The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1912-08-20

about it. She would have been q
study in monochrome but for the
color in the cheek turned to Berry,
glowing, rose-tinted cheek into
which the damp had called a pink
brighter than any rouge. Berry looked
at 1t with reluctant admiration, and
the woman turned and presented her
full face, blooming as flower, to the
watchers eye. 1t was Rose Cannon.
If in these wan and dripping sur
roundings the young girl had not
looked so freshly fair and comely.
Berry might have let her pass un-
checked. But upon the elder woman's
sore and bitter mood the vision of
this rosy youthfulness, triumphant
where all the rest of the world sank
unprotesting under the weight Of a
common ugliness, came with a sense
of unbearable wrong and grievance.
AS Rose passed, Berry, with a sudden
binding up-rush of excitement,
leaned forward and rose.
Miss Cannon" she said loudly. ooh,
Miss Cannon-just a moment"
Rose turned quickly, looking inquir-
ingly at the owner of the voice. She
had had a vague impression of a fig
ure on the bench but had not looked
at 1t. Now, though the face she saw
was unfamiliar, she smiled and said:
Did you want to speak to me?"
The ingratiating amiability of her
expression added to Berny's swelling
sense of injury and injustice. Thus
| did this siren smile upon Dominick,
and 1t was a smile that was very
| sweet. The excitement that had
seized upon the older woman made
her tremble, but she was glad, fierce
| ly, burning glad, that she had stopped
Miss Cannon.
YES" she said, "just for a moment,
If you don't mind"
Rose had never seen the woman be-
fore, and at the first glance supposed
| her to be some form Of peddler or a
person selling tickets. The daughter
Of Bill Cannon was eagerly sought by
members Of her own sex who had
wares for sale, and it did not strike
| her as odd that she should be stopped
in the plaza on a foggy afternoon. But
a second glance showed her that the
woman before her was better dressed,
more assured in manner than the fe-
male vender, and she felt puzzled and
| interested.
| You had something TO say to me-"
she queried again, the questioning in
Election little more marked.
Yes, but not much. / won't keep
you more than few moments. Won't
you sit down."
Berry designated the bench and
they sat on 1t, a space between them.
Rose sat forward on the edge of the
seat, looking at the strange woman
whose business with her she could not
guess.
You've never seen me before, have
you. Miss Cannon?" said Berry You
don't know who amp
The young girl shook her head with
an air of embarrassed admission.
I'm afraid l don't" she said. IF
I've ever met you before, it must have
been a long time ago."
You've never met me-" said Berry.
but l guess you've heard of me.
am the wife of Dominick Ryan"
She said the words easily. but her
eyes were lit with devouring fires as
| they fastened on the young wOman's
face. Upon this, signs of perturba-
ton Immediately displayed them
! selves. For moment Rose was shak-
en- beyond speech. She flushed TO her
hair, and her eyes dropped. To a
| Jealous observation, she looked con-
! fused. trapped, guilty.
Really" she said after the first mo-
ment of a shock. Ill really don't
think ever did meet you" With her
face crimson she raised her eyes and
looked at her companion. If l have.
/ must have forgotten it."