The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1914-12-30
JOHhoON'S ROMANCE
BY HAROLD CARTER.

still, there was something in the tell
ing Of it that held us. Archie Croth-
ers had leo. off by saying that there
was romance in every life, even in
that of the most prosaic of mortals. E.
IF you know where to look" said
Hale. Then, after a pause: Il never .
spoke of my friend Johnson, did II"
Nobody present had heard of him, |
and Hale took up his story
You can judge the prosaic nature |
OF the man from his name. Nobody !
called Johnson ever figured as a hero |
of fiction. He was a little, sandy |
haired man of about thirty, with one
hobby: travelling.
johnson worked for an insurance
company in New York and he used to
spend his vacation every year visit
ing all sorts of little places that no.
body thinks about. This happened to
him in a little town somewhere in
Nova Scotia, with a big cathedral in
1t that had been erected a century ago,
when the town was bigger than Ii is
today.
johnson found the little place all
ties was staying in it. Being an in
quisitive sort of man he learned that
Princess Alicia was there with her
father, the prince of Stuttgart, and
that the young duke of Gronstadt was
to arrive the same day. The princess
and the duke were engaged, but they
had never met.
johnson arrived on a Saturday
night, and on Sunday morning he
went to the cathedral to worship. He
noticed that lot of people seemed to
be going, but, being supplemented,
he did not connect their presence
there in such numbers with any desire
to see the prince and his daughter.
The floor pews were all packed, so
Johnson went up into the gallery.
That was packed too, except for one
pew toward the end, containing room
| for half a dozen occupants, and an
other pew behind it. These two pews
were surrounded by a brass rail, and
| it occurred to Johnson that they were
| probably private. However, the only
occupant of the front pew was a very
| pretty young lady, with a parasol and
prayer book, and the pew behind
! had no occupants at all. Johnson
hesitated the fraction of a second, and
then he sat down in the young lady's
pew.
"He saw her looking at him rather
strangely, but just then the service be-
gan, and, after an instant of hesita-
ton, the young lady extended her
prayer book toward him.
81 can't tell you whether or not
Johnson had ever been in love, but
undoubtedly he was PIT that moment
The girl was about wenty-three OF
four, rather fair, with pair of blue
eyes whose glance Johnson found
himself trying to catch. At last be
did catch them, and there was such al
expression in them that Johnson die
not know whether he was kneelins
on his knees or his shoulders.
"They kneeled down side by side
and neither of them was paying th'
least attention to the sermon. If love
at first sight is not a myth, that wa
d case of it. Johnson caught tn
girls glance again and now the lool
was unmistakable. And still neithe
of them knew what the clergyman
was saying or doing. They were in
fairyland together alone in the mids
of the crowd that packed the cathe
! dral.
'The girl was so close to him tina
/ Johnsons mouth was almost agains
her ear: Their hands touched owe
i the prayer book. Now she was speal
ing.
This is very unconventional sh
whispered.
Yes answered Johnson.
eff you knew how l have longe
to meet you, and yet how frightene
1 have been she said. When di
you arrive?'
Last evening" answered Johnson
and it all seemed perfectly natural t
him.
"'We arrived yesterday, too, sal
the girl, raising her eyes to hi
Hush. Don't let the people see ths
We are talking We must preserv
decorum mustn't we?'
what is your name?' he viii
pered. I must see you. Where al
you staying?'
THE girl looked at him with eye
that dilated in terror. Who are you
she gasped
"sMy name, said Johnson yer
slowly-it seemed to him that ths
was Insignificant just then-'my nam
is Johnson
'He was quite unprepared for whs
followed. For the girl suddenl
walked out Of the pew, hurried on
then fastened madly away, and a
eyes in the cathedral followed he
Johnson was too paralyzed to stir fl
full minute. Then he hurried ate
her. But the girl was nowhere to
seen.
''He never saw her again. You ca