The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1919-01-06
LOVE AND LILACS
BY MILDRED WHITE.

hOLueT bFduI uTeW MS car up sud-
denly at sight Of the lilac bush. To
him in the roadway came the sweet
haunting odor. Indefinably 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,
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 a 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, / 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
1t may be in the more prosaic and less
romantic atmosphere Of the city. With
best wishes ever-Justine Jordan"
Whereupon, Homer. inwardly Tuning
at his admired ones practical GOODNESS,
babe the inn good-by, and began a
searching tour of the hills.
What could be the delayed mission
at which she mysteriously limited and
which brought her to this isolated
country?
He alighted and made his way to
the lilac bush which grew beside the
open window of a vacated log cabin !;
looking inside, he was surprised to
see a reclining camp chair in the Gen.
ter of the room. Entering curiously,
ne sank into the chair, idly drawing
from its side bracket a 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 a pad of writing
paper fell from the rack, one glance
at the bold and pleasing handwriting
brought quick flush to his face. Sure
~ 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, "Oh, my dearestI"
Homer Brant's heart pounded furi-
ously, as his eyes forcibly followed the
lines: ACROSS the miles I have trav-
eled TO our trystng place, and you
are not here. Instead, find the low
ing note you braved danger to leave.
Beloved, let not your courageous spirit
falter. Without one look into your
eyes, without 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. 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 sprang 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. 81 read
your letter through" he said, 81 even
forgot about scruples and ii has show
ed me why you ran away from my
love. But I want to know" he straight
ened before her, Il demand to know,
why any man dare TO ask woman TO
meet him in secret. dare bring her in
10 threatened danger"
Across the girls somber eyes flash
ed her Transforming smile. THAT
man, is German spy" she replied.
Brant came suddenly close, fiercely
he caught her wrists in his grasp,
| "And you" he breathed, "you-"
OF Il time she SlOOu, lOOhluB SleduA-
ly into his face. Let me CO." she
said at last, sand will explain"
When he loosed her hands, she smil-
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,
an Love and War" and beneath it,
new serial, by Justine Jordan"
You are more privileged than 9TH
ers," she laughed, 'for you have read
| the beginning of a later installment.
| That is what came out here to write.
| The cabin is my study"
$50" he said slowly, "you are a
| great author, little Justine"
mot great" the girl replied, very
! simple love and lilacs-that sort of
| thing"
"And in your own life, you have no
use for lover"
She looked from the .lilacs nodding