The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1914-07-03

youLnIul love and happiness. This, the
only place where she could find peace
in her loneliness, Dan was trying to
wrest from her 1t was too near to
town, too near to the scene of his
new activities, he had sent word to
her. She must vacate. She must go
80 far away that his charge OF de
sertion" would stand fire in a court
Of law.
Face to face with the fact that Dan
was trying to drive her even from this
shelter, trying TO drive her out into
a strange and alien world, of which
she knew nothing and which knew
nothing of her, Mary could scarcely
believe that Dan was so changed
that even now he would be wiling to
snatch away from her the place which
held the memory of happier days.
She had not seen her husband since
the night In Senator Strickland's
library, when the awful knowledge had
been forced home to her that he not
only wanted permanent separation,
but insisted on having an absolute di-
vorce, Over and over again a thought
came into the woman's mind. 1t was
intuitive, instructive. Try as she
might to silence it, she could not put
it out of her thoughts. It was that
ever-recurrent feeling that another
woman had entered Dams mind and
heart. Again and again she pushed
ii from her, but always and ever the
obsession chung to her like a black
shadow that haunted her during the
day and persisted even in her dreams
at night.
From the kitchen came the voice of
her maid-of-all-work singing an old
fashioned tune.
1t was one that in her young days
Dan had loved to hear her sing-one
whose sweet melody and, melancholy
sentiment he had loved In the days
before his heart had become hard and
| his mind intense on the cold, hard
problems of finances and political adj
vancement. It was the song in which
all lovers from the beginning to the
end of time find a responsive note:
''Nita, Juanita, be my own fair bride. !"
Conscious of the song, Mary remem-
bered the lamb stew that she had left
cooking on the kitchen fire. Dan had
always loved lamb stew; that is, her
lamb stew. She remembered how
heartily he always ate of it, how he
never failed to pass his plate for a
second 'helpinig," and how he used
to look up at her and say:
This Is tapping good, Mary.
| think / will have a bit more"
just as If he needed any urgingl
hnV &c
very tender when she suddenly re-
membered that tonight she must sit
down alone at the table, that instead
! Of two she would only serve one plate
/ full of that stew. Her heart contracted
! with pathetic, futile longing for
/ things as they used to be-" and grew
/ bitter as she remembered conditions
as they were. Che sat with her face
/ pillowed on her arms, SO absorbed in
! her unhappy reflections that she didn't
! hear the door open, didn't hear step
until someone leaned over and kissed
her tenderIy on the faded cheek that
/ Dan used to pat 50 lovingly and declare
was Iovelier than their garden roses.
ooh, Rob!' Mary exclaimed, start
ing up in glad surprise. II didn't hear
/ you drive up.
Il didn't" Bob laughed, good
/ natured MY car is stranded two
/ blocks IL - and he threw his linen
buster on the sofa as Mary fastened
/ in her fond little way to take his hand
! and hover about him.
Its strange how near town this
place seems to be-" Bob ratified on.
When we lived here before it was
clear out in the country, but with
motor car it's right next door to
town"
Well, aunty," and he stretched
himself out in an easy chair. 81 sup
pose it's like heaven to you to get
back here to the old home you lived
in SO many years ?"
Yes Mary agreed, rather indiffer-
emily.
"Any of the old neighbors left, I'd
i like to see them-some of 'em."
II never noticed before how many
questions old neighbors could ask
Rob- Mary sighed, as she recounted
the curious visits of her old friends
who had inquired anxiously and re
peatedly for Mr.. Slade, how he was
getting on, and when he would be
down, and dozen other questions in
the phraseology of people who, as ole
friends, take the liberty of coming as
near as possible to demanding thai
you unburden your soul to them or
the spot You'll kind of have t
dodge EN-, Bob. / don't know wheI
I've lied so. What do you think o
man who forces a woman TO lie9"
Continued Tomorrow