The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1917-12-26
MAN OF MOUNTAIN
BY LOUISE OLIVER.

Elinor drew back involuntarfly when
she saw the man, for she had supposed
she was alone midst the grandeur OF
the mountains. 1t was the time Of day
she loved, the long, restful twilight,
when the lake and pines looked like
great splotches of ink on canvas OF
silver white.
The stiffness and majesty Of the
place rested her. and she needed rest.
for she had worked feverishly all day
on the first chapters of her pew book.
There had been a party In the after
noon. The girls had asked some peo-
pie to the lodge for tennis, and EIinor'
had expected to play, but at three
o'clock repeated rappings at her door
had failed to get any response, and
they knew that Elinor was having one
of her days One couldn't get her out
of her study with anything short of
dynamite.
You'll be sorry, SIS Betsy had call
ed through the keyhole. 1.-THE Paisleys'
sent word they were coming over and
the CARROTS, and what do you think
Weldon Berg is coming. Surely you
don't want to miss him. He's only COM
ing on your account. because you are
an author. Mrs. Garrett told me so
| herself"
'sSo way, Bet % was all the answer
this had ELECTED.
EIinor. knew vaguely that she want
ed to go out and play tennis and to
know Weldon Berg, but even the best
known writer of his time must be neg
lected until her precious book was
started
Now the day was nearly done. After
dinner she had changed to some outing
things and gone out alone. She took
her fayorite path down to the edge of
the lake where a canoe was tied. 1t
was then she saw the man. He was
sitting in a rather detected attitude on
the narrow strip of beach facing the
| water. His knees were drawn up, his
arms embracing them, and his head
was dropping forward inertly.
She hesitated, not knowing whether
| to go forward or back. To go farther
meant discovery, to go back without
his knowledge meant-she caught her
lips between her teeth and tried to
| think.
But the thing was decided for her,
for the man lifted his head and looked
at her.
"Please don't go away" he said.
ST wasn't sure 1t was you, John" she
replied as evenly as she could, coming
the rest Of the way down to the beach.
He rose and held out his hand. She
put her own in it and shook it gravely.
looking deep into her eyes with the old
searching smile that always made her
feel so uncomfortable.
"Won't you sit down and talk to me,
Nora, or were you going boating7 May
be you'll let me be your gondolier. I'll
promise not to rock the boat"
"Pm really out for exercise" she
said hastily. Suppose we walk In
stead"
"Just as you like. 1t really doesn't
matter, Just so I'm with you, Elinor."
She REDEEMED holly. Don't talk that
way, John"
/ "Why?"
'Whyl Do / have to tell your Be
cause you've been four years deciding
whether or not you do like to be with
me. It's f1attering to have you decide
| In the affirmative, but too late to be
appreciated"
"Nora, what do you mean-four
years deciding7 Didn't we agree7 1t
was your own suggestion to walt. I
told you loved You. I've come as
promised. / tried today; I tried last
summer. / tried two years ago. And
when you refused to see me, what was
| to think"
"Refused?"
/ SIT amounted to that"
/ ST never refused to see you. This Il
| the first time I've heard of you since l
left the Tribune to take up my other
work"
mora The first you've-do you hon.
estly mean that you didn't avoid me
purposely? Look at me, dear"
/ "Of course not, John"
The name enlightened him.
Listen, Nora; don't you remember
| that / used to write editorials under
another name2"
/ "Yes-I believe you did; but never
remembered It. You were too modest
to use your own. I had forgotten"
sand the name grew until lost my
identity. When the editorial wander
ings grew to the size of pocket phil
osophies my publishers wouldn't let
me abandon the name. I'm Weldon
Berg. 1 thought you knew it, Nora.
"Weldon Berry, she gasped. "John'
are you Weldon BergT
'Yes, dear"
@And you did come today, and last
year, and the year before, and
wouldn't see you. I remember now.
aTelI me you love me, dear. Wen
forget the rest.
"Yes, I love you. John, better than
anything In the world"
4 1o17 hu q Mcclure ReWEDa-