The Lakeland evening telegram., 1920-10-20
BYRON
BY LOUISE M. ADDISON.

Elinor Worth, rushing downstairs in
answer to the furOusly ringing door
oeli, found her chum and next-doOr !
neighbor, Alice Gloring, in a wild state
of excitement.
Hes coming!' painted Alice, thrust
ing slip of yellow paper into Elinor's
hands.
"Byronw breathed Elinor, quite
awed.
Byron Isn't it wonderful? Elinor,
you'll just adore him. If ] were not
engaged myself Td-hes such dear!"
Elinor did not doubt it. For two
years she had heard praises of Alice's
wonderful cousin. For two years she
had listened to the recital of his many
perfections, the tales Of his heroic
deeds; of his kindness, his generosity,
his good looks, until in her youthful
Imagination he had become god.
Even his name appealed to her roman
tic fancy. A man named Byron, she
felt, could never be commonplace.
well introduce you tomorrow after
church" promised Alice
And, as her friend had predicted, the
following day being Sunday Elinor
was introduced after church. Mrs.
Gloring performed the ceremony with
a little tiutter of pleasure She was
fond of Elinor and matchmaking was
her hobby.
my nephew, Byron, dear Elinor, just
returned from service. Byron, darling,
Alices hest friend Miss Worth"
Elinor lifted her eyes. She tried to
say something pleasing and polite, but
her tongue refused to obey her Some
thing was wrong with the world. The
sunshine became hateful, the songs Of
the birds mocking chorus. For BY
ron, the Byron of her imagination, the
poetic creature of her maiden fan
cles, had taken unto himself wings and
fled; and in his place stood an Odi0us,
long-limbed. quite un-Byronic creature
with sandy hair, light blue eyes, a wide
mouth and a nondescript nose,
"Isn't he just too sweet?" murmured
Alice in Elinors ear.
Elnor flushed, not so much at Alice's
words as at the sudden twinkle In By
rons eyes.
The days wore on. Elinor survived
b the shock she had received She met
Byron frequently and even learned to
like him. That gay twinkle in his eyes
, seemed to relieve his painness. But
she felt that Fate had played cruel
Joke on her nevertheless, and that she
would mol be the same again The real
Byron could never attain'a truly BY
ronic place In her imagination. But he
! had been In service and ii was heT
duty to be kind 10 him. so she helped
Alice entertain him. She walked with
him, talked with him, drove with hin
=. and felt herself very magnanlm0ns II
: doing II.
A few weeks after his arrival
French army officer came to see Byron
The girls We're curious as to the objec
of his visit, for Byron f0retod nothing
merely smiling with that exasperatinl
twinkle in his eyes. And the surpris'
u of the ladies' was great when the youn,
F'rpnchman pinned a medal on Byron
chest as mark Of favor from tn
French government for unparalele'
bravery and fOrtitude on the field 0
baftle and for chivalry and kindness t
French widows and orphans.
That night, when Byron invited II
= inor out for walk she was strange'
shv II had come over her suddenl
that Byron was parsonage.
"Elinor," said he, after they ha
walked Il few minutes in silence, don
, Won think you could like me little
- though am not all that you ha
= hoped forE
: IAN hoped forY stammered Fl
Y nor.
( "Yes 'Yon see. know my aunt an
2 Alice have way of raving over pee
! nle and | could tell they'd given yo
2 wrong impression of me- Also, IN
( name has been a stumbling block a
Z NV life don't know what my parent
] had arainst me when they named III
z pyrop II isn't so kld with men, Dl
! girl> have had hnbit of Judging 20
2 hv name. Confess, now, didn't yo
! rather expect to meet a shaggy hare
Z ,net instead Of plain John JonesF
! "Who has been decorated by IL
Z Ernnch government" said Elinor, sof
! IL. "and who never said word aho'
7 II ,haueh l., knew the decoration vi
Z coming"
K ON. as t,t '!s|--
! AS for Mn" sad Elin"r. Il rra'l'
z ,ho, nnnr> .a,id never have won u
! wear for ,l>. and that I'm very FOOLS
! person ,,.. MP
Z ronjc" said Byron, with his humoro
I tvinEle. "rll forgive your being FOOLS
( In fact. I'm pretty well pleased WI
/ you as you are :,
Z E,inor stopped and made him an oil
3. fashioned curtsy.
- THE sentiments mutual she sa
said" ,.p