The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1913-03-03
The Vulnerable Heel.

~ 81 & ringing OF q CHURCH Dtll.
$3.50 II was clear morning. the
49, sun shining brilliantly. The
peace Of the Sabbath lay over all.
Along Main street moved. with sedate
stride. the weekly procession of church
goers Not even the news which they
would receive in church. that Warren
Blake bad dropped dead of heart fail
ure- grim jest!-would disturb their
gravity. For the news would be ac-
companied by assurances from Senator
Murchell and Stephen Hampden that
the bank would be in nowise affected.
John rose from his seat by the win
dow and. obedient to the command of
habit. made his morning toilet. When
he was dressed be returned TO the win
dow. He was very tired His will as
though worn out by the scene and
struggle of the night. could not shake
off the heavy mental and physical Iassi-
tude that oppressed him. Once he tried
TO recall the horror he had seen. but
his inert mind baked.
With sluggish curiosity he watched
the figure of a woman walking down
the street. Not until she turned in at
the gate did he recognize her. There
was no glad start. On the contrary. a
muttered. querulous protest escaped
him He did not wish to see her just
then
Reluctantly he rose and went down to
the library. She was standing at a
southern window through which the
sun poured II golden food. She heard
him enter and turned. He halted just
within the door. For moment. silent.
they looked at each other across the
sunlit room.
1t was she who, with the brave di-
| rectness that had always been hers
first broke the silence.
II have heard what-what happened
last night. And / have come to ask
you to do nothing that will harm my
father
Unconsciously his face darkened 1t
was not because of her request. but
because OF the picture she recalled
Il suppose it was for that You
| have He would have said. mo need
| to ask But she misunderstood and
interrupted quickly.
81 have no right to ask this-or any
thing of you? | know that. more
| clearly than you can tell me- l put
| you in the way of unhappness and
| then chose against you for things-f6r
| things of no value. 1t may give you
some satisfaction to know that they
are gone-though you can hardly be
| lieve that the taste for them went
| first.
"I-my father and Senator Murchell.
the men who will profit by your
silence, deserve nothing at your hands.
! at anybody's. l can't pretend that
they would show mercy to you. But
my father, at least. is a broken man
Last night took away his courage. He
believes that he is responsible for War
rem Blake's'-
No" She saw him shudder and
draw back. No. |. with my rash
ness, am to blame for that"
"Ah! you mustn't say that" She
took step forward. eager in his de
Tense. 81 know what you've been
| through and how it must have given
you the horrors. But you mustn't say
that Nobody could think it. You
only did your duty. But I'm afraid
for him. He is half crazed from fear
| and shock. | think-I couldn't endure
many more nights like last night I'm
| afraid. if it all comes out. he'll take
Warren Blake's way out
"Don'tp' he cried roughly. as if in
! pain. 'T've gone over it ALL
I'm not trying to brighten you. And
| didn't want toto come to you" The
steadiness was leaving her She
4 thought she saw in his lack OF re
/ Spouse a hostile determine ton Il
have no right to ask a man-such as
| you are-to sacrifice himself. his con
science for such man. / can offer
mono adequate return. But he is my
1 father and it is motif can not be SO
very wrong to err on the side OF
mercy. And once you said-you
4 cared
1T was true. 1t has always been true,
| What / will do will not be because
you ask IT. but because 1t is for you
And not for price. And-you haven't
thought 1t out very clearly, have you
| what you mean is impossible In any
case. If | went on with the investiga-
ton you couldn't love the man who
was prosecuting your father And
just because you understand what is
| right in the case and are what you
are. you couldn't respect and SO
couldn't love the man who weakly did
/ what was wrong for him-even for you
And just now-you are very anxious to
save your father"
The flood of crimson ebbed Sh,
looked NJ him strangely DO You be
| lieve-thatf"
II know it. But you needn't bt
afraid any longer. Your father is saft
so far as am concerned That was
settled before you came"
She turned from him in an immeas
urable relief TO look ont OF the window
The voice of the congregation ros,
again in the closing hymn. Onward
Christian Soldiers
The hymn ended She raised hel
head and faced him, unshed tears il
her eyes.
John Dunmeade," she cried, -
!, don't know yet how much Of what yoI
have said is true And I don't know
whether you have been weak or strong
But there are finer things than the
strength OF heartless justice One o.
them is-must be-to be merciful, Il