The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1917-01-10

but / knew that Ii was no time to in
dulge in anything but action. l i'm.
pressed upon her the necessity of her
preventing any further trouble be-
tween her two suitors. During our
conversation 1t came out that she had
made a choice between all her suitors,
including the two In question. This
she revealed to me- though / was the
only person. she confided 1t to. She
loved Elliot Walker Thinking she
needed my support, l told her that l
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 was ignorant as to just what 1t
was. Presently she rose.
"what are you going to dor asked.
II am going to see Herbert"
"Do you wish me to go with you"
"No, grandma"
| This was the first indication Of
strength saw in her. and 1t was some
! relief. She left me. and later l 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 not sue
ceeded In her object.
"Wen?' | said interrogatively.
II 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. l 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
quarrel from words that had passed
between them relative to Elliots act
I then admitted that had encouraged
Elliot to kiss me.
ale looked very much surprised and
panied at this. | knew that his con-
tempt had passed from Elliot to me.
I told him that since had exonerated
Elliot should expect him to apologize
to Elliot for anything he might have
said under 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. I argued
with him for some time, but could get
nothing out of him. Then l came
away"
; "You must sec Elliot. The one who
has given the challenge is the one to
, offer the olive branch"
l 81 have seen Elliot. The challenge
t 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 a challenge with
out being disgraced."
. sand as the matter stands the two
men will meet tomorrow morning%
II suppose So"
The case was knotty one. The
, only way could see out of 1t was FOL
Marian to choose between the two men
She might tell Herbert that she loved
+ Elliot, but doubted II this would pre-
vent meeting that had become pub
lie matter and with which she was no
known to be connected. 1t would
probably save Elliot from injury. bu
this would not be fair to Herbert
"The only hope l see to prevent this
. meeting, Marian" said, putting my
g arms about her, "is to tell them botf
: that You love Elliot That would,
think, dispose of the matter. Herbert
would withdraw his challenge"
; l could feel her SILVER 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. l deter
mined to leave Marian free to act fol
herself till the last minute; then II sht
? did not act l would endeavor to force
!. her to do so. We remained In the
same room through the night without
disrobing. After IL O'Clock fell asleeT
on a lounge. | was aroused at dawn
by Marian.
Come" she SAID
without asking her where we were
to 60 I went with her. l knew. She
knew where the meeting would take
place, and we proceeded there. Since
: Elliot had not proposed to her / could
not see what she would do. We wait
ed an hour a short distance from the
field and finally saw one party come
on to 1t, then the other. The seconds
4 were engaged ut the preliminaries
when Marian advanced, / following
I her.
!. What will stop this AFFAIR."" she
= asked.