The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1913-10-31


had fully counted on getting it. and
the firms delay in writing began
to take on an ominous aspect With
scarcely $50 in his pocket and part
Of that owing here and there. he felt
uncomfortably pressed for money.
Then there was Daggancourt, whom
he had completely forgotten in the
flow of larger events-Dagganc0u
effusively expectant of that immediate
departure for Kentucky. To make Il
man weep is painful experience,
and it was in this manner Daggan-
court received the news of second
pOStponement.
I'D set my foolish Old heart on it,
he sobbed. Il believed you were in
earnest. It's-it's a terrible blow
But it's only put off a little while"
said Matt. For heavens sake. don't
think I've given it up. Victor. In
fact. it's more of life and death
thing to me now than ever before"
DaggancOurt SHOOK his head.
Il was willing to go my last dollar"
he said. II could have worked for
you with both hands and starved and
stinted-nOt for the money in it. Marse
Broughton-but because you are You:
because it is the colored mans in
stinct-his curse-tO love and serve a
master. Say no more. sir. / shall not
trouble you again. | am like the
Psalmist W no put his trust in princes
and verify was he disappointed
Matt was conscience stricken; he had
leaned on Victor: be had found COM
fort and sense of safety in the old
fellows rugged affection. 1t was hard
to see it go. and it appeared doubly
valuable. now that it was lost. Matt
telegraphed to Snood & Hargreaves:
Please give immediate effect to my let
ter and remit money for ring by express.
Telegraph reply. saying when 1 may ex-
pect to receive it,
When this was accomplished he en-
countered the concluding disaster Of
that whole disastrous morning. His
telephOned request to speak to Miss
Marshall was received by maid who
said that her mistress was i'll and
could not come down. Nor could a
message be carried to her because she
was asleep. One might be left. how
ever. Did the gentleman wish to leave
one?
Matt. wretchedly perturbed. could
think of nothing else than that Miss
Marshall was to be informed that be
had rung her up. 'Broughton. not
Button - B-r-o-u-g-h-t-o-n = and please
tell her l shall call this afternoon in
the hope of seeing her and perhaps
take her for drive If the weather
clears and she is we'll enough
At he was at Fair Oaks in a worse
downpour than ever. only to find him
self rebuffed Half soaked. he stood
on the threshold and was told that
Miss Marshall could see no one and
that the doe tor had given her some
sleeping stuff. The general. too, had
intrenched himself against callers
| Matt climbed into his buggy and drove
| off. sick with despair.
| Splashing along the muddy road, he
wondered at himself for refusing that
$4,000. With the money they had of
| fered him Chris. for was not this what
| it amounted to: With $4,000 in his
| pocket he might so up to that big
| house and take her bodily away. mar
| ry her. have her for his very own:
| Ninety men out of hundred
| would have taken the money-would
| have jumped at it. Fifty thousand
| dollars. 1t might be years before he
| would he worth a quarter as much
And here he was throwing it out of the
window like quixotic fool. 1t was
not in him TO hetray John Mort. II
! was simply that he was incapable OF
| il. He almost wished that he was not
| 1t was not principle nor religion nor
| anything-but a fact. He himself was
| quite helpless. Volition lay altogether
| beyond him. 1t was something be
| could not do. that was all.
| (Continled Tomorrow
!