The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1912-08-12

nue. and there catch an outgoing car
10 the park It was the middle Of the
afternoon and the great thoroughfare
lay still and idle IN the slanting light.
There vas something foreign, almost
tropical in its vista, IN the scene that
hung like a drop curtain at the limit
OF sight-pale blue hills dotted with
Ochre-colored hOuses-in he back
ground of sky deep in tint, the foliage
dark against 1t as If printed upon its
intense glazing blue, in the sharp lines
Of palms and spiky leaves crossing
succeed walls. The people that
moved slowly along the sidewalks fit
ted into this high-colored exotic set
ting. There was no hurry or crowding
among them. They progressed with
an Un-American deIiberation, tasting
the delicate sweetness Of the air. re-
j0icing in the sky and the sun, paus-
ing to look at the dark business OF a
dracaena against wash of blue, the
skeleton blossom of a Century plant,
the pool Of thick scarlet made by
parterre OF geranium.
The three sisters-Hannah and
Pearl leading, Berry and Hazel walk
ing behind with Josh-fared buoyant-
ly down the street. AS they passed,
/ they commented on the houses and
their inmates. They had plenty Of
stories of the jewellers in those solemn
palaces, many Of whom were people
whose humble beginnings they knew
by heart, and whose rapid rise had
been watched almost awe-stricken by
an admiring and envious community.
AS the Ryan house doomed into view
their chatter ceased and their eyes,
serious with staring attention. were
fixed on the mansion which had so
stubbornly closed its doors on one Of
them. Sensations of varying degrees
of animcsity stirred in each of them,
except the child, still too young to be
tainted by the corroding sense of
worldly injustice. She skipped along
sidewise, her warm, soft hand clasped
In her Aunt Hannah's decently-gloved
palm. Some wave or vibration of the
intense feelings Of her elders passed
to her, and as they drew nearer the
house she, too, began to grow grave,
and her skipping quieted down into a
sober walk.
That's Uncle Dominick's house,
isn't it," she said to Hannah.
Hannah nodded. BY far the most
amiable and wide-minded of the Sis
tiers, she could not rise above the
sense Of ranking Indignation that she
felt against the Ryans for their treat
ment of Berry.
f'FThot'C tho hiooocr in
Francisco" said Pearl over her shout
der TO her parents. Amt it, Pepper"
q guess it is" answered Josh, CIV
ing his head a conf1rmatory wag, and
even if it amt, it's big enough, the
Lord knows!"
: 81 can't see what a private family
wants with all that ROOM" said Han
nah with a condemnatory air. There
, must be whole sootes of rooms on that
upper floor that nobody lives in
Don't you fret. They're all occu-
. pied" said Berry. Each one of them
, has their own particular soote. Cornie
has three rooms all of her own, and
even the housekeeper has a private
. bath"
And there's twelve indoor serv-
| ants" said Hazel. They want lot
/ of space for them. Twelve servants
; just think of it,"
, Twelve servants!" calculated Han.
: nah almost with a grOan. We'll, that
: don't seem TO me right"
: They were close to the house now
and silence fell on them, as though
l the antagonism of it's owners was eX
=, hailed upon them from the mansions
aggressive bulk, like an unspoker
curse. They felt overawed, and at the
i same time proud that one of theil
2 number should have even the most
t distant affiliations with a family too
5 exclusive to know her. The womer
t with their more responsive and sensi
3 tive natures felt it more delicately
J. than Josh, who blunderingly expressed
I one of the thoughts of the moment b.
/. remarking:
i Some day you'll live in there, Der
S ny, and boss the twelve servants"
a "Rats!" said Berry, giving her head
:, an angry toss. I'D rather live in my
S fiat and boss Sing"
t Josh's whistle Of facetious incredul
r ity died away incomplete, for at tina
g moment the hall door opened and {
d portly masculine shape emerged upor
) the porch. Berry, at the first glance
e was not sure of its identity, but he
r doubts were dispelled by her brother
in-law's quick sentence, delivered OF
: the rise of surprised breath.
Y bill Cannon, by gum! What's h
I doing there?"
This name, as powerful to coniur.
with in the city as in the mining
camps, cast its instantaneous spell UP
. on the sisters, who stared avid-eyet
} upon the great man. He for his par
&. seemed oblivious to their glanCes anC
i. to their presence. He stood on III,
= top step for musing moment, looking
:, down with that sort of filmy fiXity o
e gaze which is noticeable in the glanc'
of the resting eagle. His appearance
: was a last browning touch TO tn
Y proud, unapproachable distinction Q
o the Ryans.
y Don't he look as if he was think
ing?" said Hazel in a whisper. ''
wonder what's on his mind"
Probably that Mondays pay-da,
. and he don't know whether he Cal
e scratch through" said the jocose Josh
y Berry did not say anything. Sh
= felt the interest in Cannon that sh
= did in all conquering, successful pee
C pie, and in her heart i gave her
= sense of added importance TO tLinl
that the family she had married int
and who refused TO know her was o.
friendly terms with the Bonanza Kine