The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1917-01-03

Ded, lie TOOK UP MS uTeSS NeSi anu Ter
in the pocket where he carried his goll
pencil. 1t was gone. Oh how he ;riet
TO remember where 1t had gone, Oi
all his horrible entanglements-and III
had passed through a number Of then
this was the worst.
4 There would have been sorcthin-
like comfort In his not remembering
the girl he had made love "a had il NOS
been that he shrank from doing dis
honorable act The girl. not receiyin-
a visit from him. would suppose tha:
he intended to. jilt her and would 10
/ too proud to trouble him again. Rut
| from such 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 ro,als,
that he resolved to Danish then al
With one kick he removed the Ics
clothes and in few minutes was driv
ing the blood out of his head with n
shower bath. Then when dressed he
suited lUTtu LOT DTedhiaSt
Time was when New Years day was
devoted to calls. This custom havin"
passed away IT is holiday without
any especial object Andrews wished
that he could relieve his mind by work
During the afternoon he received by
messenger note from Lena. A new
shock greeted him when he read 1t:
Mr.. Andrews-After what occurred last
night I do not consider IL necessary 10
keep you waiting year for an answer,
which may as well be given now in the
negative am aware of what passed be-
tween you and my new rival. | regret
that I am not Indifferent as to your ac-
ton, but 1t is better that / 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 If there was ever
lover who was without hope till
the lady Of his love had passed to an.
other, and Frank Andrews was no ex.
ception. About o'clock in the even.
ing he called Lena on the telephone.
"Will you be at home this evening ~
he asked.
Eyes"
MAY CALI"
Il 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 II
was Indifference.
II received your note" he said
gloomily. Il thought I 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
tp,t 30 A.
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. Gweu and l were play
mates when We were children. used
to CRY her books to and from school.
l HAD 40 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 l
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 life!'
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 it occurred to me - play a
joke on you. l have for years worn a
sort of amulet around my neck-a gold
locket | saw Charlie Hartwell ash
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