The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1912-09-02

going over past events in the concat-
enation OF circumstances that had led
up to the extraordinary situation in
which they now found themselves.
Both listened with strained ears for
the opening of Bernice's door, but not
sound came from her room. Each
silently, without expressing his
thoughts to the other, wondered what
she would do, what sensational move
might now be expected Of her. While
they talked, it was evident she in
tended to make no sign of life.
After Buford had left. Dominick
called up his friend on the telephone
telling him that he would be unable
to meet him at dinner. He knew that
Berry could hear every word he ut
tered, and with indescribable dread
he expected that she would open her
door and accost him. But again she
preserved an inviolate fnvisibility,
though beneath her portal he could
see a crack of light and could hear
her moving about in the room.
He went into his own room, lit the
gas, and began packing his trunks.
He was dazed and stupefied by what
had occurred, and almost the only
clearly defined idea he had was to
leave the house and get far from the
presence of the woman who had so
ruthlessly poisoned his life. He was
in the midst of his packing when the
Chinaman summoned him to dinner,
| but he told the man he cared for
nothing and would want no breakfast
| on the following morning. The serv-
ant, who by this time was we'll aware
that the household was a strange one,
shrugged his shoulders without COM
ment and passed on to the door of his
mistress's room, upon which he
| knocked with the low, deferential rap
of the Chinese domestic. Berny's
voice sounded shrilly, through the 81
| lence of the fiat:
go away! Let me alone! II that's
dinner I don't want any"
The sound of her voice pierced
Dominick with a sense of loathing
and horror. He stopped in his pack.
ing, suddenly deciding to leave
everything and go, go from the house
and from her as soon as he could get
away. He thrust into a valise such
articles as he would want for the
night and set the bag by the stair.
head while he went into the parlor to
find some bills and letters Of his that
he remembered to have left In the
desk. AS he passed Berny's door, II
| ha in he
aperture. The room behind her was a
blaze. Of light, and every gas-jet Iii
and pouring flood of radiance over
the clothes outspread on the bed, the
chairs, and the floor. She, herself
in a lace-trimmed petticoat and loose
silk dressing-sack, stood in the door
way staring at Dominick, her face
pinched. white. and fierce.
What are you doing?" she said alb
ruptly. Going away?"
EYES," he answered, stopping at the
sight of the dreaded apparition
That's my intention"
Where are you going?" she de
manded.
He gave her cold look and made
|
Are you going to your mother's?'
she cried.
He moved forward toward the par
lor door and she came out into the
passage. looking after him and repeat
ing. with a tremulous. hoarse persis
tence, "Dominick, answer me. Are
you going to your mother's?"
yes. am" he said over his shoul
der.
He had an unutterable dread tina
she would begin to speak of the sit
uaticr. Of Buford, of her past life;
that she would try 10 explain and ex
onerate herself and they would b,
plunged into long and profitless dis
cussion OF all the sickening, irremedi
able Indebtedness of the past H,
could not bear the thought of it: b,
would have done anything to avoid ii
He wanted TO escape from her. from
the house where she had tortured
him. where he seemed 70 have lait
down his manhood, his honor, hi:
faith. and seen her trample on them
The natural supposition that he woult
want TO confront her with her decep
ton and hear her explanation was tn
: last thing he desired doing
Don't go to your mothers" sh.
cried. following him I'D the hall so