The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1912-11-30

browed ideals. wouldn't you like to own
this:"
No. Not if had the wealth of
Croesus."
Why not:''
It's a crime 10 rob the world OF
these masterpieces Of genius. They
should be the free Inheritance and in
SEPARATION Of all the children of men"
Nan gazed at Stuart in vague be-
wilderment and then a mischievous
smile crept into the corners of her
mouth.
You're trying to throw dust in my
eyes, but / can tell you what you are
really thinking You are really Won
dering why the wicked prosper"
You are wrong" he replied slowly.
Why the wicked prosper has never
worried me in the least The first big
religious idea l ever got hold of was
that this is the best possible world God
could have created-because it's free.
Man must choose. otherwise his deeds
have no meaning. A deed Of mine is
good merely because | have the power
to do its opposite if / choose. In this
| free world, step by step. can rise or
fall through suffering and choosing"
"Oh, jim" Nan broke in softly. I've
made you suffer horribly. You have
the right to be hard and bitter
He looked at Nan cautiously and be-
! gan to study her every word and
movement and weigh each accent. Did
no no hay
| implied: In a hundred little ways
more eloquent than speech she had
| said to him tonight that the old love
! Of the morning of life was still the one
| living thing. He put her to little tests
| to try the genuinenesS of her feeling.
| He threw off his restraint and led her
| back to the scenes of their youth.
when dinner ended she was leaning
close, her eyes misty with tears, and
| faraway look in them that told of
| memories more vivid and alluring
! than all the spIendors of her palace.
| Stuart drew a breath of conscious tri-
umph, and his figure suddenly grew
tense with a desperate resolution. But
/ only for a moment.
He frowned. looked at his watch
and rose abruptly.
Il must be going, Man." he said with
| sudden GOODNESS.
why, JIM" she protested, Its only
10 o'clock. | won't hear of such a
thing"
Yes. l must" he persisted. I've
an important case tomorrow. ! must
work tonight"
You shall not gor' Nan cried. 1--WE
waited nine years for this one even
ing's chat with you. Come into the
long as you like. I've planned to
charm you with an old accomplish
ment Of mine tonight"
She led him to a rich couch. piled
the pillows high. made him snug. drew
| harp near the other end and began
to tune its strings.
Stuart gazed at the paintings on the
ceiling and in a moment was lost in
visions of the future his excited fancy
began to weave.
A voice whispered:
Unless you are IL coward, grasp the
power that is yours by divine right of
nature. Why should you walk while
pygmies ride? Why should you lag
behind the age in this fierce struggle
for supremacy? The woman who sits
before yOn Is yours if you only dare
| to tear her from the man who holds
her by the fiction of dying customsr'
He felt his heart thrOb as another
voice within cried:
yet why should |. an heir to i'm
mortality. whose will can shape a
world why should | live beast Of
prey with my hand against every
MANI
The answer was the memory of dirtS
finger nails closing on his throat while
mob of bowling fools surged over
his body and cursed him for trying to
save them from themselves. Again he
heard a wuman's voice as she held his
head close. Whispering:
I've something to say to you, jim"
His lips frightened with sudden de-
cision. The golden gates of the for
hidden land swung open and his soul
entered.
CONTINUED Tomorrow