Lakeland Evening Telegram Newspaper, February 19, 1912, Page 7

s THE EVENING TELEGRAM LAK ELAND, FLA., FEBRUARY 19, 1912 AR, S oo ol 5 "*h-... i Ll PAGE SEVEN MARY’S SOLITAIRE By Effie Stevens (Coprright, 1913, by Associated Literary Press) Moved by a sudden impulse, Mary Owen turned her little electric motor into the driveway lcading to her old home. She had not entered the house since her uncle’s death, two years before, and the sight of it brought back mem- ories. “I—I—thought 1 had forgotten,” she half sobbed, as she mechanically brought the car to a halt, In a daze she ascended the front steps. “How silly I am,” she thought, as she realized that her hand was reach- ing for the doorknob. “Of course it's locked. Nobody lives here.” She tried the knob. To her aston- ishment it yielded to her touch. “Well, I've got to go in and see that everything is all right,” she decided, aroused from her gloomy thoughts. “1 suppose Cousin Ned forgot to fasten it when he came over after that book 1 wanted yesterday.” Mary stepped across the threshold without the least sensation of fear, for she laid the unlocked door entire- ly to the carelessness of her young relative. The first room she entered was the | 1arge, low-ceillnzed parlor. Once more sad memories overwhelmed her as she gazed about the tamiliar room with its shrouded furniture, shuttered win- dows and general alr of neglect, It was here that her greatest hap- piness and her bitterest sorrow had come to her. For Albert Watgon had proposcd to her in this room, and it was here they had so quickly had their dreadful quarrel. That was two years before, and she had not secn or heard from him since, Q How puliry tie object of their quar 3 rel seemed to her now. She had giv- & | en up her whole life's hope of happi- Ané Job Printing ————= 3 WING to the newspaper and publishing] business, enlargement of our it has been necessary to move The News Job Office up-stairs where it will be found in Rooms 11 and 12, Kentucky Building, in the com. petent charge of Mr. G.;J. Williams. For anything that can be printed, |if jyou want the best work at thej right prices, call on -Mr. Williams. RO O TG ILODOVOOOOGOVCDOCOTUVOOOGO0 The News Job Office ¢ Rooms 11 and 12 (upstairs) Kentucky Building. ey D AR A A A A JUST RECEIVED Fuil Line Reach’s Base Ball Goods Our 50 cents Book Sale Is Still On Stationery in All Shapes .. .. ness for a mean little suspecion. & | all because of a diamond ring. ;3 Albert had produced the ring imme- & | diately after being accepted and there- in lay the seed of the whole trouble, It had been a shock to Mary's pride to learn that he had been so sure SR of her that he had come to her pro- vided wit J nt ring. e POSt Cards 1 cfent EaCh sl Thlu?h:wt:o:?i:fle:l:en qul:kly su- LAKELAND BOOK STORE 000 1O 0B0T0000E04 0401 040SOP0 L0 OFOEDHOFOIOIOEOS perseded by shock number two, when ! the ring proved to be too large. She had tried to think that this was because Albert had had no meas- ure and had doubtiess been unable to carry the correct size by eye, but this had not satisfied her. When she was alone she had ex- amined the ring and had found sev- eral tiny scratches upon the surface of the gold band, which proved to her mind that the ring had been worn. When Albert had next visited her she had asked him If the ring was an heirloom. He had replied with a de- cided negative, but his manner had been plainly embarrassed. The matter had dropped until she bad overheard Florence Rogers, a girl of her acquaintance, remark that “Mary Owen needn't feel smart over her engagement to Albert Watson, for others might have had him If they'd wanted him.” With a sinking heart Mary had re- membered that at one time Albert had paid Florence considerable attention. Florence had worn a diamond ring, too. The suspicion that she had not been Albert's first choice had nearly brok- en Mary's heart, “But I'll forgive him if he’ll only own up,” she had told herself repeat - | edly during the long, sleepless night that passed before she had the chunce to confront Albert with her charge. But Albert had stubbornly refused to explain matters. Mary had immediately removed her ring, and, overcome by childish an- ger, had thrown it upon the floor, de- claring their engagement at an end, after which she had dramatically flounced out of the room. The following day Albert had come to her begging her to trust him and LAKELAND MARBLE AND GRANITE WORKS, ated on East Lake Morton, John Edmunds, Prop. ' Solicts the crders of all requiring anything in this line. POTATOES BEANS ALL SEEDS Jor’t send away for such. I have as good as money and experience can command. N. Y. and Eistern grown. Some from ,_other sections Wherever the best grow. FRESH, PURE, TRUE, RELIABLE Car of Pure Maine Bliss Potatoes reconsider her basty decision. When she bad refused to do this, Albert had angrily demanded back his ring. Mary bad twitted him with bhaving already taken it, since she had been unable to find it after his departure the pre- vious day, while he charged her with purposely retaining it. They bad parted in bitter anger. Business had taken Albert from the town, while Mary bad gone abroad #00n after her uncle’s death. Buddenly Mary found herself look- ing down at the floor. “It fell ALSO FERTILIZERS D. B. Dickson in any direction,” she said hal? aloud. :Llummnymxumm She bent down and scanmed the floor intently. Then she straightened up with a little laugh. nguuyn for her to of people by this table, but might have rolled ; ,1 l ! SNl 0. SRR B2 e SR i =2 S 050 O EOIE S O et B M A b S B b b R AR S bt e I S i e Sttt e B S et e e A S e Bt et B o