The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1911-01-20

done and, being chemist. set up an
establishment where | could do this
and other work pertaining TO mines
My place was receptacle for god
dust, large quantities of which were
left with me continually.
Miss Rebecca Wright, my typcwrit-
er, was very circumspect young lady.
attempted occasionally to joke with
her. but met with no response. On
one or two occasions | venturrd TO say
something bit tender TO her. but met
with no encoura cement. But when
mans mind is set on producing ~
suits, especially with q woman he Will
not let up until he has accomplished
them or is obliged to give it up What
I wished. all wished at least NJ first
was to see Miss Wright show con
sciousness of my admiration and some
appreciation of the fact.
But something happened which led
me to forget Miss Wright and any one
else except one unknown person. That
person was getting away with gold
dust in sufficient quantities to ruin me
If the leakage continued.
No great quantity was taken ut one
time Indeed. what l missed at Il
weighing had but the value Of a few
dollars. But | missed these small
amounts continually. | had nothing
laid up, and the amounts l was losing
made up an accommodating debt. | SET
q watch on every one connected with
the establishment except Miss Wright
l did not propose to have any one spy
upon a girl who had every evidence Of
rectitude.
Then the stealing ceased for awhile
l began again to think of my stcnogra
pher and, yielding to pique, recon-
menced my efforts to break through
that iciness which characterized all
her actions toward me. She accepted
my attentions. but passively She
even permitted me to retain her hand
when l took it in mine on meeting her
after a brief absence. Matters pro
crossed between US until | came To
driving her out occasionally. | was
not especially in love with her, though
l might have been had she received
my attentions more warmly. 1t was
with me rather matter of curiosity
though since l lived lonely life in Il
country where there was little Of wo-
mans society l often thought of mar
rying Miss Wright, if could gain her
consent. for the sake of Il home.
Then suddenly the leakages in gold
dust recommended. l charged several
persons in my employ with being the
thief, hoping that some one ut them
would break down under the accuSa-
ton and confess. Among others "a
cused the woman who kept my prem
ises In order. She turned on me like a
| fury:
"If We want to know where yer
| gold dust is goin' I'll tell We. The
| young Teddy you're drivin' out and
sayin' sweet things to is relievin' We Of
! it."
/ was too indignant to ask her a sin
| gle question as to what ground she
based her charges upon. Indeed.
feared Miss Wright might hear her.
and to be charged with such a crime
would break her heart. | therefore
! dismissed the allegation with contempt
and from that time felt more tender
than ever toward the injured girl.
| Indeed. was daily becoming more
! and more inclined to enter into a mat
rimonial partnership with Miss Wright
| | grew more and more demOnStrative.
| in many ways indicating my intention
Miss Wright's demeanor underwent no
| change. She would permit me to en-
circle her waist. 10 kiss her; but, as for
| responding, she made no response
whatever. | confess that this excited
my amour prOpre, though at times |
felt inclined to cease my demonstra-
! tons, feeling that l might as well
| caress q stone.
! One evening / was sitting on sofa
beside Miss Wright, our heads very
near together / asked her why she
was so unresponsive. She said she
didn't know; she had always been
called undemonstrative. / wished TO
propose to her, but she was so cold
/ that l couldn't bring myself TO do so.
Though my arm was about her waist
and her head rested on my shoulder.
( still there was no love current running
/ between us.
! That night on taking off my coat
saw something glitter on it's shoulder
recognized particles of gold dust. IT
! struck me at once that the particles
were where Miss Wright's head had
been. Then a terrible thought came to
me. Was the woman l was thinking
Of making my wife a thief? Was she
carrying away the dust in her hair?
/ l did not sleep much that night and
/ the next day went away for a brief
; season. employing a woman 10 spy on
/ Miss Wright When returned my de-
! tective reported that every night the
! girl washed her hair and poured off the
water in the bowl leaving q sediment
which she scraped together and put in
a little box
Not for worlds would I expose one
whom I had so nearly asked to be my
wife. | went away again. leaving a
note for her informing her of my dis
/ covery and telling her not TO let me-
! find her when I returned.
I | have tried in vain 70 make up nv
mind TO propose to some other woman.
/ My mind has been 50 warped with
! this one eXperience-the narrowneSS Of
! my escape from marrying Il thief
that l am forced 70 he unjust to the
rest. Perhaps some day I shall really
! fall in love, and that will end my sus,
ricions