The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1914-02-09
CONTINUED from Page Five)

SEA bTeIt. 1t IcdIS luclA IA CScCS-
"Oh, one cannot tear a dress like
this" She glanced down at her skirt.
Allowing his eyes to leave her face for
a moment. Kirk saw that she was
clad, oddly enough, in Il suit of denim
which was buttoned snugly clear TO
her neck.
He broke his gun and removed the
shells; then. leaving it beside the bath
house went to the tree where he had
first seen her With one hand resting
upon the trunk, he turned to say:
Promise you won't disappear while
I'm up there or change into squirrel
or a bird or anything like that
Yes, yes"
Then instead of beginning his climb
| the young man lounged idly against
| the tree.
Funny how l found you. wasn't it,"
| he remarked Il mean it's funny |
should have stumbled right on you this
| way. There's only one of you and one
| of me. and-er-this country is so Big
But the orchid, senior. Do you fear
| to climb SO hish?" she inquired. with
| the faintest CLEAN of amusement at
his obvious effort to prolong the con-
versation.
"Oh, no.
When he had reached the first fork
| he turned and seated himself comfOrta-
| bly,, peering downward through the
leaves for a sight Of her.
Not gone YETI he exclaimed.
That's good
"Are you out Of breath that you stop
so soon?"
| He nodded. II need to rest a minute.
Say, my name is Anthony-Kirk An
thony" Then, after a pause, "I'm an
American
$50 am 1, at least am almost. My
mother was an American"
You don't sayv' The young mans
face lighted up with interest, and he
started eagerly down the tree trunk,
but she checked him promptly.
The orchidr'
"Oh, yes" He reseated himself.
"Well. well, 1 suppose your mother
taught you to speak English?'
Il also attended school in Balti-
| more
Now that the first surprise of meet
ing was over, Kirk began a really at
/ tentive scrutiny of this delightful!
young person. His first glimpse had
told him she was ravishingly pretty,
but it had failed to show how dainty
and small she was. Her chief charm
lay in a certain winsome vfvacity.
Even now pure mischief looked out Of
her eyes as she asked
Have you rested enough to attack
the orchid?'
"Yes." He reused himself from his
france, and with a strangely leaping
heart proceeded carefully to detach
the big air plant from its resting place.
Don't break it," she cautioned as
he came gingerly down the tree, ut
is what we call 'Espiritu Santa the
holy spirit flower. See, it is like a
white bird"
MAY 1 rest a moment? I'm aw-
fully tired
Certainly. You may stay as long
as you wish. When you are rested
the little path will bring you out
| But you mustn't go.'' he exclaimed
in panic as she turned away "Oh,
l Soy. pleasei You wouldn't do a thing
| like that?''
Il cannot speak to you this way,
sir" The young lady blushed prettily
why not, I'd like to know?"
oh She raised her hand and
shook her head to express the abso-
! lutte impossibility of such a thing.
| Ia
will Stephanie say
you've been nothing of the sort
and who is Stephanie?"
she is a big black woman-very
| fierce. 1t is because of Stephanie that
| the fairies have gone away from here. :"
I'm so tired that l must sit down.
l thought these country places We're
unoccupied at this season.
$50 they are. But, you see. / am do
ing penance- ! am a bad girl. | am
disobedient. Otherwise l would not
allow you to speak to me alone like
this. You are the first gentleman |
have ever been so long in the COM
| pany with. Senior Antonio. For six
months | must wear these garments
no pretty ones. I must not go out in
public also. and I have been sent here
| away from the city for Il time to cure
my rebellious spirit
Those dresses must be hot
''Oh. very uncomfortable. But. you
see. | was bad"
Not very baG?''
Indeed. disobeyed my father. my
uncle. everybody For the first time
her eyes grew bright with anger. Blu,
did not wish to be married"
Now l see. They wanted you 20
marry some fellow you don't like?