The Ocala banner., 1921-11-25
The + est Of True
Love
By FREDERICK CLARKE.

Walk home with you, Dick" said
Frank Fayles to his friend Richard
Talbot. and started away with him
from Miss Landis' door. At the cor
ner Of the block he stopped and wrung
his friends hand violently.
i congratulate you, old man." he
said warmly. II think your fiancee Is
one Of the finest girls I've ever met
and just suited to you, too, and bet
your married life will be one long
dream Of paradise"
Talbot did not reply, and his friend.
mortified by his coldness, accom-
panied him in silence. Talbot was
thinking bitterly Of his folly-his abb
solute folly. 1t was too late to with
draw with honor now. The wedding
was only one month away. And dur
ing the past two weeks he had come to
realize that he had made the mistake
of his life.
He had thought Elsie Landis all that
could be desired in any woman until
until he had met Edith Spinner.
Honor forbade him to speak; but the
pressure of their hands when they met
must have betrayed them to each 9TH
er. They had met three times only
and he was head over heels in love
with Edith.
He thought over his future that
night. He could not withdraw
He rose up after a sleepless night,
resolved to give Elsie the chance to
reconsider. 1t was not until eight
o'clock that evening that he found him
self in Elsie's presence.
enough: The handshake, the kiss, and
even that seemed perfnnctory. Talbot
sat down.
Richard" said his fancee, looking
at him curi0usly, do you know you
have been acting in very odd man
ner lately?"
II? How is that?' he stammered.
You haven't seemed to love me as
much as you used to-" she stammered.
II have been thinking o, Richard,
don't you care for me?''
A moment later and she was on her
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him, weeping.
''Elsiel" exclaimed Richard, miser-
ably, II love you
You won't love me when I have
told you something" she sobbed.
.sTell me and see,n said he. He
could think of nothing better to say.
Il have been untrue to you,p she
sobbed. Il don't mean that I've
kissed anybody else. No, but-O
Richard, you are so simple and noble,
You would never understand. Well, r.
I had been wondering whether our
marriage was going to be happy. 1t
had begun to seem so ordinary, our
love. And then met man--just two
weeks ago. He fascinated me and
and loved him more than you, dear
est
Richard sat up very straight. This
was turning OF the tables with a
vengeance.
I'VE never told each other she
went on, weeping bitterly. Il felt that
we ought not to be married until you
knew--and didn't dare to tell you
until today
: '.Why today9" inquired Richard
kindly.
Because he is married now,"
sobbed Elsie. He got married yester-
day. And he had been engaged to her
for whole earjust think Of that
He had Just been flirting with me and
I--fooling me- And then sudden re-
vulsion came over me and knew that
II was you | had loved all the time.
Richard, can you ever forgive me or
shall give you back your ring?'
who was the man?" inquired Rich
ard, conscious of an odd sense Of help
less jealousy.
Nobody You kaow, Richard" she
answered. $50 1t wouldn't do you any
good to tell you his name. But I'll
tell you whom he married. / believe
you met her once. 1t was Miss Spin
ner.''
''Edith Spinner he shouted.
.'Yes, Richard She is said to be a
dreadful flirt. Why. what is the mat
teri"
1Come here. Elsie" said Richard.
do you know have been fancying
myself in love with Edith?"
s'You, Richard? Since we were en-
gagged Why, how dared YOUR
How dared you?" he retorted.
Il didn't!p she cried. ut was purely
imagination. / just feared that we
mightn't be quite suited to each other
and"
That's what / did,
''You never kissed her, Dicki"
''Neverw he said. looking her in the
eyes. and then suddenly he drew her
upon his knee and kissed her.
-Elsie, darling, shall we start over
again?'
Eyes. Richard" she answered, rails
Ing her lips to his .But you're quite
sure that you never kissed her, Diek?"
Maintaining Ones Dignity.
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