The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1912-08-02

CAS AduS uO ISp4y, SSISSpSO
book. and as she held it up looking
at the back, said:
But it's not like a regular good
by. It's not as If you were going in
one direction and we In another. Well
see you in San Francisco, Of course"
Il don't think so, he answered.
She laid the book on the table and
turned her face toward him. He stood
looking into the fire, not seeing the
sion, Of its every line.
do you mean that we're not going
to see you down there at all?"
Eyes, that's just about what /
meant" he replied.
"Mr. Ryan," 1t was hardly more
than a breath Of protest, but it was
as stirring to the man as the whis-
per of love.
He made no comment on 1t, and she
said, with a little more Of insistence
and volume:
But why?"
Its best not" he answered, and
turned toward her.
His shoulders were squared and he
| held his head as a man does who
prepares himself for a blow. His
eyes, looking straight into hers, en-
veloped her in a glance soft and burn
! ing, not a savage glance, but the en-
folding, possessive glance, caressing
| and ardent, pleading and masterful, Of
! a lover.
| The books that she was holding fell
| to the table, and they looked at each
other while the clock licked.
It's best for me not to come" he
said huskily, never to come"
very WELL" she faltered
He came a little nearer to her and
you know what 1 mean
She turned away, very pale. her lips
trembling.
And you'd like me to come II
could-if were free?"
He was close to her and looked
down to see her face, his own hard,
the bones Of the jaw showing through
the thin cheeks.
You'd like me to-" he urged.
She nodded, her lips too dry to
| speak.
90 Rose!" he whispered, a whisper
that seemed TO melt the strength Of
her heart and make her unvanquished,
maiden pride dissolve into feeblenes.
He leaned nearer and, taking her
by the arms just above the elbows,
drew her to himself, into an embrace.
close and imprisoned, that crushed
her against him. She submitted pas
sively, in a dizzy dream that was nei-
| Their joy nor pain, but was like a mo-
ment Of drugged unreality, fearful and
| beautiful. She was unconscious Of his
lips pressed on her hair, but she felt
the beating Of his heart beneath her
| cheek.
They stood thus for a moment, RS
ing above time and space. They
seemed to have been caught up to a
pinnacle Of life where the familiar
world lay far beneath them. A joy.
divine and dreamy, held them clasped
together, motionless and mute, for a
single point Of time beyond and out
side the limitations that had hereto
fore bound them.
Bill Cannon had a question to ask
his daughter and he came down stairs
to the parlor where she had told him
she was going He had dressed him
self for supper, the most important
item Of his toilet being a pair OF
brown leather slippers. They were
soft and made no sound. and stepping
briskly in them he advanced to the
half-open parlor door, pushed 1t open
and entered the quiet room. On the
hearth-rug before the fire stood q
woman clasped in the arms Of Dom
mick Ryan.
Though the face was hidden, the
first glance told him 1t was his daugh
ter. The young mans head was bowed
on hers, his brown hair rising above
the cleaning blondness Of hers. They
were absolutely motionless and silent
For an amazed moment the father
stared at them, then turned and tip
toed out Of the room.
He mounted several steps Of the
staircase and then descended, step
ping as heavily as he could, and, az
he advanced on the parlor, coughe6
with aggressive loudness. He was or
the threshold when he encountered
his daughter, her head lowered, bel
gait quick, almost run. Without q
word he stepped aside and let hel
pass, the rustling Of her skirt dimin
ishing as she ran up the hall and
mounted the stairs.
Domlnick was standing on the
hearth-rug, his head raised like &
stays; his eyes, wide and cleaning
on the doorway through which she
had passed. Cannon stopped directly
in front Of him and fixed a stony
r menacing glare on him.
: We'll, Dominick Ryan," he said IN
, low voice, Il saw that. l came In
? here a moment ago and saw that
I What have you got to say about It
The young man turned his eyes
, slowly from vacancy 10 the angry face
before him. For moment he looked
slightly dazed, staring blankly at Can
, non. Then wrath gathered thunder
= ously on his brow.
Let me alone!" he said f1ercely
! thrusting him aside. Get out OF my
. way and let me alone! / can't tall
; TO you now"
: He swept the elder man out Of hi:
: path, and, lurching and staggering or
, his wounded feet, hurled himself out
, OF the room.