The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1913-05-15
The
Flying
:~~>>> Man ~...<,:
BY
Harry Irving Greene
Author Of
f'The Lash of Circumstance"
Barbara Of the SHOWS"
Copyright 1914 BY Harry Irving Gresnsl


Close beside them the mountains
grim and vast lowered up so steep
that a mountain sheep would have had
to choose his way with care-Titanlc
walls thrown up in prehistoric ages
to mark the end of the dominion Of
the plain and the beginning OF the
land of snoW-clad peaks and abyssmal
gorges. Above them the marvellous
sky stretched into infnity, unmarried
by speck visible to the human eye,
upon their head the rays of the sun
fell warmly, but the air was crisp and
sparkling, sweet TO the nose and lungs
invigorating. exhiIerating. Miles be
hind them lay the peaceful city, silent
III the Sunday morning save for the
faint tOlling of bells. II was a day,
an hour and a place TO make one
Jingle with the JOY of wholesome eX-
ercise. the sweetness of youth and
health, the gladness Of living. Doris
laugh, low and contented, was seldom
still.
They had ridden rapidly in round
about course for two hours and now
the deep trench of Blue Canyon open
ed close before them. Hewed out OF
the solid mountain, fat of bottom and
pFecipitous of sides, it retreated mile
after mile towards the distant peaks,
crawling sinuously backward al a
worm retreats, ever ascending until il
fiattended itself into nothingness and
was lost in the far upper regions.
Some distance from it's mouth was d
famous spring where the water gushed
from the rock as an endless stream Of
diamonds, cold ard sweet. and as
though they had preaTranged their act
they swung their horses into the can
yon's throat, slightly thirsty them
selves and knowing that their horses
would be eager to drink. Fifteen min
Utes later they dismounted where the
stream burst forth, and throwing the
long bride reins Of the well trained
animals over their heads they left
the beasts to drink and Shift for them
selves. Alan filled the folding pocket
drinking cup which he always carried
in his riding coat and handed it to his
companion. She raised it to her lips,
over the brim.
ITO the most gallant of escorts"
she said with the mockery of mis-
chief in her manner as she quaffed
daintily and returned the cup to him.
He sank upon one knee in exaggerated
homage, refilled it, rose and held it on
high.
ITO the woman love-" and looking
her full in the face drank it with one
mighty draught. She laughed con-
tentedly, seating herself upon a boul-
der while he took his place close at
hand where he could look her full
in the face and thus miss no detail Of
her beauty. It was absolutely impos-
sible for March to be alone with Doris
ing love to her, and now he began
again with unblushing flattery.
Doris, you are the sweetest-pret
tiest-most inconsistent-most aggra-
vating-most adorable woman in the
world" he calculated between puffs
as he lighted cigar. She nodded her
assent.
All IlSAl. uOu care IL ain.
What of it?"
And in not marrying me you do not
know what you miss"
Perhaps not But Miss is as good
as Mrs. any time"
Yet you do not seem to appreciate
the fact that here am, young, strong,
handsome, prosperous, madly in love
with you and yearning for affection in
wholesale quantities in return. Any.
one to see the way you ignore me
would think that lovers such as /
were a drug upon the market" She
let her chin fall upon her hands and
pulled out her cheeks.
They are in my market" she re
turned conceitedly I've got lots Of
'em. You see there are you and Clay
and Mr.. Grass down east, who has a
private warehouse full of nothing but
money, who writes me such burning
letters that have to keep them in the
ice chest Tor fear of spontaneous COM
bustion. and -"
Il believe you are in love with Clay
after ALL he interrupted sulIenly, lit
her answering letter. Immediately she
became airy. mischievous. totally IN
satisfactory, reveling in the feminine
satisfaction of mastery over mere
man, yet with her conscience secretly
pricking her for tormenting him and
with the mental resolve that she
would more than make amends for it
before the day was over. Not an ounce
of real cruelty was there in Doris
whole being, nor any more vanity
than must of necessity abide in one
who was so persistently sought, she
being thankful for her beauty rather
than vain Of it. but knowing in her
own heart that she was enjoying her
small tyranny over her suitOrs. Before
succumbing she enjoyed pricking them
slightly and watching them squirm for
a moment that she might by q touch
or a word make them whole again and
more content than ever. Therefore
she said:
And suppose I were. And suppose
even that We were about TO become
engaged. What of it? At least YOU
must admit that he also is young,
strong, handsome, prosperous and
yearning for affection in impossible
quantities" He interrupted her i'm
patiently.
"Oh. I suppose so-fr0m a woman's
viewpoint But it seems TO me in this
case I have a prior claim" judicial