The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1917-01-29

upon SuCn tnln eAllldndllOH!
"You have always had an atom of
dist ~ust of me. You should see the
position in which | am placed. Cir
cumstantial evidence IS against me. Ii
is the part of noble woman TO have
faith in me. to stand by me in ad-
versity."
That seemed good point TO the
authoress for her story. She would
show in her heroine that beautiful
faith of a woman in the man she loves.
Il will think 1t over she said.
"Now leave me. IL decide that 1t Is
best to permit you TO plead your cause.
at the same time furnishing evidence
of what you claim, will receive you
at my home"
The man clasped his hands and look
ed up to the heavens, and his lips
moved in mute thanks. Then, taking
card from his pocketbook, he scrib-
bled his address on It,
you see that | have changed my
quarters. / shall expect to hear from
you-when?"
"If at all within few days"
She moved on without further reply
to the wistful look he gave her. As
soon as she conceived herself to be out
of sight she looked at the name and
address on the card he had given her.
1t was Edwin V. Atterbury. Univer-
sity Club"
She was somewhat appalled, now
that the interview was over at having
entered upon a complication with a
clubman that might place her in
very embarrassing situation. Fortu-
nately she had not given her name and
need not communicate with him fur
Their unless so disposed. She resolved
that she would let him alone. But
this prudent resolution was combated
by sympathy for a poor fellow who
was the victim of circumstances.
Would 1t not be better to send for
him, convince him of his error and
offer sympathy? Possibly she might
assist him in reconciliation with the
woman she herself was supposed to be.
There was one objection to going
further with the matter In any way
that was the murder that had been
committed She had been so interest
ed In getting material for her novel.
or, rather forming the plot, that she
had not thought to ask whether the
woman had succumbed under the
blows she had received or whether her
husband had suffered for his crime.
Indeed. she had not been in sufli-
GENTLY calm mental condition to get
very clear view of the tragedy.
After much debate with herself and
having considered the case pro and
con she reluctantly decided that 1t
would not be wise to follow the mat
ter any further.
a short time after her meeting with
Mr.. Atterbury she was invited to dine
with her friend, Mrs Winston. The
note of invitation contained the follow
ing: Il wish you to meet friend Of
| mine who has for some time been nd
mirlng you from distance. I con-
fess that I don't like the idea Of In
PRODUCING him to you, for he Is a
scapegrace. | don't mean that there
is anything bad about him, but he has
| the assurance of confidence man and
would not hesitate at any means to
secure the favor Of woman he loves"
There was nothing repellent about
. was quite pleased at the prospect Of
! meeting this bold unknown man who
had been admiring her without MAX
| ing himself known. She went to the
dinner in tremor of expectation.
When she arrived the hostess was
chatting with gentleman In the con-
ventional evening dress. Both arose
! and Miss Henderson stood stock still
in establishment. Surely the gentle.
man was the man who was waiting
for her forgiveness.
Julia" said Mrs. Winston, II wish
| you to know my friend. Mr.. After
bury"
Mr.. Atterbury bowed low, but gave
no sign that he had ever met Miss
Henderson before. Miss Henderson
was too confused to say anything. In
deed, since the man did not recognize
her as the sweetheart from whom Q
cruel fate had separated him, what was
there to say? A number of suppose
tons chased themselves through hel
brain. Possibly. dressed differently
and being In a different light. she die
not so nearly resemble his lost love a.
before. Then, too, he might not carr
to mention what was uppermost in his
mind before third person. But how
was 1t that this man. so madly In Low,
with her double. could have been ad
miring her at the same time? Mis-
Henderson was mystified.