The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1918-12-05
THE LIVING MEMORY
BY MILDRED WHITE.

NNaSi'f ihciHoTy VI SoiuetuluS sweet
and half forgotten, What had hap
pened to him in his heretofore salts
fed middle age, that vague lOngings
should reach out from the past?
Business and its success had for
years absorbed him. blotting out all
that had been before, making wealth
alone his goal. Now, wealth was
achieved, what had it brought him?
LilliaS had dropped out of his life
so long ago he had lost regard for
her when she had chosen In preference
to himself sort of wandering nomad
for a husband. Will had been a dreamy
idealist. while he. John Ruggles. even
in that long ago showed unmistak-
able business promise.
1t was in his youthful engineering
capacity that he had visited the little
village almost buried beneath its en-
circling hills Lillias had met him in
the quaint flower garden of her home,
and it had been, Will who took him
there. VIII. who. lazily curious about
Johns work, had made friends with
the engineer upon the highway. Will
had been kind to the stranger, had
made it pleasant for him in the lone
~ village. offering the hospitality of
his own small home.
John Ruggles had been glad to ac-
cent. There We're valuable books on the
crude shelves of Wills one roomed
abitation-interesting curios from all
parts of the woodland Will had TAX
en- him to see Lillias: when the engi-
neer looked into the girls rare blue
bell eyes. he decided to remain indefln-
itely. in the village. Decided calmly.
to win her from the man whom she
loved and make her his own. and John
Ruggles had failed: that was an.
Then he went back to the great city
where bluebell eyes and fair faces are
| "but thing apart" and not "man's
| whole existence" Many women had
come and gone in John Ruggles' life
| since that youthful time. and he had
| been content to let them go; without
companionship of women his life seem
ed complete. But now
Across the tall chimney tops 70.
nance called to him. Haunting mem
| DRY not unmixed with pain. of grass
| grown village street a quaint old gar
den set back behind a. cedar hedge;
and about the garden in his memory
| dream moved the girl Lillian.
John Ruggles turned abruptly TO
press an electric button. He would hu-
NOR his fancy, satisfy this clamoring
impulse, by walk down that same
village street. peep into the old gar
den which upon actual observation
would undoubtedly lose its fanciful
| charm
Lillias had married, Will; poverty
| then must be her dover. Uncared for
women do not as rule grow in at
tractiveness. Reality should forever
silence this tormenting memory, so in
explicably awakened.
| But first he must dismiss the new
stenographer whose work his secretary
had pronounced hopeless. Again John
Ruggles pressed the electric button,
1t was the secretary who responded.
"The new stenographer had not re-
ported that day for business" he ex.
planned. land her dismissal would be
| unnecessary Realizing her own un-
fitness for the position, the girl had
| telephoned resignation. Unbusiness-
| like to the last In method" he added
smilingly.
The great man paused reaching for
his hat. 81 recall the young person,
he said "She possessed at least the
quality of respectful courtesy" The
| secretary bowed. with q personality
! quite too difident for Office work. he
replied, "as one could tell from q
| glance of her eyes,"
"Her eyes," the casual remark came
| to John Ruggles like fash Of inspir
alton. Here was the solution Of his
awakened memory. the eyes Of the lit
tie stenographer he suddenly recol
lected were strangely like the bluebel
/ eyes of Lillias.
life was unsatisfying, he told him
self as he crossed the marble floor
of the railroad station, wealth, power
what had they to do with happiness
| the elusive? Where might 1t b
! foundY"
The village street was unchanged
4 tAC AAOooCS w. AAA( S&1OSC VI
| yesterday.
Suddenly the man drew In his
breath while his eyes widened AZ Il
seeing a vision. For about the garden
1 moved gracefully a girl in white, and
in her hair rose.
As he fingered unbelievingiy. shs
came toward him, her bluebell eye
searching his across the hedge, ther
| she smiled.
"Oh! Mr. Ruggies," his recent stem
| ographer exclaimed. you came ava,
! out to see me? I was obliged to resigI
my position" she added flushing pref
tily. because 1 had too long imposed
My business education was too brie
to be efficient. I have not been loni
alone in the world"
Across the face of John Rugglel
flashed an understanding light All a
i once its lines of care seemed erase<