The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1914-06-16
uNSELFISH CoNSPlRAToR F.:
BY JAMES ROBERTS,


sun was sinking behind the hill.
Virginia set the milk bottles out on
the back porch with tickets for the
next days supply. Her cheeks were
flushed with the heat, and little moist
tendrils of hair chung to her forehead
Il don't care how / look she said
as she turned toward the door.
In the double-seated swing, she
leaned her head back YEARLY and
closed her eyes. The breeze was cool
and refreshing. Tired as she was she
began to plan for the mornings work
She had never admitted even to her
self, that since John Marshall had
been coming to see Annabelle, the
work had been much harder
The big, old-fashioned house was
enough to keep two of them busy
most Of the time. But of late, Anna
bellies time had hardly been her own.
When John was not there or taking
her out somewhere, there were other
things for the favored sister to do.
Mrs. Virgins appeared around the
corner Of the house.
Good evenin', Miss Ginnie. I didn't
see any lights in the front and'sposed
you wasn't through with the dishes
yet. Hot, amt it?"
Virginia was relieved that it was
only her kind-hearted, garrulous old
neighbor. Come out here and sit
with me, won't you. Mrs. Virgins?
It's cooler here"
"Whatll l do with your daddy's
eggs?"
"Oh, did you bring some for his
breakfast? How kind. I'll get a
pan"
Never mind. I'll fix EN- / know
how tired you must be-"
Mrs. Virgins put an egg, small end
down, in the top of each milk bottle.
There! They'll be all right till you
come in"
She limped back to the swing. In
the twilight, she caught the weary
droop of the girls shoulders. Miss
GIMME, We amt sick, are ye?"
mo, Mrs. Virgins. Why?"
TIT amt like you. l don't like
to see you so tired. Your poor moth
er, she used to say, 'Virginnie, she
can't stand what Annabelle does An
she always tried to keep you rested.
What do We do it for, Miss Ginnie?"
why, Mrs. Virgins, you know how
it is with US now. since dad lost all his
money. It's too bad If two big,
healthy girls like us can't take care
of him and the house"
But, Miss Anna don't help. guess
I've got eyes,"
well, perhaps not so much as she
did. but-she's very busy"
Yes, l know why she's busy. But
no matter if she is goin' to get mar
ried, she's no business imposin' on
you an I'm goin' to tell her"
Mrs. Wiggins!"
There, there, dearie! I'm an old
trouble-maker an 1 must be goin' be-
fore l say anything more. I'm sorry.
Miss Ginny, if 1 hurt you. hope
you'll feel better tomorrow"
Virginia watched the old lady dis.
appear into the darkness. So other
people were beginning to notice! She
whitened. The bare facts paraded
themselves before her now without
disguise.
The moon, almost full. was rising
in the east, making fairyland Of the
old-fashioned garden. 1t shone full
on the face of the girl in the swing
lying back with closed eyes, her face
now strangely white.
She was saying over and over to
herself, Il wonder if he really does
care for her! / wonder if
'Virginia." whispered some one
softly, so softly that at first she did
not open her eyes. 1t seemed like
some mysterious magic of the old
moonlit garden.
When she did look up, she saw a
man standing close to the swing. She
sat up with a startled cry, then rec
ognizing John Marshall, she turned
away in pretty confusion. Had he
heard her thoughts? Had she said
anything aloud? He had called her
Virginia." for the first time.
She scrambled out of the swing.
Good evening, Mr. Marshall. I
didn't expect you and Annabelle back
SO soon."
Il wonder" he said irrelevantly, IF
you have any idea how beautiful you
are in the moonlight"
Mr. MARSHALL"
Cant you say John""
"Why-I-don't know. Why should
II" She was nervously plucking
leaves from lilac bush. He reached
out and took both her hands in his.
Because l want you to. This time
I'm not going to let you get away with
out telling you what l want to. I've
tried for days but you have always
had some excuse. Too tired, or too
busy, or dishes, or something for IA
Their Annabelle's a charming, clev-
er little girl, but she isn't you. Vir-
GINA 1 came alone. She's still at
the party having a fine time with Jack
English. They're glad to get rid of
he 1ouubod no ovoc VIZ