The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1917-01-18

MON. understanding tllat Eiiiol ihs"''
ed you.
Il have thought that myself salu
Marian, palinS.
"A duel win surely follow"
Marian looked at me with a fright
ened expression that excited my PITY
but l knew that it was no time 10 In
dulge in anything but action. l I'M
messed upon her the necessity OF her
preventing any further trouble De
tween her two suitors. During our
conversation 1t came out that she hau
made n choice between all her suitors,
Including the two In question rms
sbe revealed to me, though was the
only person she confided 1t to. sne
loved Elliot Walker. Thinking she
needed my support, / told her that
would 60 with her to see Herbert Ken
worthy. She made no reply for awhile
to this proposition. ! could see that
a struggle was going on within her.
but I was ignorant as to Just what II
was. Presently she rose.
"what are you going to doT l asked.
81 am going to see Herbert"
"po YOU wish me to go with your
"No, grandma"
This was the first indication OF
strength l saw In her. and it was some
relief. She left me, and later heard
her pony phaeton ON the gravel walk
waited anxiously for her return
When she came | saw by the express
sion on her face that she had rot sue
ceeded in her object
"Wen?" | said interrogatively.
81 went TO Herbert's house" she
said. called him out and we had
conference on the veranda. told him
had heard that he and Elliot had had
an alteration. inferred that he had
seen Elliot kiss me and me resent the
act begged that he would not con-
stitute himself my defender. He re-
piled that he had not done so, but ad-
mitted that he and Elliot had got into
| a quarrel from words that had passed
between them relative to Elliot's act
/ t0e0 0uHullteu ildl huu ShSouAoSSN
Elliot to kiss me.
ale looked very much surprised and
panied at this. l knew that his con-
tempt had passed from Elliot to me.
/ told him that since had exonerated
Elliot should expect him to apologize
to Elliot for anything he might have
said under a misunderstanding. After
some thought he told me that any wo-
man In such case, to prevent trouble
between two Of her men friends, would
assume the blame. There was no sin
in my doing so. The affair had gone
too far to be smoothed over. l argued
with him for some time, but could get
nothing out of him. Then l came
] away"
"You must see Elliot The one who
has given the challenge is the one to
offer the olive branch"
81 have seen Elliot The challenge
had come from Herbert, Elliot having
struck him. Elliot apologized to me
humbly for having kissed me- He ad-
mitted that the scene in the billiard
room had been concocted to keep my
name out OF the quarrel. He would
gladly on my account put stop to 1t,
but could not refuse challenge with
out being disgraced."
"And as the matter stands the two
men will meet tomorrow morning?"
ar cunpoca co
The case was knotty one. The
only way l could see out of it was for
Marian to choose between the two men.
She might tell Herbert that she loved
Elliot, but l doubted If this would pre-
vent meeting that had become pub.
lie matter and with which she was not
known to be connected. 1t would
probably save Elliot from injury, but
this would not be fair to Herbert.
"The only hope see to prevent this
meeting, Marian" l said, putting my
arms about her, "is to tell them both
that you love Elliot. That would,
think, dispose of the matter. Herber,
would withdraw his challenge"
could feel her shiver In my arms
at this alternative, but she said moth
ing, though later she told me that Ell
hot had made her no proposal.
The day was now ended, and moth
ing had been accomplished. | deter
mined to leave Marian free to act fol-
herself till the last minute; then If she
did not act would endeavor to force
her to do so. We remained in the
same room through the night without
disrobing. After II o'clock fell asleer
on a lounge. | was aroused at dawr
by Marian.
Come" she said.
Without asking her where we wer,
to go l went with her. / knew. Sh,
knew where the meeting would TAX,
place, and we proceeded there. Sine,
Elliot had not proposed to her l could
not see what she would do. We wait
ed an hour short distance from tn,
field and finally saw one party com,
on to 1t, then the other. The second
l were engaged at the preliminarie