The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1919-11-10
THE CLOSED DOOR
BY FREDERICK CLARK.

Paula walked the length Of the room
and stood peering through the lacy
dneness Of the curtains. Her hus-
bands car was at the door; presently
he would come with his easy stride
down the white stone steps of the en-
trance. His going each morning and
his return at night were the events
Of Paula's day. Nothing else held for
her the absorbing interest Of this pass
ing glance Of her husbands face and
figure.
Her violet eyes would widen visit
fully, or would overflow with tears, as
she sat for moments after his depart
ure. Sometimes her eager hoping was
rewarded by a covert glance In her
hidden direction, but oftener her hus-
band passed on, resolutely aloof.
"How long was II to go on" she won
dered sadly, ''this tragedy Of the
closed door,
In unspoken understanding they had
accepted their solitary living apart
ments upon either side Of the long han
leading through the old mansion. This
was after the blow had fallen. destroy
Ing hope OF happiness
Paula, at first, had believed that in
tured pride was responsible for her
sufferings; then came the heart-break-
ing realization Of her love for David.
Always, 1t seemed, she had loved him
and had not known. How could she
have been so blind? Why, her lips had
overlooked continually In snatches Of
joyous song as she moved about In
her new home, and David's. Every
gown she selected had been with q
thought Of pleasing David; indeed, ev-
cry thought had been for him. She
had not known the meaning Of 1t all,
because the fancy Of an old infatua-
ton still possessed her.
She had been but a school girl when
! Teddy Van came counting. Opposition
upon her parents side but added to
determination upon hers to be Teddy's
wife. He was lovable youth, his very
poverty gained for him her champion
ship. And when affairs between the
two promised to- become serious,
Paula's mother, in defense, presented
David Burns-irreproachab success
full man of the world.
Indignantly at first, then stubbornly,
Paula refused his attentions. Teddy
was furious that another man should
think Of his Paula. Teddy told her to
"hold out" against him and all would
be we'll. But in some unaccountable
way, when Teddy had been for some
time absent, Paula, overwhelmed by
her mothers opportunities, and infiu-
enced by David Burns persistence.
had married him, in O blaze OF 80
ciety glory.
Teddy was forgotten In the happy
months which followed. Old Dad
alone was still concerned, fearful lest
mothers persuasions had been unwise-
| " forced where love held sway.
The blow which had severed Paula's
happiness came I'm a well-meant letter
from mother-a letter assuring Paula
that her judgment in the choice OF q
husband for her daughter had been
| most wise.
"In your splendid home, with your
| fine social position" wrote mother
| "you will realize that the love for
| Teddy Van, which seemed to you so
| serious. was after all not the only thing
| worth having" And David had read
that letter-there was the tragedy.
He had opened it while Paula was
out of town. His mother-in-law had
intended paying them a visit, as she
had purposed, and was writing, advis-
| ing them when to meet her at the sta
| ton. David desired to know the time
| Of meeting, and read instead Of his
wife's deception.
When Paula returned he had faced
| her with the accusation Of love fol
| another man while marrying him fol
| material benefit. And poor Paula, be
| lieving herself in the truth Of his &C
| cusation, could but turn dumbly from
| the hurt of her husbands eyes.
1t was later, through days Of Danish
| ment from his presence, that full
| knowledge came to her Of her OWL
| deep love for him. But David had left
her on the night Of condemnation
"If your love is not mine, neither
are you mine, Paula" he had said and
then, resolutely, he had closed the
| door-the only door which gave pas
i
had lived silently apart, unchanged
only In the eyes of the world. And
| Paula. knowing the bitterness Of the
| blow she had dealt David's great love
| could still find no way to open the dool
| his will had closed.
She was in the long room at twi
| light again, eager for her glimpse OF
| her husbands coming. Upon the table
she found a letter addressed In hel
| fathers flowing hand.
"Old dad is coming to see you, girl,
| she read. Cant seem to rest easy
| In my mind about that matrimonial
venture of yours-got to come and fnC
ont if you and that husband Of yours
| are as happy as mother thinks you are
| Got TO know for sure. because the doc
| tor says won't be here long. I've haC
| n sort of stroke and Well, ! can
leave you, girl, until I'm sure YOUR
happy. I'll be with you tomorrow
\ Dad "