The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1917-01-13

10 remember where 1t had gone. Of
all his horrible entanglements-and ne
had passed through number OF them
this was the worst.
There would have been something
like comfort In his not remembering
the girl he had made love u had II not
been that he shrank from doing dis
honorable act. The girl. not receiving
q visit from him, would suppose that
be intended to jilt her and would be
too proud to trouble him again. But
from such q position he shrank. And
would she not tell some friend who
would tell another and the matter
finally get to Lena?
There were so many awful things
that might grow out Of his relapse
that he resolved to Danish them all.
With one kick be removed the bed.
clothes and In few minutes was driv-
ing the blood out of his head with
shower bath. Then when dressed he
sailed forth for breakfast
Time was when New Years day was
devoted to calls. This custom having
passed away It Is a holiday without
any especial object. Andrews wished
that he could relieve bis mind by work
During the afternoon he received by
messenger a note from Lena. A new
shock greeted him when he read It:
Mr.. Andrews-After what occurred last
night / do not consider 1t necessary TO
kAan frr fnr
which may as well be given now In the
negative. am aware of what passed be-
tween you and my new rival. / regret
that am not Indifferent as to your ac-
ton. but II is better that I should suffer
now than as your wife. Trusting that
you may be happy with the girl with
whom you exchanged tokens. l am your
wellwisher. LENA.
Frank rested his elbows on his knees
and his head in his palms and groaned
He saw no hope anywhere. The night
before on account Of his constitutional
failing he had been required to wait
a year before being accepted by the
girl he loved; now he had to wait for
ever. In his position with regard to
Lena he forgot his position to this
Gwen, whoever she might be. What
should he do to palliate his offense
to Lena? He did not see that he could
do anything.
1t is questionable II there was ever
q lover who was without hope till
the lady Of his love had passed to an.
other, and Frank Andrews was no ex-
ception. About 8 o'clock in the even.
ing he called Lena on the telephone.
"Will you be at home this evening ?"
he asked.
Eyes"
May l call?"
i shall be pleased to see you"
There was nothing In the replies or
the tone Of voice In which they were
spoken either to reassure or discourage
him as to an ultimate forgiveness. He
would go to Lena and see what he
could do.
Lena kept him waiting a few min.
utes. then entered the room where he
was with neither vindictiveness nor
encouragement. He judged that It
was Indifference.
Il received your note" he said
gloomily. II thought | would come to
at least say goodby."
you began your trial at 10 O'Clock
on Dec. 81 and proved your inconstan-
cy at l o'clock on Jan. of the next
year. You We're true to me Just three
hours"
"You remember how much cham
pagne"-
you can't plead that you didn't
know what you were doing. You
did not drink wine enough to mar
your memory Of me. Besides, II true.
that would be no excuse"
Driven from this expedient, Frank
concluded to try another.
"You see. Gwen and I were play.
mates when We were children. used
to carry her books to and from school.
l had no idea then and have never had
since that she thought any more of
me than any other fellow. presume
something said last night sounded to
her like lovemaking, and she-well
she, thinking that l. or course I
couldn't turn her down In a brutal
fashion, you know
Lena burst into laugh.
Frank Andrews, you are the big
gest humbug have even known In the
whole course of my lifer'
Il swear
Don't commit perjury"
Then you will not permit me to ex.
plain?"
There is no need of an EXPLANATION
from you. 1t must come from me-"
Frank looked at her in bewilderment
There is no such person as Gwen.
Last night 1t occurred to me . play A
Joke on you. l have for years worn a
sort of amulet around my neck-a gold
iocket ] saw Charlie Hartwen ask
you for pencil. and you handed him
your gold pencil case. took 1t from
Charlie and didn't give 1t back to him.
Here 1t is"
A relieved smile began to break out
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