The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1919-02-19
MY LADY INCOGNITo
BY MILDRED M. eAsTIoN.

grown up together in the little South
ern town as playmates. On the day
when Jack had been sent North to at
tend school, and later college, il had
been q sad and to-be-remembered
parting. For carving their initials on
tree I'm the old garden where they
had spent so many happy hours, Jack
made solemn promise to, some day
in the near future, return and marry
Miriam. Neither ever forgot that
promise.
In New York, several years later,
Jack Perry graduated from college
with hOnors, and therein began his ca
reer. from which social affairs were
not barred. While guest at a week
end party he met the Only Girl. She
was a young and beautiful actress of
Southern birth, who had recently come
North seeking fame and fortune. She
Immediately acquired both. AS soon as
But not once did he forget his prom
ise TO Miriam. whom he had not seen
since his sad parting with her, and Of
whom he remembered nothing excent
that she had always been a pretty,
agreeable child Then came one day
when he asked vivaclous little Marion
Stevens. the actress. to become his
wife, and she accepted. A little later.
in happy burst of confidence he told
her of his mad promise TO his child
hood sweetheart. But he FASTENED to
explain that said promise could not in
any way bind him 10 Miriam, and that
he could easily fix it up with her and
she would understand il all perfectly.
He gave a self-assured laugh as he
said this last But Miss Stevens pref
ty face darkened with displeasure as
she listened 20 Jack Then she pro-
ceeded to give him her candid opinion
of his actions. which opinion was In
deed unfiattering.
She finished her scolding by telling
him TO go back Immediately TO the
girT to whom he had given first choice
of his heart. Jack demonstrated, but
she refused to listen and at last he
grumbllngly obeyed.
Thus it was that a week later found
Jack en- route for the South, Miss
Stevens having left for parts unknown
a few days before. Manlike he tried
to comfort himself by the thought that
Miriam, his first choice, might still be
very attractive, and might not regret
that choice But somehow he could
not rid himself of the picture OF Mar
Ion Stevens with her wealth Of golden
hair and her large blue eyes. That be-
witching picture continued to linger
in his young heart. Ii was with q sigh
Az - Ra
platform of the dusty little station IN
his home town and looked about for
Miriam and some sort of conveyance.
He expected TO see a graceful, flower
like creature glide out into the sun
shine TO greet him. He gave a start
of surprise when he saw instead the
stately old two-horse carriage, driven
by an old darkey. On the back seat
Of the conveyance he saw small,
prim. old-fashioned girl. She wore
plain gray dress and her shoes were
broad of toe and low of heel. On the
/ top of her yellow hair. which was
parted i'm the middle and drawn tight
ly back from her forhead In one long,
yellow braid was perched a small. lu-
dicrous hat. Her features. especially
her eyes, were disfgured by large dark
glasses. Instinctively Jack know this
was Miriam, and his heart sank.
One day, thinking to draw her out
of her shell of cold reserve. Jack Of
fered to take Miriam for ride In the
one automobile that the town pos
sessed. They were speeding along out
side of the town when Jack, for the
1 ii, 81 In
dulge in a long, silvery laugh. Startled.
he looked at her. meanwhile forgetting
to steer In his surprise. He drove the
car straight into the foot of a tree, the
| impact knocking them both from the
car, badly shaken but unhurt. Jack re-
| gained his feet first and crossed to his
companion to help her but she was
! safe and sound; I'm fact, she was sit
ting on the ground, her body shaking
with uncomfortable laughter. Jack
simply stared at the change that had
taken place I'm her, for her disflguring
/, glasses had fallen on, showing her
frank blue eyes to an advantage, and
her loosened hair had fallen about her
shoulders In a cascade OF golden rip
| Piles. Jack recognized I'm Miriam the
girl who was known In New York as
Marion Stevens. and cried out her
name. But the girl on the ground
shook her pretty head, saying: mo
here I'm just plain Miriam Shelby, al
though I was known by that other
name up North. You see" she said.
rising and coming toward him. when
was OF age, attended school Of
| dramatic art and later with a recon-
mendation OF past successes In back
OF me, I started out seeking more
fame, and I met you. recognized you
Immediately, though you didn't remem-
Der me, / guess. When I heard your
version OF your promise to poor delud-
ed me, and how confidently you ex-
pected everything to turn out for your
own benefit, and thought all could be
easily fixed up with Miriam. and that
/ you would enjoy yourself here and