The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1912-11-11
CHAPTER !.
A Star Boarder.

Z - In the open window OF his
room on Washington square
smiling. With a sense of deep joy he
watched the trees shake the raindrops
from their new emerald robes and the
flying clouds that fiecked the western
sky melt into seas of purple and gold.
A huckster turned into Fourth street
crying:
Strawberries, straw-berries!'
And the young lawyer laughed laZily.
A food of tender memories stole into
his Leart from the sunlit fields of the
south. He had gone hunting wild
strawberries with Nan Primrose on the
hills at home in North Carolina the
day he first knew that he loved her.
How beautiful she was that day in
the plain blue cotton dress which fit
ted her superb young figure to perfec-
toni How well he remembered every
detail of that ramble over the red hills
he could hear now the whistle of a
Bob white sitting on the fence near
the spring where they lunched, calling
to his mate. AS Nan nestled closer
on the old stile they saw the little
brown bird slip from her nest in a
clump of straw. lift her head and soft
ly answer.
Look" Nan had whispered excited
ly. There's her nestr'
He recalled distinctly his tremor of
sympathetic excitement as her warm
hand drew him to the spot. With pc
culiar vividness he remembered the
extraordinary moisture Of the palm of
her hand trembling with eager interest
as he counted the eggs-twenty beau
ties. But above all memories stood
out one. AS he bent close above her
he caught for the first time In his life
the delicate perfume Of her dark rich
hair and felt the thrill of its mystery.
Its their little home, isn't it, Jim?'
she exclaimed.
II hope / can build as snug a nest
for you some day, Nanr' he whispered
gravely.
And when she stood silent and blush
ing he made the final plunge. Looking
straight into her dark eyes he had
said:
II love you. dear Mani!
AS she stood very still, looking down
in silence. with a throb of fear and
aching tenderness he dared to slip his
arm around her waist and kiss the
trembling lips. And then he noticed
for the first time q deep red stra W.
berry stain I'm the corner of her mouth.
In spite of her struggles he laughingly
insisted on kissing it away.
And then as O. dreamy smile stole
into her face she suddenly threw her
arms around his neck in passionate
tenderness. returning with interest ev-
cry kiss he had taken.
"Straw-berriesr'
familiar cry.
"Yes, yesr he shouted. 1.-TWO boxes.
Put them on the stoop-and keep the
change"
He threw the man a silver dollar.
and the white teeth of the Italian sig
nailed smile of thanks as he bowed
low. lifting his dirty cap in acknowl-
edgment.
Nor was Mans beauty merely men,
source of the joy that filed his soul to
overfowing today. for she had grown
more beautiful than ever since her
mother had moved to New York.
He had always believed that the real
reason in the back of Mrs Primrose's
shallow head for this move to the
north had been the determination to
break his engagement and make a
more brilliant marriage for Nan. And
40 when they left he followed.
The mother had always professed for
him unbounded loyalty and admiration.
but he had never been deceived. He
knew that Mrs. Primrose lied as she
breathed-politely, but continuously
by her involuntary muscles. Day and
night since they had reached New
York she had schemed for Nan.
She had leased house in the fash
ionable neighborhood of Gramercy
park, and TO meet the extraordinary
expense began careful and systemat-
&c search for rich young men to whom
she could let two floors.
Stuart was sure In his heart that Nan
had never Joined in those plans of her
mother. though he had wished that she
might have shown little more
strength I'm resisting them.
Well, he was going to win at last.