The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1914-01-05

cnoIce Ir1enus IN MS rooms, iaosvs
were not in the habit of visiting them;
so it is no wonder that he was dunn
founded. With one eye expectant for
the young lady's card, and the other
taking stock of her loneliness, he be-
gan to assure her that Mr.. Van Vech-
ten was out of the city.
The tone in which she interrupted,
the flash Of her eyes that accompanied
the words, made his mouth close like a
trap.
Il know that Mr.. Van vechten is
here" she declared positively, "and
know that he is i'll. / mean to see
him.
There was no doubling this purpose,
either, though Barnicle essayed a final
protest-a faint-hearted one, for he
remembered too late the open inner
, door, and of course this mad young
lady knew he was not telling the truth.
The incident was assuming scandalous
aspects.
But Mr.. Van vechten is in no con-
dition to
! Once more she unceremoniously
SuCNhCA Aik1i, tAIo Will OH
pressible sob Of impotence and an i'm
petuous command to stand aside. He
obeyed mechanically, and the caller,
brushing by him, rushed through the
reception-hall into the living groom, and
! threw herself upon her knees beside
the unconscious figure on the daven-
port.
Barnicle had never heard tell of
anything like it; he was Mortified.
But whether or not the extraordinary
occurrence was novel in Barnicle's ex-
perience, he was beginning dimly 10
realize that it represented a NANTES
tation of emotional forces with which
it would be dangerous for him to med
die. II the lady was SO disregardful of
a third persons presence that she
would make no effort to hide her feel
ings, then he-Barnicle-would better
be going; this was no place for a
moral male servant of mature years.
The girl gave not the slightest heed
to his departure; to tell the truth. it
seemed more than likely that, with at
best only haZy impression of him in
her memory, he had passed utterly
from her mind and from the room at
one and the same time. Her left hand
lay palm down upon her throat, as if
something hurt her there. The right
was half-raised, the fist tightly
clenched, in an excess of tumultuous
feeling.
The sleeper stirred, and with a sud
den movement, whipped the bandage
from his eyes. He stared blankly up
at the girl. She gasped and recoiled
from the sight of him.
1t was patent that Van Vechten
doubted the evidence of his senses, or
else he concluded that his dreams had
taken a pleasanter bent; at any rate
he lay motionless, staring at the vision
Of her who had occupied SO much OF
his thoughts of late, until it dawned
upon him that she was crying. Then
with an inarticulate exclamation that
ended in groan, he tried to rise In
stantly she extended her right hanG
and gently pressed him back.
mo, mol" she protested chokingly
. Don't move. God forbid that I SHOULD
cause you another second of suffer
ingi"
D In a flash he was wholly awake, al
1 his faculties alert.
: But, my dear young lady!" he ex
postulated What is the meaning o
t this? How did you get here? Whert
3 is Barnicle?"
Again he tried to rise, this time de
S terring her attempt to stop him. l
:. was a slow and painful operation 70
!, him to assume sitting posture. Witt
an impulsive movement, she passes
:, one arm around his shoulders.
f Then | can help you," she said
y THANK you,' said Van Vechten a
s last, rather breathlessly, for movemen
e was still torture for him.
e He was quick to perceive that he
e visit was matter of no light portent
d and in relation to it his appearance
T. was of slight moment, and any excuse
z he might make would be banal.
ne uttered none IT is Gouhtlass mr.
O Desk "a lenders for 1914 at tn