The Ocala evening star., 1915-01-27
Who WAS THE GOAT?
BY DOROTHY BLAcKMoRE.

inc Fable as she pinned a marigold
on the coat lapel Of young Doctor
Hanscom
I'll do it and you'll see me wear
it home every night while it lives,''
replied the doctor And for good be
havior perhaps you'll do me the hon
or of pinning on another?"
Dorine nodded. Her dimples played
about her mouth when she smiled and
the sight of them had become a very
interesting part of Doctor Hanscom's
summer sojourn at the Laketon hotel.
I He was young veterinary surgeon
and his office and visiting hours were
/ not long so that he had had the advan-
! tage over many of the summer men at
/ the hotel by getting home early. And
/ it seemed almost as if Dorine waited
/ for him on the tennis court or on the
/ veranda.
| Several times on the suburban train
that took him to the city he thought
| Of the girls face as she had reached
up to put the little flower on his coat
That evening while he w@s at din
ner Dorine came into the dining room
with her mother, and they both wore
| automobile costumes.
Dorine gave him her usual bright
smile and nod, and then her eyes fell
on his coat lapel, which was guiltless
of adornment. A slight flush burned
her cheeks and after that she gave
! him only cursory glances. and when
he asked her to walk with him as he
passed her in the corridor she de-
clined almost frigidly.
For three days he did not have
conversation with her. He saw her
across the dining room with her IA
ther, mother and brother, and he re-
ceiyed each time a cool little nod
from Dorine. It was saturday night
at the weekly dance that he deter
mined to talk witt her.
He waited for her at the big dou-
bic door leading into the ballroom.
He had fully decided to force her to
listen to him. AS. she came down
stairs, lovely in white dancing dress,
he met her face to face
i "This has been our dance all sum
mer, Dorine. Have it with me now"
He put his arm about her and they
stepped off together in the hesitation
waltz they had learned to dance so
we'll as partners.
When the dance was over he led
her out through the French windows
that opened onto secluded veranda
sit down. Joe said. drawing up a
chair. Himself, he sat on the railing
facing her..
Now" he began, what is the mat
ter? Why have you deliberately
avoided me for days." He paused
, I know-it was because you thought
; was careless about your f1ower-
that | had forgotten it,
You were-you did, said Dorine
with asperity. and know very well
why it was"
"Dorine-9 began Joe, but she in
terrupted him.
"Wait-let me tell you! Let me
show you that | realize all about it
before you telf me your excuse She
laid emphasis on the last word.
sGeorge-my brother-told me when
he saw me pinning it on you that you
i, would never be seen wearing a yell
5 low fower-that it was the emblem
/, Of the suffragist, So you let some
, one ridicule you out of it. ] did not
: pin it on you because of my views
on this woman question-though they
: are very strongly in favor OF it-but
because / was beginning to-well, to
like you, and | always give father
: and George buttonhole' bouquet when
; they leave. in the morning. IL was
! very foolish to do it" she said.
!, "Dorine Fable, listen to me- the
E young man said, earnestly. This
: sounds so funny | can hardly tell you.
t though | assure you it isn't funny
> to me. The morning you gave me
: that flower / was called out to the
: estate of Mr.. Phillips to see what was
the matter with the foot of a very
q fine goat. While | was looking at its
t foot the animal chewed my flower off
t and the stable man who was with us
t roared with laughter If you doubt
e this, I will show you the withered
{ stem still pinned to the under side OF
J, my coat lapel. I had not put it in wa
> ter on my desk. but was still wearing
? it. Now, do you see how badly you
> ;, have treated me? Do you, Dorine %
I "And-and it wasn't because it was
! yellow, them" she asked.
. Search mel Maybe the goat was
e an antisuffragist, but I'm not respon.
r sible. for his views Seriously, Dorine,
i, aren't you sorry?"
d Dorine nodded
t And then Doctor Hanscom whis.
y pered three little words in Dorine's
Q ear.
? ? A beautifully marked, I8 months
old pedigreed Shetland Mare Pony fol