B S B e M S R A et SRS M M il AP ' from morning to night, urromthl 'thtlomullbmnluem f find that ::m 80 gentle and easy ever baked. my-rkthe‘lrm ~Charies Dickens. o after—who might have picked it up. All at once Mary was startled by the ‘'sound of footsteps in the hall out- side. She remembered the unlocked door, and her heart began to beat furiously. For the first time in her life she was thoroughly frightened. Instinctively she looked about for some place of concealment. There was nc cbance of escaping, for the only door was the one opening into the hall, while the windows were se- curely nailed down. Panic-stricken, Mary glided behind a couch near which she had been standing, and crouched low. The man—from the heaviness of the footsteps she knew it was a man, though she dared not look to see for feur of revealing her presence to him. —entered the room, and began walk- ing to and fro, moving the furniture as if searching for something. Mary repressed a cry of fear when be finally approached the couch, But he did not attempt to move the heavy plece of furniture. Next she heard a peculiar sound, and, flattening herself upon the floor, she 'ook a surreptitious peep frum beneath the couch, running the risk of immediate discovery, for the man wes on his hands and knees not far trom the couch; his face, fortunately, was turned from her. “He must be insane,” Mary thought wildly, as she shrank back instinc- !I\oh “A thief would never act like that.” In the act of dra“lng back, her eyes caught a glimpse of a gleaming ob- ject tucked up close against the leg of the couch where it had lain un- discovered through many perfunctory sweepings. Plainly others beside the strange man had not taken the trouble to move the couch. Impulsively Mary stretched forth her hand and grasped the tiny object. Instantly a man's strong fingers closed about her wrist and she felt herself growing faint with terror, “Who are you and what are you doing here?” the man demanded sternly. Mary's heart gave a violent bound. She rose from her cramped position and came forth meekly, a rumpled, dust-covered object, “Mary!” the man gasped incredu- Jously. Then he gathered her to him in a close embrace, “Here's your ring, Albert,” Mary murmured several minutes lafer. “You were searching for it, weren't you?” “That wretched ring,” Albert burst forth vehemenfly. “It it hadn’t been for that and my abominable pride we might have been happy long ago. You see, Fred Hartwood was in straits, and to help bim out I bought the ring from him. It was a much nicer one than I could have afforded to buy new for you, and 1 never thought you would know the difference. When you developed such a talent for deduction my pride wouldn’t let me admit that it was second-handed. Of course 1 knew you didn't keep the ring know- ingly, though I was brute enough to say 80. I have only been back home a week. Yesterday I happened to meet your cousin. He told me he had just been here, and I borrowed the key, wishing to visit the spot where we had been so happy. When I entered the room | was overcome by a feeling that the ring was still here. I hated the very thought of it, but I could not resist the impulse to search for it.” . “l should lLave thought you would have heard me when 1 entered the house,” Mary remarked. “Oh, that’s easily explained,” Al bert laughed. “When | opened the door I was greeted by a strong rus' of alr, and went upstairs to see where it came from. 1 found that Ned had left one of the attic windows wide open, and 1 had some difficulty in shutting it. I was probably too much engaged in my task to heed any noise you may have made. But what shall we do with the ring, now it is found, lttle girl?” Mary held up a white finger invit- ingly. “It will fit better now,” she sald demurely. “My hands are ever 80 much plumper.” “8hows how much you've pined over my loss,” Albert chuckled. “But come, we ought to be going. It's growing late.” In a daze of happiness Mary led the way to the waliting car. After helping her in Albert took the driv- er's seat, as a matter of course. When they had nearly reached the bome of the aunt with whom Mary |——_I“_ was staying, Mary suddenly asked, “But how did you get r - to the old PROOF OF THE BAKING is in the eating. Taste our bread, place, Albert? You s :ly did not walk? Albert stared at her blankly for a -y g o rolls, cake or pastry and you wil) ishly: “I—I—came In a motor car, too. kuow why sensible women no lon But I forgot all about it from the mo & = bother iwth home baking. Why should they when they can get such delicious things to eat here? Try our rolls for breakfast as a starter. Rich Men’s Clothes i e ey T e e e S S o o] at Poor Men’s Prices FOR A FEW WEEKS ONLY Values are big enough to make them go fast so step lively if you want to save money. You'll buy if you see the goods . ’ ’ 5 COME, AND COME QUICK! The Hub, Joseph LeVay, In The Prompt Procurance of Fire lnsu'ance Lies The Securance of The Endurance Of The Home For If Destroyed The Means Employed Means It's Reconstruction From Pit to Dome! THE R. H. JOHNSON FIRE INSURANCE AGENCY P. E. CHUNN, Manager o Lakeland, Fla. We Make a Specialty of Fidelity Bonds IRONING SHIRTS 1f you wish your shirts and collars to look just right, you will not be disappointed if you send them to us, for we make a specialty of high-class Jaundry work. Our purpose is to please you. THE LAKELAND STEAM LAUNDRY P. W. WEAVER, PROP. "Phone 130 ment I found _you.” Nature's Gentle Hand. Nature gives to every time and sea- %0on some beauties of its own; and The Modern Bakery Barhite Brotvers They beat any home-made biscuita : ey PR