The Punta Gorda herald. [volume] (Punta Gorda, Fla.) 1893-1958, 1916-07-13

was lust a sweet, dainty looking
Girl. with a heart capable of love
and happiness. Jim had always
been her ideal, her hero. When he
turned from Molly Stewart to her
she could not understand it.
Molly had married Abner Nc
Clurc soon afterward and had gone
away with him. She had now been
away seven years, and still people
remembered and spoke of her young
beauty, which had reached its trans
cendent point on her wedding day,
Now of sudden she had come
back. The news oppressed Nan.
She did not know why.
81 didn't tell you, did |, that Abb
ner McClure's dead?". Jim asked
later in the evening.
"No. Is hep" Nan returned in
what she tried to make careless
tone. Then she rose and went into
the next room for something.
A little while afterward he said;
'"You needn't put up any luncheon
for me tomorrow. Pm going to eat
at Holmans'. There's some timber
there that l promised to look at
long ago, and l guess I'll do it to-
morrow"
The hot day subdued itself into
hot night. Jim slept heavily, but
| Nan could not. She lay looking out
of the window at a certain star
which struggled YEARLY to free IT.
self from a cobweb of cloud In
which it had become entangled.
Varied and very bitter were her
thoughts.
Molly had come back a widow.
Nan could see her in her black
things, with her vivid face and cop
perry hair. 1t was said Abner Nc
Clure had money, and Molly always
would dress well anyway.
Nan had heard of what beauti-
full widow may do, and tomorrow
Jim, her Jim, was going back tc
Holmans', straight into the old ne
that had enmeshed him. She clinch
ed her hands in the darkness anC
prayed.
Toward morning she fell asleep
At 6 Jim aroused her. He haC
been up an hour.
81 let you sleep as long as
could" he said. Don't fuss owe
the breakfast. Just make me a cul
of coffee and give me some bread
and butter. Pm in hurry today
DEAR"
Nan got breakfast. She did no
eat any herself. She kissed jim
passively at the door.
"What's the matter? Aren't YOU
feeling we'll this morning, NanT'
he asked anxiously.
Nan watched him up the hill.
Then she lay down on the lounge
and had her cry out. Neon came
She made some tea and drank it
1t braced her up wonderfully In
deed, she felt almost feverish. II
came to her that she would not en-
dure it a moment longer. Jim wa:
there, and he was her husband. She
would 60 there too.
After noon a breeze sprang W
which relieved the hot day. Mar
dressed carefully in a white law
with pinkish spots, dress her hus
band admired. She lossensd hel
; hair about her face and let it droI
a little lower toward the nape Of he
neck.
| She felt that she was girding her
5 self for battle, and she meant t.
r have no weak spots in her armor
5 Then she locked the door, callcC
Shep to follow her and, raising he
umbrella above her bare head, Sc
forth.
= The walk put heart into her. Sh
felt ready for anything as she cross
t ed the last field before the Holman
house.
Mrs. Holman greeted her with
kiss.
G "Why, Nan, how do you do? Pr
right glad to see you. | suppos
you know Molly McCmrc's here
e Jim told you? Yes. Well, sit RICH
down in this chair. Well stay O
a the veranda, for it's cooler than i
0 the house"
She stepped to the door. molly!
: she called.
= "Shc'll be down in a minute
s She's most through dressing" sh
Y said, coming back to Nan. "Ho,
J, nice you look in that dress! Your
e one of the few women | ever kne
: who could wear pink and keep the
= complexion in it."
That did Nan good. She W;
h cool and her heart steadied dow
c when a great rustling of skirts O
d the stairs announced Mrs. McClur
n Nan rose to meet her.
O "Why, Nan Farrell-Nan Lal
n caster. | should sayw Mollv crie