The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1914-02-10
CHAPTER XII.
The Path That Led Nowhere.

E~-1 an instant striving to recall
tzz.AY what it was that had haunt
ed his sleeping hours, what great event
awaited him. Then as it rushed
through his mind he leaped out of bed
This was tomorrow! But the after
noon was still a long way off, and he
must be content to dream until the
hour came.
1t was the hottest part of the day
when he set out, gun on arm, yet he
never thought of the discomfort. After
Skirting the city he swung into the
fine macadam road that had brought
him home the night before. and much
sooner than he expected he arrived at
the little path that led into the forest.
AS upon the previous day. he broke
into the glade before he suspected it's
presence. There was the tree from
| which she had called to him, yonder
| the bench where they had sat together.
OF course he was too early He
wanted to be in order not to miss an
| instant of her company. so he seated
| himself and dreamed about her The
minutes dragged. the jungle drowsed
An hour passed. Why didn't she come?
A sudden apprehension overlook him.
| which grew and grew as the after
noon wore away.
1t was very miserable young man
who wandered out through the fra
| grant path as the first evening shad-
| ows settled and bent his detected steps
| toward the city. Evidently something
hn6 70
her tryst, but he determined to return
on the morrow and then If she did not
come to follow that other path right
up to her house. which must be near
the pool. He would risk everything
| for word with her. He wondered if
she had stayed away purposely to test
him. and the thought gave him a thrill
If SO she would soon learn that he was
in earnest. He resolved to go hunting
earlier hereafter and give the whole
day to it, Meanwhile he would make
cautious inquiries.
1t was considerably after dark when
he reached the hotel, and his friends
had dined, but he encountered Mr.
! COrtlandt later. If Edith's husband
suspected anything of what had oc
Cured a night or two ago his cOun-
! tenance gave no sign of it. For some
reason or other Kirk had not been
troubled in the slightest by the thought
that Cortlandt might be told. He
| could not imagine Edith making him
the confidant of her outraged feelings
Besides, would such a strangely i'm
passive person resent any little indis-
erection in which his wife might choose
to indulge? Kirk did not know. The
man was puzzle to him.
Cortlandt's voice was thoroughly
noncommittal as he inquired:
Where have you been keeping your
self?'
1--WE been hunting to kill time"
by the way" continued the other.
| ''your friend Allan has been besieging
Edith imploring her to use her infiu-
ence to get him a position. He has set
his heart upon going to work with
you"
HE is becoming positive nuisance;
I can't get rid of him.
Il never saw such hero Worship"
'Oh. all niggers are hysterical."
Let me give you Il bit of advice,
| Anthony. Remember. there are no
'niggers' and whites in this country
they are both about equal. The presi-
dent of the republic is black man.
| and very good one too
That reminds me. l hear he is to
be succeeded by the father of my
| friend. AlfareZ.'
Cortlandt hesitated. General Altar
| ez is candidate. He is very strong
| man, but
Il am glad there is but
ut isn't settled, by any means. The
successful candidate will need the
support of our government
| Il suppose the Alfarez family is one
of the first settlers-Mayfiower stock?''
.'Oh. worse than that. The name
| runs back to Balboa's time"
What are some of the other leading
families?" Kirk artfully inquired.
There are number. The Martin
eZes. the Moras. the Garavels -
couldn't name them all. They are very
| fine people too"
| DO you know the Chiquitas:'
| Cortlandt's face relaxed in an invol-
| untary smile.
There is no such family. Who has
/ been teaching you SPANISH"
| Really. isn't there"
"'Chiquita' means very SMALL lit
tie one little girl or something like
that. It's not a family name. It's a
i term of endearment usually. What
made you take it for a proper name?"'
IA little girl told me-"