The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1913-12-26
!. |. Smith GroCeVr
Company,
PHONE 434.
Next to Ocala National Bank


And why?" returned the girl, with
eringly. Because you cant be SEN
sible. No, no; don't interrupt" she
commanded. "If you have followed
me here 80 learn what think c. you
then listen to ne. I'll make ny mean
ing so plain tina. It will penetrate even
to your dull understandings
There was 2 time that liked YOU.
John-how could help it when Z SO
many ways you have been SO loyalo
Even now admire that loyalty"
"a dos's!" the man contemptuousl1
interjected; but the girl ignored the
interruption.
But you are SO obtuse that you can
not see when your familiarities are dis
tasteful? ] am sure l have never eu.
couraged you by word or look. Can
not you realize that by persisting In
them you only excite ioathing and
fear
But, no, 1 am not afraid of you"
The voice abruptly softened. And l
don't loathe you, John; it's wicked for
me to say such thing; but you Will
drive me to loathing you if you persist
n making love to me. l do not love
YOU. | never have. | never can
A roar from the man cut SNORT nUi
words.
Damn it, I'll make you love mel"
The words ratified harsh1y in his
throat. DO you think l have been
working and waiting all these years
from any sense of duty, or loyalty to
20 40
1t was for you-do you hear me? You!
meant at the first that you should be
my wife; | have meant it all along;
mean it now more than ever. And
by God! you shant turn ne down in
this way! / WON'T can't stand IL!
There was q pause. The stiffness OF
the mouldering corridors and empty
chambers seemed to gather and WelSh
down upon the listener like a palpaDie
substance. What should he do; re-
treat without letting his presence be
known, or open the door and inter
fere? So far the girl had demonstrated
her ability to handle the situation, and
he shrank from appearing as an OF
ficious meddler; yet, for the life OF
him, until he was vouchsafed at least
hint of the alterations outcome, he
could not depart.
The silence was quite abruptly
broken by the girls voice, cold now
and biting.
John, stand away from the door
and let me by
No response from the man.
Are you going to let me pass?''
| And again, apparently, he was I'M
able to contain himself.
moi" he burst forth. eff all my
months C waiting and giving-myself,
unGe-stand-giving the best of me
/ for you'll my only payment is to be
scorn and contempt l suppose you'd
call it-then, by heaven! I'll make
you suffer! I'll break your spirit;
| -IIi-''
john" in shocked voice.
| He did noe heed; all restraint was
| thrown to the winds, and he drove On
! II 2. reckless frenzy of speech.
"Ycu think l care what happens to
ne, d. you? Huh! Blame little you
/ Know about John Calls. If | can t
| have you I dcl't care whoop in
:
! have you noboGy else shall. Scream,
+ !. yo- want to-yell at the top OF your
voice-there's nobody to hear you
JONI" The gil was nov genuine
! = alarmed. ''Don't tax SO wildly.
Tou'-l regret this. And dol't-don' :
( look a re Ike that" another brief
pause and she concluded pleading.y:
| PLEASE, John, let ne SOL"
"- shan't''-dcggea
wat Go you mean to do with me,
Jchn?"
"T don't know. haven't made rp
my mind Maybe I'll kill you-if you
drive me to IL"
The girl must lave rushed toward
the door, desperately striving to win
! past him, and just as certainly he
must have caught her and stayed her
steps. What followed was pretty much
confused u Van vechten's mind. There
was a sound of scuFing; the incensed
listener IN the call heard the girl cry
out IN an agitated voice: "Oh! You
are hurting me-" which was immedi.
ately followed by stified shrek that
chilled the Blood IN his veins.
Next instant he had grasped the
knob and thrown ali his weight against
the door.
Il was unbolted and crashed open
| with explosive violence. His irrup
.ic2 promptly Quoted the disturbance
TIE man-it was the sandy-complex
tcred man-stood with dropped jaw
staring blarkiy at the intruder.
And the girl? His heart leaped. His
whole being was suTUsed with a warm
! glow. The girl that he had despaire6
o. ever seeing again, what unhappy
2ischance had brought her to this