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


ed how jealous he had been. Once she
laughed and asked him if he thought
the enamored air went signing after
her too. But that was wheE he had
really cared for her. Now he was try
ing to get rid of her. Il had numerous
ether lovers at the Springs, Bob 1t
may be"-she tapped a gay little tune
with her fan-''that you might find
them dtverting. There was Dave Cary"
she assigned her little finger to him
''and Fred Langles," the next finger
to him. both Of whom proposed to me
at the picnic q the fourth day of July.
Then there was Mr.. Greyner. who pro-
posed to me at the dance at Judge Biz
rows sons birthday-the son also pro-
posed for that matter. DR.. Spaulding
Get my wrist when l spraihed II, and
when he dismissed me he asked me to
be his wife. That's all the proposals I
had at the springs. There were I'VE
more when I stopped to visit Lucy Kn-
dare ON my way home" The man
made gesture Of entreaty. Truly. he
had not dreamed Of It being this bad.
His heart felt like q church on q week
day. How could he have ever been fool
enough to expect Judith to love him
against all these young men7
III you marry Travers"- It was q
cowardly subterfuge to get her away
from the others. His voice stuck. She
sat alert, with brilliant eyes.
If marry Travers, what r she ask
Cd.
Il don't know" miserably.
81 haven't exactly decided which one
I shall marry" She leaned back lam
guidly. She was pushing her hair back
and trying to pin 1t in place. "It's real
ly very hard to make UP ones mind,
Bob. It's the number of them that con-
fuses me-" She laughed deliciously.
His hand frightened around his glass.
"Bob." the girl suddenly demanded,
whats that you told me once about
love lying deepT'
Could he release herr 1.-The hunger of
q mans soul'' kept running through his
head. Could he do It? Wasn't she In
crying need Of a protector to shield her
from this very hunger?
"Bob"-she tossed him q rose-''have
you forgotten the hnesT
"'Love neth Deep" he began.
Love dwells not in lip depths. Love
wraps his wings on either side the
heart" There was q long silence
Somehow the silences of Bob were
more eloquent than all the lip talk Of
the others. She was beginning to un-
defstand. She thought vaguely Of
ships cut loose from their moofings-
She hated young men.
She remembered the first time she
ever saw him. She was doing q skirt
dance before the long gilt mirror In
the back parlor. She turned to get .
sidewise view of herself, and there In
the door he was calmly watching her.
The others were at the table. The &C.
casion was dinner party, and he had
committed the objectionable offense Of
being late. That was the beginning.
He very much preferred staying with
her. he declared, II she didn't mind
That was the night she started loving
him. Hadn't he spent weary hours
over the intricacies of toe dancing to
coach her? Didn't Bob always under
stand? The thought that he was just
across the table and not engaged to
her any more almost suffocated her.
She couldn't stand it,
Bob she said with all that peril
GUS youth shining in her eyes, have
you forgotten that toe dance you
taught me years agoY' No. with weary
resignation. he had not forgotten it.
Bob with cruel persistence. when
you told me that night that you had !
rather stay with me than to go with !
the old ladies. did you mean it. truly?' i
Yes, he was sure he meant it truly. |!
The cafe was deserted. Only Francois. /
the waiter, lurked in the back ground, |
and he couldn't speak English /
Bob moving nearer and laying
confiding hand on his arm: Bob. does
your love lie too deep for words?"
There was d pleading quality in her
tones not to he resisted
Child He was holding her chin in
his most comforting hand and examin-
ing her eyes.
Jack Travers didn't kiss me- truly" !
she comforted. patting Bobs old gray !
hairs tenderly. Francois had discreet
~ withdrawn, fully remunerated HE
said that before / told him about /
about how l loved you'll told him
all about US, Bob But she didn't
finish. He understood. Bob always
Child" he whispered, with eyes in
which youth had come home to live,
you must be the oldest person on
earth You are straight from the gar
den of Eden. with youth that is fresh
and genuine and eternal. Yes, you are,
childr'
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