The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1912-08-21
Copyright 100 by the Bobbs- Merril Co.

Copyright Dy the 6oobs- ~
Rose turned quickly, sat down Oh
the edge of the bench, and leaned
toward the speaker. Her face was
full of a quivering intensity of con-
Germ
You poor, unfortunate woman!" she
said in a shaken voice, and laid her
hand on Berny's knee.
Berry was so astenished that for a
moment she had no words, but stared
uncomprehending, still alertly sus-
picious.
You poor SOUL" Rose went on. "If
I'd known or guessed for a moment I'd
have spoken differently. | can't say
anything. l didn't know. l couldn't
have guessed. It's the most horrible
thing / ever heard of. It's-too-too-"
She stopped, biting her lip. Berry
saw that she was unable to command
her voice, though she had no appear
ance of tears. Her face looked quite
different from what it had at the be-
ginning of the interview. All it's ami
able, rosy softness was gone. The
elder woman was too astonished to
say anything. She had feeling that,
just for that moment, nothing could
be said. She was silenced by some
thing that she did not understand.
Like an amazed child she stared at
Rose, baff1ed, confused, little awed.
After minute of silence, the young
girl went on.
Il can't talk about it, / don't alto
gether understand. Other people-they
must explain. I've been-no, not de-
ceived-but kept in the dark But
be sure of one thing, yesterday was
the end of it. They'll never-no one
that have any power over-will ever
make you such offers again. I'll prom.
Use you that. l don't know how it
could have happened. There's been a
mistake, horrible, unforgivable mis-
| take. You've been wronged and insult
ed, and I'm sorry, sorry and humili
ated and ashamed. There are nc
words"
She stopped again with gesture OF
helpless indignation and disgust, and
rose to her feet. Berry, through the
| darkness of her stunned establishment
realized that she was shaken by feel
| ings she could not express
| You didn't know anything about il
then" the wife said sullenly, wanting
still to be defiant and finding all hel
defiance overwhelmed by an invading
sensation of feeling small, mean anC
contemplate.
| Know it?" said the girl, letting /:
glance of scorn touch the questioner
Know it and let it go on? But / sup
pose you've right to ask me such ;
| question"
| 81 guess l have" said Berry, but he
voice did not have any assurance o
her conviction on the subject. l
sounded fiat and spiritless.
you have. You seem to me to hav
a right to say anything savage AM
angry and insulting. And l can onl.
say to you I'm sorry, I'm sorry, and
ask your pardon-for me and for tn
others. And that doesn't make it an
easier for you to bear, or do you an
good"
Berry swallowed dryly and said:
mo, it doesn't"
| AL Call w uOW Is u pTOUlSe w
that it stops today and for ever
You'll never be bothered again by any
thing Of the kind. You can go back t
your home and feel that never agai
will any one belonging to me try t
come between you and your husband
l can't say any more. l can't tai
about it. Good-by."
She turned away as she spoke an
without a backward look walked raj
idly down the gravel walk to tn
street. With an immovable. unwinl
ing gaze, Berry followed her figure a
it melted into the fog. 1t seemed onl
moment before 1t was gone, appear
ing to dissolve into the curd-like GU
rents that surrounded it.
Berry sat without moving on th
bench, staring in the direction i
which it had disappeared. Her hand
lay limp in her lap, the fog beaded j
crystal boar on her clothes. She di
not notice its growing chill nor tn
rapid downcoming of the dark. He
body was as motionless as a statue
but her mind was like a still, rankl.
overgrown lake, suddenly churned il
to activity by unexpected gales {
wind.