l refrained from comment on this
and waited for the denouement.
II don't know what it was that
prompted me to act as I did. l was
certainly not offended. I had expected
when didn't move that he would kiss
f, me and should not have thought much
OF him IL he hadn't. 1t was not that
l was prudish; 1t was-well, l don't
know what 1t was, unless 1t was Old
Nick got into me. But l arose from
the plano. looked daggers at him and,
turning, started to leave the room.
What was my surprise to see Herbert
Kenworthy standing In the door Of the
| music room. Elliot and l had not
been aware Of his approach, and he
had seen the whole performance"
What did you do next?" I asked
anxiously.
| why, you see, l couldn't very well
say that l had encouraged Elliot to
kiss me, could I?'
$50 on"
"And l couldn't say that 1 was not
really offended"
what did you do?"
| "Why, ! went on out of the room"
"And didn't go back?
"Yes, after a few minutes"
"And what did you say?"
| Nothing about what had happened.
began to chat with Herbert, while
Elliot sat looking very much embar-
rassed"
"Oh, MaHanr
l was aware that these two young
men were rivals for Marian's favor.
We were southern persons, and In the
south our men are hot blooded. Her
bert kenworthy had seen Elliot Wal
ker give Marian what appeared to be
an insult, which she could only resent
as woman. If trouble between the
young men did not result then | was
no judge of human nature. All this
flashed through my brain, and l said
to Marian:
Did your two visitors show any
animosity toward each other?"
None whatever. But, grandma.
have heard since that which leads ms
to fear
"What?"
II have been told that this mornine
they were playing billiards together al
the club and Elliot charged Herbert
with showing up points that he hat
not made. Herbert called Elliot .
liar, and Elliot struck him."
did not ask to hear any more.
knew we'll that the young men would
not play billiards together after wha
had occurred except for purpose, tina
purpose being to make it appear tina
a different cause from the real one had
resulted in an animosity which woul,
doubtless lead to a duel, their objec
being to keep Marian's name from be
} ing involved in the affair.
What have you heard SINGER" ask
ed anxiously Of Marian.
| Nothing"
l doubted IL Marian foresaw wha
| would be the probable result of al
this, and dreaded to tell her. Never
theless il she did not prevent a meet
ing between these two young men an
one Of them killed the other, she bein
responsible for the act, her life woul
be blighted
sNor;anu Sasd aro, ,,,,-.