The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1922-12-18
Beasley' S
Christmas
Party
By
BOOTH HARRINGTON
BOOTH HARRINGTON

! self the sOlace of a cigar, which kept
me company during a stroll about Mrs.
! Apperthwaite's capacious yard. In the
rear / found an old-fashioned rose
garden-the bushes long since bloom
less and now brown with autumn-and
| / paced it's graveled paths up and
down. at the same time favorfng Mr..
Beasley's house with covert study
that would have done credit TO a
porch-climber, for fhe sting of my
blunder at the table was quiescent, or
at least neutralized, under the itch or
curiosity far from satisfied concerning
the interesting premises next door.
The gentleman In the dressing-gown, /
was sure, could have been no other
than the Honorable David Beasley
himself. He came not in eyeshot now.
neither he nor any other; there was
no sign of life about the place. That
portion of his yard which lay behind
the house was not within my vision, 1t
is true, his property being here sepa-
rated from Mrs. opportunities by q
board fence higher than tall man
could reach: but there was no sound
from the other side Of this partition,
save that caused by the quiet. move
ment of rusty leaves in the breeze.
NV cigar was at half-length when
the green lattice door of Mrs. Apper-
thwaite's back porch was opened and
Miss Apperthwaite, bearing a saucer
of milk. issued therefrom, followed,
Fa$ yrf
a pink ribbon round its neck, vibrant
nose. and fixed, voracious eyes up
lifted to the saucer. The lady and her
cat offered to view a group as pretty
| as a popular painting; it was even i'm
| proved when, STOPPING, Miss Apper'
| thwaite set the saucer upon the
ground, and. continuing in that pos
ture, stroked the cat. To bend so far
| is a test of a woman's grace, [ have
| observed.
She turned her face toward me and
smiled. I'm almost at the age, you
see"
what age?" asked. stupidity
enough.
"When we take to cats" she said
| rising. 'SplnSCernOOu we ike W Nai
| it. Single-blessedness! ="
"That is your kind heart. You de
cline to make one of US happy to the
despair of all the rest"
She laughed at this, though with nc
very genuine mirth, I marked, and lei
nv 1880 attempt at gallantry pass
without retort.
I you seemed interested in the ole
place yonder" She indicated Mr.
Beasley's house with nod.
| "Oh. I understood my blunder,"
said, quickly. 81 wish I had known
the subject was embarrassing or I'M
pleasant to Mr.. Dowden."
What made you think that?"
Surely" I said, you saw how
pointedly he cut me off,
yes" she returned thoughtfully
HE rather did, it's true. At least.
see how you got that impression" She
seemed to muse upon this, letting hel
eyes fall; then. raising them, allowed
her far-away gaze to rest upon the
house beyond the fence, and said, "It
is an interesting old place"
| "And Mr.. Beasley himself" be
gan.
ooh" she said. she isn't interesting
That's his trouble"
"You mean his trouble not to"
She interrupted me, speaking witt
sudden, surprising energy, 81 NEAR
he's a man of no imagination"
H emo Imagination !" exclaimed.
"None in the world! Not one ounce
of Imagination! Not one grain"
"Then who" cried-"or what's
simpledoria?"
"simple-what?" she said, plainly
mystified.
"Simpledoria."
"Simpledoria she repeated, and
laughed. what in the world Is that?'
~"Y0u never heard of it before?"
"Never in my life''
you've lived next door to Mr.. Beas
ley long time, haven't your
"All my life"
"And 1 suppose you must know hin
pretty we'll"
..What next?" she said. smiling.
"You said he lived there all alone
I went on. tentatively.
Except for an old colored couple
his. servants"
Can you tell me-" / hesitated
sHas he ever been thought-wel
queer"
'tNeverr she answered, emphat
tcally. Never anything so exciting
Merely deadly and hopelessly common
place" She picked up the saucer, nov
matter with me-"
exceedingly empty, 6nd set It Cpo
shelf by the. lattice door. "Wna
was 1t ahout-what WAS that name ??
'SimpledoriaT"
Il will tell you" l said. And I RI
Sixteen styles of candlesticks,
solid brass, solid mahogany, poly
chrome, silver, cut glass, china an
decorated, at THE BOO KSHOP. st