The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1919-11-11
JUDITH'S CAREER
BY FLORENCE sHED0.

face relaxed. For months he had been
hard at 1t, writing magazine articles.
with a steady purpose to obliterate
other gr1evous thoughts. He allowed
himself no surceaSe, for this was the
only way.
The girl who had entered his life,
but to make Of 1t q mockery, must be
forgotten II life was to be endured at
all. Repeatedly he had been warned
against her lure. Brothers and other
friends Of the small Bohemia In which
Bentley recently moved had testified
to the girls unusual power of enchant-
ment and lack Of heart. He had been
curious.
Why was 1t that eager and worthy
suitors were left always the losers,
while the girl herself continued heart
whole upon her chosen way? Bentley
doubted the invtncible charm Of which
they spoke. In his own strong conf
dence he desired to meet the much
talked-of girl-and he did.
He was disappointed just at first
She was not the "raving beauty" he
had naturally expected. Rather a
ishly appealing eyes and q sort Of diff
f1dence In her manner which made one
smile mentally at her reputation for
conquest.
She was learning to draw at the art
school when Bentley met her. and she
told him, with a shy, feetinR glance,
that her name was Judith earn. The
Quaintness Of the name seemed some
way to suit her personality. Bentley
found 1t necessary to draw her out
concerning her work; she was ex
| tremely modest about her undoubted
skill. He marveled, in his own expert
ence, at her clever use Of color; and
Judith cast on him a smile Of graft"
tude.
After that, unaccountably to him.
self, he was often at her side, resent
ing openly any other manly presence
which might forestall him there. He
was quite sure Of the girls favoritism ;
had he ever been known to fail where
his fancy would conquer? The blow.
therefore, was as bitter and unexpect-
! ed, when 1t came, as 1t had been to his
! fellows.
! Bentley, successful writer and man
of the world, had asked the little illus
traitor to marry him, and had beef
quietly, and with no given reason, re-
| fused. Injured pride forbade him Il
urge the question, even while his heaE
| yearned desperately. SO Bentley
| packed up and went off to the forest
His last article, a most interesting
treatise on birds, finished and com
plete, awaited but the photographs
which were to accompany 1t. The diff
ficulty he would encounter procurtna
these life photographs added promised
| zest to his trip.
But the great green silence seemed
now everywhere eloquent Of the girls
magnetic presence. Never had she
seemed so near or dear to him before
And 1t was here that he had hoped to
find forgetfulness!
Disconsolately he placed his Gamers
and waited. The strange, mournful
murmur Of the timid bird which he
sought would, he knew, inform him OF
closed In sad retrospection, Bentley
heard that soft call. In a moment he
was on his feet, stealthily following
where the murmuring note led.
At q break between the trees he
paused breathlessly. A girl stood be
fore him there-the girl! She looked
like a nymph Of the woods, In her
brown cotton dress, with the sun CLINT
ing down upon her bronzed hair her
red lips were parted in q smile, differ
ent some way from other smiles that
she had given him, and the laughter
CLINT Of her eyes changed to sweet
seriousness.
Judith he whispered.
you are surprised to see me-" she
answered softly. 81 VIII tell you why
came here; It was to sketch from
life-the birds. 1t was your article, u
she added, (which gave to me the idea.
You discussed 1t with me at one time
you will remember, and you were SO
anxious for its success"
She seated herself on a bank of pine
needles and motioned him to her side
Then hastily she unwrapped a port
folie.
There was the timid bird OF the
marshes which you so feared you could
not get" she went on. well, here Is
my sketch Of the mother. ! had such
time learning her plaintive call that
might coax the young from their
hiding. And here"
Bentley, leaning forward. gazed un'
believing into the girls face.
You came out here" he interrupt
ed, land you have been doing all this
-whyT
The girl rested her curly head
against the tree and raised her appeal.
ing eyes to his.
For your sake" she answered sim
ply. at also wished for your success
because, you see-I love you"
"You sent me away" Bentley said
huskily.
81 did not want to love you," she
explained. Long ago decided upon
an artistic career in place OF domes-
ITCHY. So would not listen TO love
or lovers. But now"-Judith laughed
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT, even my art must
be at your service" she said, 'and so
IL you still want me, dear"
want you" cried Bentley, from the
depths OF his hungry heart. And the
ttmid bird, coming craftily forth from
her nest gave unheeded her tender