The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1912-12-27

BrOKen accents. TIN. GeaT ssa-5- 11-
long I've waited and despairedI AT
last We may belong 10 each other for
everybody and soul. Nothing else mat
tiers now. does it, We shall forget all
the blank hideous years: you'll forget
it. won't you. dearest: YOU'LL forgive
me-now-say that you will2'
I've long ago forgiven, Nan. but tell
me about this sudden attack. You were
with him when he was stricken"
Eyes, | took the nurses place at
midnight: couldn't sleep"
How long did you stay with him?"
Until / called you."
And you gave him the medicine in
the absence of the nurSeF
only one" she answered, hesitat-
ingIy. "a particular kind the doctor
had not prescribed. but which he
asked for TO relieve his pain
He asked you for medicine. Nam
he went on remorselesSly a poison
3us po.s der-and you gave him onee"
Yes.
And you're sure you gave him but
one?"
lie was begging for two--I might
have given them ba,h-it'S possible. of
course"
he ya2ed al her with look of pity.
Il know that you did. Nan. know it
rs certainly as if | stood by your side
and saw you press it to his lips
''You know Jim" she cried feebly.
her head drooping low.
And you feel no remorSe:'
why should /: His death seemed
only question of days
From the bottom of my heart pity
you" Stuart broke in softly. The state
will never reach your act with the law
But the big thing is You have no con-
seriousness of guilt and feel no remorse
because you have no soul. You have
only desires and impulses. That's why
you couldn't wait for me TO earn my
fortune honestly and so betrayed me
for gold. | can see it all now. Your
beauty has blinded me-
For Gods sake. Jim," she cried
dercely. 'don't-don't talk like that, |
can't endure ii, You don't mean, you
can't mean that you are going to turn
from me now. just when I've found
your love, l did it for your
Stuart looked at her through mist
of tears
The spell is broken. Nan. dear: our
romance is ended. | don't say it in
pride or anger: | say it in sorrow-a
great deep. plying sorrow that cuts
and hurts
The woman understood. She had at
last passed out of his world Only the
memory of girl he had once loved
and idealiZed remained, and that men,
DRY was now unapproachable. The liv-
ing woman was no longer the figure in
the mental picture The struggle was
over
He extended his hand. clasped hers.
bowed and kissed it. turned and
walked quickly toward the door With
a half smothered cry she followed.
"Jimr'
He paused and turned again. facing
her with a look of infinite sadness.
Remember" she said brokenIy. Il
never expect to see you again-we
cannot meet after this. L am looking
into your dear face now with the
anguish of a broken heart strangling
me. You cannot leave like this-we
have been too much to each other"
He took her in his arms and held her
close.
Forgive me. dear" he whispered,
reverently kissing her as he would
have pressed the lips of the dead. 81
didn't mean to be so cruel-goodby."
The door of the great house softly
closed and he was gone. A few mo-
ments later the servants found her
limp form lying in swoon on the
floor.
Strangers no longer live in the cot
tage Stuart built on the hills A
jaunty sailboat mods at the buoy near
the waters edge. The drone of bees
from the fruit trees in full bloom on
the terraces promise a luscious har-
vest in the summer and fall The
lawn is a wilderness of flowers and
shimmering green. The climbing roses
on the southeastern side of the house
have covered it to the very caves of
the roof Stuart has just cut them
away from Harriet's window because
bay and sea and towering hills they
love so we'll And the grooming of a
little mother over a baby's cradle fills
the home with music sweeter to its
builder than any note ever heard in
grand opera.
THE END.