The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1905-06-02

GOWN on the Dr1nk OF an old stone quar-
~. She was swinging her small 1. rench
heels and throwing stones into the blue
water far beneath when somebody be
hind her whistled a well known strain
She answered before she thought and
then started, almost losing her balance
and clutched at the bank to save her
self. Her face was hot ANA she felt
had all happened too quickly for her to
be frightened. Jack dragged her back
and then lifted her to sitting posture
She scrambled to her feet and faced
him.
What do you mean by sitting on the
very edge of a place like that" Jack
questioned angrily. Suppose the bank
crumbled:''
She looked at him, wistfully at first,
and then her glance turned wrathful as
she saw nothing but anger in his face
Il was all right until you came and
frightened me-
II whistled to let you know 1 was
coming and you answered" he retort-
ed.
II presume your coming to this espe-
cial place was purely accidental. like
your advent in this town. she re-
marked sarcastically.
Not quite" he confessed 81 fol-
lowed you because l wanted to talk to
you. Sit down and cool off"
She reflected that this was her first
opportunity to make him sorry, and she
sat down gracefully. while he arranged
himself at her feet and searched a plot
OF clover for a lucky omen She took
on her white duck hat and let the wind
ruff1e her thick, fair hair He looked
up at her meditatively.
You have more freckles this year
than YOU had last" he announced.
Yes she agreed. land more sense"
Il imagine your experience has
taught you something" he remarked.
She sat up. This was not teaching
him to be sorry
Ethel" he asked suddenly. you
burned all my letters, didn't you?"
'Of course 1 did" But her heart beat
furiOusly AS she thought of the night
before
Il supposed you had" he said. Il
only wanted to make sure" He put his
hand absently to the pocket of his blue
serge coat. You see. love letters after
there isn't any more love are such ASST
nine things" he explained; lust twad
die"
Yours were rather twaddly." she ad
mitted; lat least the ones l had. But
they're burned"
Again he felt in his pocket. She saw
the gesture and misinte-preted it.
Light it if you like" she said
Light II? All, yes" said he. drawing
the pipe from quite another pocket.
She watched him All II, frowning a lit
tie at the tobacco pouch, which was
one she had given him. He leaned over
to strike q match.
"Your bald spot is certainly much
larger than 1t was last year." she re
marked critically.
How observing you are!' he drawled
Then he turned suddenly.
''Wfl you love me when I'm baId?"
he sang
"As much as 1 do now" she an
Swered meaningly.
"Not an much as you did last night?"
he queried.
Last night" she echoed, the blood
rising to her face. What are you talk
ing abOut" He turned again ard took
letter from his coat pocket, holding ;
1t up where she could see the address
In his writing. Miss Ethel Herriot-
Her heart beat wildly. The envelope
was worn and old looking He drew |
out the sheets of thin paper. There ;
were blisters fresh blisters upon
them
Ethel sat paralyzed. The tears rolled +:
down her cheeks. and she did not try
to wipe them away Her fingers dug
Into the grass on either side
Poor Old letter., he said pityingly. /.
How did you escape the fiames?"
Then he heard sob from Ethel He :
turned. He saw the tears, and mental
ly he called himself cad He had /
never seen Ethel cry before .
e. hei." lie said Il IN a brute but |
don't mean to be. | came out here to :
tell you that l love you better than !
ever and to own up that | was wrong
and 20 ask you to take me back to your !
favor Ethel he had her in his arms |:
now. Ethel. dear, you do love me, |
don't your
Take it out on Tim, dear, for 1t was .
his fault He brought the letter and |
dropped it at my feet And then / |
knew that you had been doing Just /
what I've done nearly every night for |
a year, reading oyer the old letters.
Ethel. aren't you glad-a little-that /
Tim found the letter.
Nh
seemed TO satisfy him They went
slowly home
As Good Her Word.
Old Mr.. MakeDeace was in a reminis-