The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1912-12-23

| grim hunor. Room 157-great Scott. -
His hostess showed hiEn first tie
library. The magnificent room contained
more than 40dsD volumes. bound ia
hand fooled morocco
The funny thing. Of course" Nan
whispered. SIS that Cal has never read
one Of these exquisiteIy bound books
why On earth did he make this
room the most stately and beautiful
6ue in the house,:
Maybe he didn't she laughed Pm
going to give ron privilege no mere
man has ever enjoyed in this house
before-I am going TO show ron my
ovgn rooms"
When the tour Of inspection had been
completed she led him to her own suit.
which was located in the southwestern
corner, overlooking the magnificent
formal gardens with their artificial
lake, fountains, statuary and wilder
ness of flowers. and farther on over
| the beautiful valleys of the savanna
noa and the French Broad rivers Be
yond the river valleys rose range after
range of mountains.
was stunning. Stuart rubbed his eyes
in amazement. She had taken herself
seriously In the creation of this room,
and had spent round million on its
ivory bedstead. its purple and gold
velvet hangings, its wonderful cary
ings.
The picture she made standing in
this wonderful room was one that
never faded from his memory. The
poise of her superb form; the fires
that smouldered in the depths of her
eyes: the tenderness with which her
senses seemed to drink in the daring
luxury: the smile that played about
her lips. joyous, sensuous. cruel.
"It seems all dream, Man," he said.
"rll rub my eyes and wake up direct
ly. / thought your New York house
miracle This is fairyland."
perhaps it would be- she said.
looking at him moment through half
closed eyes, 'if only the prince
A look Of pain unconsciously clonded
his face. and the sentence was not
finished.
On the fourth day Nan planned
W dSCEud
Mitchell, the highest peak in the land
Of the sky, the highest point of ground
that side the Rockies. She had taken
this trip with Stuart sixteen years be-
fore She was then but fifteen. and
he had just begun to dangle at her
heels She did not tell him their des-
tination
The party consisted of half a dozen
boys and girls whom Nan was chap
eroning, Stuart. the footman and
coachman. The start was made at
sunrise. The morning was glorious.
the air rich with the full breath Of a
southern spring.
AT the foot of the first hill the
coach suddenly stopped beside the
banks of the Swannanoa river.
Nan leaped to the ground, drew
Stuart with her to the rear Of the
coach, and raised her arms.
Lift me up" she cried. laughing.
He placed his hands under her arms
and with a leap and cry of laughter
she was in the empty baggage rack.
Now up with you.." she cried.
In a moment Stuart was seated snug
ly by her side and the big red coach
was rolling along the old road.
Now, sir" Nan whispered. do you
know where you are going?''
Stuart nodded.
ITO certain peak among the clouds.
where you and once went thousand
years ago."
Nan nestled little closer, or perhaps
it was the swaying of the coach that
made him think she did. and softly
said:
"You remember this road?'
sI'ye seen it a hundred times in my
dreams since that wonderful day. 1t
winds along the banks of the Swan
nanoa for twenty miles, always climb
ing higher and higher until the river
becomes a limpid trout stream. We
stop at the old roadhouse, stay all
night and next morning take the bride
path with the funny pack horses and
climb to the first mountain top, still
following the little stream"
Fine. Jimmy. fine" she cried. with
girlish mockery. "Your geography les
son was perfect. You can walk home
with me after school"
Stuart looked at her and broke into
a laugh. Again they were boy and girl.
and the only change he could see was
that she was more splendidly beautiful
at thirty-one than she had ever prom
ised to be at fifteen.
"You remember how shocked you
were in this same seat, Jim. that day
in the sweet long ago when the old
coach threw me into your arms?'
Eyes, / felt that was taking mean
advantage Of you"
81 thought you were an awful fool
not to accept more gracefully and
thankfully the providence which threw
a pretty girl your way"
The coach gave a sudden lurch and
threw her into Stuart's arms again.
"And now?'' he cried laughingly, az
he held her firmly for a momeut to
prevent her falling.
She blushed furiously. threw the ring
lets of dark hair from her face and
drew back to her position.
- a0rrca hA