The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1912-11-13

BY evening be had thrown of his
depression and met Nan with some
thing of his old gayety. to which she
responded with a touch of coquetry.
Tell me. .Iim.' she began with n
smile of mischief in her eyes. why
you called al the remarkable hour Of
IL noon today: Am | becoming so
resistleSs that work no longer has any
charms You must have something
very important TO say?~
Yes. have. Nan" be answered
soberly taking her hand Il want
public announcement of our engage
ment in tomorrow mornings papers"
But why: You know the one con-
cesSiOn. the only one | have ever made
to my mothers hostility to you. is
that our engagement shall be kept Sc
ere until we are ready TO marry. We
must play fair
Il will We are ready now"
Mans voire broke into a ripple of
laughter
"Oh. are we: / didn't know it,
Yes. that's what | came to tell
you" Stuart went on. catching her
spirit of fun and pressing her hand.
I've arranged Il little trip to the coun-
try tomorrow. and I'm going to con
vince you before we return. Make
the announcement tonight. dear. On
my honor | promise to convince you
tomorrow that we are ready. I've an
| argument that never fails-an argu
ment no woman can resist"
Not tonight. Jim." was the laughing
reply.
Cant you trust me when I tell you
that I've discovered something today
that makes it necessary? ! have seen
Mr.. Bivens.''
Nan leaped to her feet. her face
! flushed. her voice ringing with tri-
umph
And you did what / asked you. Oh.
you're darling! Why did you tease
me so last night? You accepted his
offer:''
I'm sorry to disappoint you, dear.
but did not"
The girl dropped into her seat, with
a sigh. while he went on:
fact that he is hopelessly and desper-
ately in love with you"
\ fash of anger mantled Mans
| cheeks
THAT will do, Jim," she said in quiet
cold tones. Your joke has gone far
| enough
joke. Do you think could joke on
such subject:''
A smile began to play about the cor
ners Of the full lips.
Il never dreamed he was so easy"
| Still smiling dreamily Nan crossed her
| hands over her knees and studied the
| pattern in the rug. ignoring the pres
| ence of her lover.
Lets not joke. Nan. It's too seri-
GUS
Serious, | fail TO see it."
Cant you see that we must at once
| announce our engagement
The girls lips curled with the faint
est suggestion of sarcasm.
Il don't see it at all. You may be a
| good lawyer. but fail to follow your
logic
Stuart rose. with a gesture Of anger.
Come to the point, Nan. Let's not
beat the devil around the stump any
longer. You know as well as do that
you've been trying to flirt with this lit
tie insect. You know In your heart of
hearts you despise Bivens."
| "On the contrary, i vastly admire
him. The man who can enter with his
handicap this big. heartless city and
successfully smash the giants who OPP
pose him is not an insect. I'd rather
call him hero. All women admire
| success
Its disgustingr'
Nan fixed her dark eyes on Stuart.
How dare you use such a word to
me?'
Because it's true. and you know it. y
TRUE or false. you can't say it'-she
rose deliberately-"you may go now"
Forgive me. dear" Stuart STAN
mered in queer muffled voice. II
didn't mean to hurt you. 1 was mad
with Jealousy"
"You may CO." was the hard, even
answer.
81 can't go like this. dearest" he
pleaded. You must forgive me-you
must Look at mel
She turned slowly. stared him full in
the face for moment without the
culver of an eyelid, her fine figure
tense, erect. cold as she quietly said:
You are firing me, jim"
For the first time he saw a cold
blooded calculation behind her beauti-
full eyes and felt ii in the smile which
showed the white teeth-the smile of
woman who would pause at nothing to
get what she wanted.
A blush of shame tinged his face as
he tremblingly said:
please, dear, let's not part like this!
I've suffered enough today. You're only
teasing me. And I've acted like fool.
Say that you forgive me!'
"Our engagement Is at an end, Mr..
Stuart" was the quiet answer.
| Nam
Before he could recover from the
shock or utter a protest she opened the
door and he had passed out into the
night.