The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1919-11-06

FL0RY
BY MILDRED WHITE.


SolSC hSul hilhi % -
James glanced at the cover.
by Flory," he quoted contemptu-
ously. "Flory is exactly the sort OF
person one would expect to touch up
on her subjects, like butterfly among |
the flowers, with no substance or real
ity to hold"
Haven't you" asked the girl at his
side, .'imbibed some Of Flory's poetic
phraseology? Now, ! know a man who
is enraptured over the little books
considers them the acme Of art. Ger
tainly they sell WELL"
James Comstock turned to look into
the piquant face upraised to his own.
Like various other guests at Mrs. van
Houton's house party, he was exceed
ingly curious concerning this new ar
rival in their social midst.
The rest Of the crowd had been
known to each other, either by name
or reputation for years. Rhoda Kent
was one Of Mrs. Van Houton's disc0v-
cries. To use her sons expression, his
mother had sprung a new one" ana
she was delighted In her young
friends reserve. The most favored
had been able to learn nothing OF
Rhoda's past, present or future from
her own lips.
It was the unusual charm of her per-
sonality which caused deep interest
upon all sides, and much conjecture
Her clothing, though in good taste, was
SO independently simple that many
wondered if Mrs. Van Houton had
taken on a protege.
James Comstock, being acceptaDly
the most interesting man In the set'
was naturally her vis-a-vis. In fact,
during the days Of proximity IN the
| fine old house his heart had known It's
| first serious affection.
James, the heretofore invulnerable'
was, as Billy Van Houton said' de
cidedly hard hit"
Never before, he gloomily admitted
to himself, had face or voice OF wom-
an haunted the nightly hours which
should be devoted to healthful SUM-
Der. So James was justified IN pos
sessing more than the usual share OF
curiosity concerning the real life OF the
winsome Rhoda.
"Perhaps." he said in answer to her
defense of the book discussed. this
'Flory may say more, in a light man
ner, than am clever enough to grasp
But, fancy, for instance, being mar
ried to such a dreamer. Poor HUSBAND
Of Flory With his wife always soar
ing above the blue. She isn't so bad a
rhyme, though, I'll admit; seems u
have a number Of little verses scat
tered through here and there, with
bar of music to start them off. Helps
. to sell, | suppose. Makes the bool
look easy to read"
Miss Kent nodded laughingly.
: "But you would not want to be TN
suffering husband who must listen U
his wife singing those things aroun'
,, the house." she said.
"Heavep Forbid" James piousl
calculated. And the lovely girl at nj
J, side arose in response to Mrs. Va'
Houton's call.
: "Come here, Rhoda," cried that mel
. ~ person. "Here are half doze
t bored people wishing to be entertained
= My hope lies In YOU
% James Comstock gazed after tn
!; graceful figure regretfully. The glanc
d she threw back at him was stranger
disduietlng. For days he had bee
,e ioyously secure In consciousness
q; the girls preference. Unaccountabl
,r Encouragement came upon Mn
Rhodas eyes had gazed at him r.
D. proachfully, her lips had closed firml
as though in displeasure. Then pre-
emily he heard her voice in song
she accompanied herself upon IL
: piano.
o II was a little Scotch tune that u
girl played and the words sounde
vaguely familiar. Comstock leanir
forward, listening attentively four
w that voice and tune thrilled him wi
inexplicable tenderness. Where-hs
-he-heard-th words?-
Idly his gaze fell upon the open'
book of "Flory." Then he knew.
was one Of the despised Flory's vers
- that his beloved was singing. Al
after a round of involuntary han
q clapping he heard Mrs. Van Houtor
a triumphant announcement:
"a 81 had not intended to tell you I
81 awhile; we have had such fun kee
"a ing our secret. But Rh0da Kent
~ 'Flory, as you have guessed wi
AA those delightful books to her credl
W Comstock sat staring duly at |
M volume in his hand long after silen
M proclaimed that Rhoda's audience h
"a departed. Bitterly he recalled his
~ cent condemning conversation, WI
y ifs fervent Heaven Forbid" that
= wife such as she should be his oV
81 Well, he had done for himself Il
III time, he bitterly reflected, and Il
& time was all that counted in the wor
I IF you please" asked Rhoda seve
" ly, amay ! have that book of 81
"a twaddleT"
sA Wretchedy he looked up into