The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1922-06-19
CHAPTER X
The AbysmaI Depths.

Molly dld not see BOWyef IOE Two
months after Kitty's departure. His
next visit was as unexpected as all OF
his 1t was in the afternoon. and the
girl came back from walk along the
shore to see him seated in the store,
sleek, red, and self-satisfied, and her
father standing beside him, with that
look of awful fear on his face. She
had momentary impression as If the
factor stood up like a well man; but,
as she entered, the right leg went
dragging under him, and the arm fell
limp at his side.
"How dye do, Miss Mcdonald p
called Bowyer. 81 just dropped in to
have chat with the factor in passing.
Big things happening here, Ell? The
Missatibi's mighty slow in crossing
Big Muskeg."
Molly famed at the insult to Wilton.
She looked at her father, and the ex-
preston on his face went to her heart.
She turned swiftly to Bowyer.
ST don't want you to come here
again." she said.
He started up, spluttering. "We don't
want you," she continued. "And we
won't be prosecuted by you. There's
law in this country"
He burst into mocking laughter
"You never spoke truer word, Miss
McDonaldI' he cried. ST came here
as a friend"
"You can go as an enemyl' she re
torted "And you can go now. And
remember-there are men about here
who can use a whip!"
He glared at her, but went without
a word, and Molly ran to the factor
Hes torturing you'll" she sobbed. 81
don't know what his power over you
is, but he mustn't come here again !!
A few days later Bowyer went in to
Clayton and, by chance, his visit coin
cided with Wilton's.
When Wilton left her house, Kitty
sank down into chair, clasping anC
unclasping her fingers nervously. The
first time when Wilton had repulse6
her, she had been too Inundated anG
conscience-stEicken to bear him resent
ment Her visit to Molly had been 6
sudden evil impulse, which, when done
she had attempted to justify.
She had, of course, succeeded
Gradually she had begun to look upor
herself as a deeply wronged woman
When a woman loves, love is it's owl
justification for acts done in its name
On the second occasion Of her ad
vances to Wilton she saw by instinc
that she had almost conquered. Sht
saw, too, that, having lost, she hat
lost forever. She might win Wiltor
yet, but never in that way.
Now she would go to any lengths
to Dust Molly. Molly had never writ
ten to her since her departure, and sh.
did not even know If her scheme hat
succeeded in estranging her from WI
ton. But she inferred success from
Wilton's bearing. He had not looked
like a successful lover.
Bitterly she reflected on her mar
rage with Joe. She had never lovet
Joe, but neither had she hated him
She had loved Wilton, and, bound b,
tradition and social circumstances, sh,
had concealed it. Then-Joe had died
Everything had seemed possible. An.
Wilton had engaged himself to an
other-to her best friend. Kitty wa
not a bad woman, but she meant Il
fight for her own. She would win WI
ton, cost what 1t might.
When, therefore, late on the day at
ter he had called on her, the maid an
nounced Tom Bowyer, who had neve
been In her house before, she sen
down word that she would receiv
him.
Neither Wilton nor Bowyer wa
aware that the other was in Clayton
when Bowyer called, nor did the.
meet.
Kitty came downstairs, to flint
Bowyer standing in the parlor. twirl
ing his hat in his hands. There wa
SingIllarIy yulpine look on the rel