The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1919-04-18
A Mild
Filtration

By ALISON LEE

his Junior. She was an orderly, good
looking lady with some resources. was
really attracted by the honest. open
way in which he proffered his petition
as a claimant to her hand. and was
worth the winning Of any sensible
man.
"Give me time. Alvin" she had said
81 esteem you greatly, but want to
be sure that i shall not later regret
an impulsive STEP"
So. meekly. patiently. Alvin Downey
continued his semi-weekly calls until
an invalid brother sent for him from
a city thousand miles away. Marcia
told him she would miss him, and 10
went away feeling sanguine that ab-
sence would only make the heart fond
er, and determined to bring affairs ta
a definite issue upon his return.
1t was only after q dun week that
Marcia began to appreciate the past
companionship Of Downey. She
missed the auto rides, the weekly the
alter and movie shows. Then one day
something transpIred that broke the
routine OF her loneliness. and came
very nearly wrecking the fond hopes
Of Alvin Downey.
She was seated on the veranda when
young man-c came mp the rose-lined
walk, removed his hat and made an
ObeIsance that would have done credit
to a Beau Brummel. He had dark,
curly locks and "a love Of q mustache,~
any impressionable young lady would
have expressed II, bright, magnetic
eyes and a most graceful bearing. He
dashed all features OF romance, how
ever, by announcing that ne had O.
| polishing compound to sell.
Marcia listened patiently to his En-
ordium as to the merits Of his wares,
and goOd-naturedly purchased a pack
age Of the polish She went into; the
house TO get her purse, and when she
returned fancied he looked weary.
invited him to seat, doubled her orig
inal order and was quite touched by
the appealing way In which the hand
some fellow expressed his gratitude.
1T may be the hard times, or peOs
pie generally don't want polish" he
ventured TO remark. ~You have given
me quite a lift. and thank you. am
not used to this line Of work, and per-
haps that is why am not making Q
success OF It"
Miss Foster was sympathetic aL1
always inclined to be helpful. She
named number Of neighbors. and told
her visitor that he might ten them
that she had directed him to them.
His bright. thoughtful glance Am r.
Spouse to her kindness really thrilled
her. Without apparent purpose tho
Young man drifted into the story O.
his life. He was the younger son q
q foreign duke. he modestly claimed,
had struck out for. himself In new
country, had made an inJudicious IN.
vestment and was stranded.
What followed that eventful day was
n kind Of dream. a daze TO Miss Foss
ter after 1t was all over. Quite Incl
dentally. II appeared she met the hand
some polish vendor on the street q
day or two later. He was finping,
and In response TO her inquiries, I'm
formed her that he had been laid ND
since his call at her home with .
sprained ankle. Delicately she brought
the situation 20 a point where the
young man acknowledged that he was
completely out OF funds and she In
sisted on loaning him his needs mtf1
ne got on his feet again.
She repented her action at the re-
sentful look that came into his face.
1t expressed pride, humiliation: the
sense Of a deep affront. Miss Foster
tried TO atone for her impetuous ac-
ton, and then WIlberford Beresford,
as ne called himself. appeared to rec
ognize her gentle kind-heartedness
~
vised her how she could assist him
There was small, weIl-paying busS
ness, stationery and book business
In the town for sale. The owner was
willing to take $1,000 for the same.
Now Marcia had been previously aware
OF the fact, and this caused her TO give
credence to other details presented By
the willy schemer. He did not wish to
borrow the money without security.
After an exhibition OF shame-faced-
ness he produced q pawn ticket Il
called for $500, and for that amount
Beresford claimed TO have pledged Q
crested ring Of his noble house st
with several thousand dollars worth
Of diamonds. II she would advance
the money, he would send for the jew
elry, and IL would be ample security
for the amount Of the pledge and TIE
business investment.
"You VIII be perfectly SAFE ne de-
elared. 'for can get money from
home within q month. would not
sen the ring. have often thought te
shall only be parted with when I wed
the woman love-" and his ardent eyes
made the auttering Marcia blush and
drop her eyes.
II VIII have the money here for
you as soon as the bank opena" PROM
ised the deluded spinster readily, but
she never saw WfIberford Beresfora
again
An odicer from another city arrested
him that night for bigamy and fOre-
cry.