The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1918-12-31
TWAS FALSE
BY VINCENT G. PERRY.
Copyright, 1918, by the Mcclure Newspa-
Der Syndicate.l

use trying TO LaIk sense INTO uldu
who hadn't any, he thought at last, as
he gave up. with one more effort
81 tell you she is young-just about
twenty-one," he said holly. Because
she is an actress you think she has to
be old. There are some young &C
tresses, aren't thereT'
Mervin Renton, his companion, was
quite willing to admit that there were
but this one, he claimed, was not. "You
can't tell me-" he argued. ''This Dora
Fraleigh will never see thirty-five
again. Her hair is false, I'm willing
to wager anything. Did you ever see
curls like hers that were real? Every
thing about her is false"
Arthur knew if he stayed he would
become angry. Meryin was Jealous
that was what was the matter, he felt.
Without another word Arthur left
the bath-house where the conversation
mad been held and made for the beach.
1t was a glorious day and the guests OF
the hotel were making the best of the
bathing weather. He caught sight OF
Dora almost Immediately. Apparently
she was searching for something in the
water near the beach.
"What have you lostT' he asked, as
he waded toward her.
ooh, nothing she answered trife
confused. isn't the water finer"
After completely immersing himself
and swimming aimlessly about for a
few seconds, Arthur agreed that 1t
was. Lets go out on the raft" he
suggested, but Dora seemed unwilling
to leave the shallow place. This was
surprising, for she had always seemed
anxious to get all the fun possible.
There was something troubling her.
She even seemed unwilling to go on
the beach for sun bath, but finally
agreed.
''Therer' Arthur exclaimed, as he
stretched out on the sand. 81 thought
/ never would get away from that
shallow part. There were SO many
children there I didn't have chance
to talk with you"
"You usually have lots Of opportuni-
ties" Dora smiled.
whats this?" he asked, as he picked
up something his toes had been rub
bling against in the sand. "Well, look
what's herel A false curl" Sure
enough 1t was.
Dora took 1t from him eagerly. 81
lost !" she exclaimed, as she jumped
to her feet. 81 was searching for 1t
out there. Wait until / go and tell
auntfe. She'll be delighted"
80 49, oov,11 or
her. He looked after her with an ex-
clamation of dismay on his lips. To
think that those beautiful curls Of hers
were false. No wonder she hadn't
talked much and had been confused.
So Mervin had been right
When Dora Joined him again he was
trying to smile, but found he couldn't
"What makes you so quiet?" she asked
after they had sat In silence for near
~ FIVE minutes.
Nothing very much" he replied to
her question. 81 was thinking that
was going home tomorrow"
"Going home!" she echoed. Why
you said last week that you would be
here all summer"
81 have changed my mind" he an
swered, but when he saw the pained
look on Dora's face he wished he had
thought up an excuse.
The next morning Arthur's resolve
to go home had not faltered. He
wasn't going to stay there to be the
| laughing stock Of the whole hotel wheI
| they found out about Dora's age. He
was only twenty-one and most likely
she was thirty, anyway. Nine years
was too much difference. He felt sc
| uncomfortable over 1t he went to the
| station half an hour before the trair
| was due to leave. His going away
would leave the field open for Mervin
That was too much. He left the trair
in a hurry and left word with the bag
gage man to have his trunks sent bacf
to the hotel. He couldn't be happ!
without Dora, even If she was eighty.
He found Dora in a secluded cornel
/ of the veranda Her eyes were red ant
there were other traces Of tears.
"You haven't gone yet" she criet
joyfully, as she caught sight OF him
II heard that you had gone withou
l even cdyluS kOOu-Dy W Liz.
| 81 came pretty nearly doing it, dear.
he said, "but I couldn't go away AMI
leave you here. When go want Il
take you with me. / want to MARI.
you"
'n you wanted to marry me, VIII.
did you make me worry about you
leaving so unexpectedly she asked
trying not to smile. 'sLast night wa
the second night have lost sleep b,
i worrying. The night before 1t was tn
thought of having lost auntie's bes
curl that"
aAuntie's curl p he interrupted.
eyes, the curl you found yesterday.
"Ohr' Arthur groaned- II though
that was your curl!"
Miner she laughed. "And / wa
only twenty a week agow
"Thank goodness for that" he cried
~"But why?" she asked, perplexed.
She laughed for long time after b
told her. "But what difference woul