The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1912-07-31

f1nality as though Dominick INTENDED
to say no more.
HAS she-er-left your" said the
girl in a low and rather awestricken
voice.
The actor inclined his head in an
acquiescent bow:
She has,
Again there was a pause. Unless
Buford chose to be more biograph-
ical, the conversation appeared to
have come to a deadlock. Neither
of the listeners could at this stage
break into his reserve with questions
and yet to switch off on a new sub
ject was not to be thought Of at a
moment Of such emotional intensity.
The actor evidently felt this, for he
said suddenly, with relapse into
lighter tone and letting his eyebrows
escape from an overshadowing close
ness to his eyes:
But why should I trouble you with
the sorrows that have cast their shad-
ow on me? Why should my matri-
monial troubles be allowed to darken
the brightness OF two young lives
which have not yet known the joys
and the perils Of the welded state?"
The pause that followed this re-
mark was the most portentous that
had yet fallen on the trio. Rose cast
a surreptitious glance at the dark
figure Of young Ryan, lying back in
the shadows Of the armchair. As
she looked he stirred and said with
the abrupt, hard dryness which had
marked his manner since Buford's
entrance:
Don't take too much for granted,
Mr.. Buford. I've known some Of the
joys and perils Of the welded state
myself"
The actor stared at him in open
eyed surprise
DO l rightly understand" he said,
that you are a married man."
You do" returned Dominick
Really now, l never would have
guessed 1t! Pardon me for not hav-
ing given you the full dues of your
position. Your wife, take 1t, has
no knowledge Of the risk she recently
ran Of losing her husband?"
Il hope not"
WELL" he replied with a manner
Of sudden CHEEKY playfulness. well
take good care that she doesn't learn.
When the wires are up we'll concoct
telegram that shall be a master
piece Of diplomatic lying. Lucky
young man to have a loving wife at
home. OF all Of us you are the one
who can best realize the meaning Of
the line, ''Tfs sweet to know there is
an eye to mark our coming and"
Dominick threw the rug OF and
rose to his feet.
IF you can get Perley to help me
I'll go upstairs again. I'm tired and
I'll go back to my room"
He tried to step forward, but the
pain Of his unhealed foot was unbear-
able, and he caught the edge Of the
table and held 1t, his face paling with
sudden anguish. The actor, startled
by the abruptness Of his uprising, ap-
preached him with vague prefer of
| assistance and was arrested by his
sharp command:
go and get Perley! He's in the
bar probably. l can't stand this way
for long. Hurry up!"
Buford ran out of the room, and
| Rose somewhat timidly drew near the
young man, braced against the table,
his eyes down-bent, his face hard in
the struggle with sudden and unfa.
miliar pain.
Cant l help you?" she said. "Per.
| ley may not be there. Mr.. Buford and
| can get you up stairs"
ooh, no." he answered, his words
| short but his tone more conciliatory
| Its nothing to bother about. I'd
| have wrung that mans neck II I'd had
| to listen to him five minutes longer"
Here Perley and Buford entered,
and the former, offering his support
to the invalid, led him hobbling out
of the door into the hall. The actor
looked after them for a moment and
then came back to the fire where Miss
Cannon was standing, thoughtfully re.
garding the burning logs.
I've no doubt" he said, that young
Mr.. Ryan is an estimable gentleman,
but he certainly appears to be pos.
sessed by a very impatient and ugly
| lcupcT.
Buford had found Miss Cannon one
OF the most amiable and charming
ladies he had ever met, and it was
therefore a good deal of a surprise
to have her turn upon him a face of
cold, reproving disagreement, and re.
mark in voice that matched it:
Il don't agree with you at all, Mr..
Buford, and you seem quite to forget
that Mr.. Ryan has been very sick
and is still in great pain"
Buford was exceedingly abashed. He
would not have offended Miss Cannon
for anything in the world, and 1t
seemed to him that being so com.
pact OF graciousness and considera.
ton would be the first to censure an
exhibition of ill-humor such as young
Ryan had just made. He stapmered
an apologize sentence and it did not
add to his comfort to see that she
was not entirely notified by it and
to feel that she exhaled a slight, disap-
proving GOODNESS that put him at a
great distance and made him feel NOR
titled and i'll at ease.