The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1912-07-20
Copyright 10 By the B0b6s- Mernn C.

II was one or those WOODEN struc-
lures on Sacramento Street not far
from Van Ness Avenue where the
well-to-do and socially-aspiring crowd
themselves into a floor OF seven
rooms. and derive satisfaction from
the proximity Of their distinguished
neighbors who refuse to know them.
It contained four fats, each with
parlor bay-window and a front door,
all four doors in neighborly iuxtaposi-
ton at the top Of a flight to six
marble steps.
Dominick's was the top fiat: he had
70 ascend a long, carpeted stairway
with a turn halfway up to get to 1t.
Now, looking at the bay-window, he
saw lights cleaning from below the
drawn blinds. Derry was still UP. A
lingering hope that she might have
gone to bed died, and his sense OF re-
luctanoe gained IN force and made
him feel slightly sick. He was there,
however. and he had to go up. Fit
ting his key into the lock he opened
the hall door.
It was very quiet as he mounted
the long stairs, but, as he drew near
the top. he became aware Of a windy,
whistling noise and looking into the
room near the stairhead saw that ell
the gas-tets were lit and turned on
full cock, and that the gas, rushing
out from the burner IN q ragged ban
ner Of flame, made the sound. He
was about to enter and lower It when
he heard his wife's voice coming from
the open door Of her room.
eft that you, Dominick7" she called.
Her voice was steady and high.
Though 1t was hard, with a sort Of
precise clearness Of utterance, 1t was
not conspicuously wrathful.
YES" he answered, cts T." and
he forgot the gas-jets and walked up
the hall. He did not notice that in
the other rooms he passed the gas
was turned on in the same manner.
The whistling rush Of its escape made
q noise like an excited, unresting
| wind in the confined limits Of the
little fat.
The door Of Berny's room was open,
and under blaze Of light from the
chandelier and the side lights Of the
bureau she was sitting in a rocking
chair facing the foot of the bed. She
held in her hand a walking-stick of
Dominick's and with this she had
been making long scratches across
the footboard, which was Of walnut
and was scanned back and forth, like
a rock scraped by the passage Of a
glacier. AS Dominick entered, she de
sisted, ceased rocking, and turned to
look at him. She had an air of taut,
| sprightly impudence, and was smiling
little.
We'll, Dominick," she said jauntily,
you're late"
yes, believe l am" he answered.
'T did not come straight back"
Took a walk" she said, turning
to the bed and beginning to rock.
TITS a queer sort Of hour to choose
for walking" and lifting the cane she
recommended her occupation of
scratching the foot-board with it, trac.
ing long, parabolic curves across the
entire expanse, watching the canes
tip with her head tilted to one side,
Dominick, who was not looking at
her, did not notice the noise.
IT thought" she said, tracing a
great arc from one side to the other
that you were with your loving fam.
ily-opening the ball. probably"
He did not move, but said quietly:
at was impossible to get the invi.
tation, Berry. I tried to do it and
was refused. I want you to under
stand that as long as I live I'll never
do thing like that again."
"Oh, yes, you will" she said laugh
ing and shaking her head like an
amused child. ooh, yes, you will.
She threw her head back and, look
ing at the ceiling, laughed still louder
with a note Of f1erceness in the sound
You'll do 1t and lots more things
like 1t. You'll do it If I want you to-
Dominick Ryan"
He did not answer. She hitched
her chair closer to the bed as IL to
return to an engrossing pastime, and
leaning back luxuriously, resumed heI
play with the cane. This time Domi
nick noticed the noise and turned
She was conscious that he was look
ing at her, and began to scratch with
an appearance Of charmed absorption
such as an artist might display in his
work. He watched her for a moment
in silent establishment and then broke
out sharply:
) What are you doing?"
Scratching the bed" responded
calmly.
you must be mad" he said, strid