The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1919-01-01
LOVE AND LILACS
BY MILDRED WHITE.


Homer Brant drew his car up sud-
denly at sight of the lilac bush. To
him in the roadway came the sweet .
haunting odor. IndefinabIy the per-
fume brought to mind the girl he had .
so recently and so quickly learned to
love.
Homer had stopped there, on his .
way to an engineering camp higher up. /
He had intended to remain over night, /
but with Justine Jordan's coming, his !
visit had been prolonged.
During the first day they had visit
ed together, upon the hotel veranda, I
the second found them roaming the !
wonderful country in his car; at the /
end of one short enchanted week, /
Homer caught the girl in his arms, /
speaking out his love for her. And
that had been the end. Like some
startled bird she had escaped and
flown from his embrace, and when /
after q troubled night, he awaited her
morning appearance, humble in his
apology-she had not appeared at all.
Instead the hall boy had handed him a
note in peculiarly characteristic hand
writing.
'Dear friend" it said, "when this
reaches you, I shall be up among the
hills, fulfilling a mission which has
been postponed just one week. Spring
time, and lilac time, tempted me to
linger. When meet you again, hope
it may be in the more prosaic and less
romantic atmosphere of the city. With
best wishes eyer-Justine Jordan"
Whereupon. Homer, inwardly Tuning
at his admired ones practical GOODNESS,
bade the inn good-by, and began a
searching tour of the hills.
What could be the delayed mission
at which she mysteriously limited and
whiaR brought her to. this isolated
country?
He alighted and made his way to
the lilac bush whfcfTs grew beside the
| open window. of a vacated log cabin;
looking inside, he was surprised to
see a reclining camp chair in the cen
fer of the room. Entering curiously,
| ne sank into the chair, idly drawing
| from its side bracket recent illus
| trated magazine. Some person evil
IDENTIFY made this rude shelter a read
ing place.
Gazing through the open door across
| the vista of glorious scenery Homer
mentally complimented the reader On
/ his choice of location. Then as he re-
| placed the magazine pad of writing
| paper fell from the rack, one glance
| at the bold and pleasing handwriting
brought quick flush to his face. Sure
| 1y this and the penmanship Of his own
| hasty note of dismissal were the same.
So Justine had found her way to this
deserted cabin; then her stopping place
must be in a nearby farm house. The
heading Of the. closely written page
caught his attention, dearest" he
read, ooh, my dearest!"
Homer Brant's heart pounded furi-
ously, as his eyes forcibly followed the
lines: "Across the miles have trav-
eled to our trysting place, and you
are not here. Instead, find the low
ing note you brayed danger to leave.
Beloved, let not your courageous spirit
faIter. Without one look into your
eyes, without a touch of your dear
hand, could not go back to the world.
Some way shall manage our meeting.
Never in my heart can there be room
for other than you. I am,-Your Own"
The pad slipped from the mans
trembling fingers. So this was the
secret of the softly brooding eyes
and love after all these years had but
found him TO make mockery.
Homer sprahg to his feet, as a girl
came through the doorway, came and
stood a moment, surprise and diff
fidence in her gaze.
justine !" he cried out sharply, then
still inwardly raging, pointed to the
written pages at his feet. ST read
your letter through" he said, 81 even
forgot about scruples and 1t has show.
ed me why you ran away from my
love. But want to know" he straight
ened before her, 81 demand to know
why any man dare.to ask a woman tC
meet him in secret, dare bring her in
to threatened danger -
Across the girls somber eyes flash
ed her transforming smile. "That
man, is German spy" she replied.
Brant came suddenly close, ffercely
he caught her wrists in his grasp
"And YOU" he breathed, 'you-"
For time she stood, looking steadi
, Iy into his face. Let me co." She
said at last, land I will explain"
: When he loosed her hands, she snil
}, ed, and going TO the camp chair
brought back an open magazine hold
!. ing 1t out before him.
Dazedly he read the title Of a story
|. SIN Love and War" and beneath it
j 'new serial, by Justine Jordan"
g 'FYou are more privileged than 9th
e ers /" she laughed "for Won have reaC
D the beginning of later installment
t That is what came out here to write
i The cabin is my study"
D $50" he said slowly, ''you are (
great author, little Justine"
mot great" the girl replied, ever,
simple, love and Hlacs-that sort o
/ thing"
e "And in your own life, you have n,
Y use for lover
q She looked from the HIacs noddinj