West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1906-12-27

wlttoi them: iio's pa ell n Joke on the
rope. Aud Judi.h. his daredevil sister.
had come with ais greetings TO Hen
dersOn, !t3..'. 90 tlo faction against
him. The tie had turned. The ap-
plause that - ever the need OF the
winner was hers to command. The
cattle fdc.iyn were ready 10 sins the
praises or her splendid a~u1acity. In
their hearts obey were glad ln the
thought that Jim had outwitted them.
Miglel'S bow dashed across the
strings. and he drew from the little
brown fiddle music that again made
them merry md glowing. The magic
came back to the dance. the blood leap
ed again with the merry madness, and
they swept TO the bowling ike leaves
when the first faint wall OF winter
cries In the trees.
Hamilton. standing apart with Kitty
Colebrooke. had been a dazed witness
OF the scene. With the rest he had
watched the entrance OF Judith, had
been stunned by the change I'm her np.
pearance. had seen her triumph and
heard the rumor OF Jlm's escape, and
his heart had warmed with the good
word. She had probably managed the
plan and had come tonight, In the Joy
OF her triumph. to hurl In their faces
that she had outwItted them. And she
had paid the penalty OF her courage
her face told that. What n IN
she was! She was the one woman I'm
all the world for hin. though his blind
eyes had faced the light for years and
had not known IL. He had squandered
the strength OF his youth I'm the pur.
suit OF n little light and had not
marked the serene shining OF the moon.
And n man there was and he made
his prayer" he quoted to himself. Well.
thank God that IL had not been an
swered. He would take her away
from here. She could take her place In
his family and reflect credit on his
choice. His family, his FRIENDSHIP
WINGED Mt the thought of their possible
reception OF the news. But Judith's
presence would adjust these Difficult.
ties. He would present her to Kitty
now, that his old friend might see
what manner OF woman she was. Kit
~, he felt, would be kind In
or the old days. She would give to
them both In friendship what she had
denied him In love. And as he warm
ed 20 the thought he turned to the wo.
man OF his youth. And she read n look
In bis face that had not beer there I'm n
long time. Had he, then, come back
to her? Was the distance from bark
TO shore lessenlns as the sea OF mfsun-
derstanding dlmlnishedf
kitty. we were speaking a
az OF Miss Rodney. You would k 10
HhOW her, I'm sure. We've been such
good friends all these years while you
were deciding that what l wanted was
not good for us-and deciding wisely.
as | lmow now. Look at herr You'll
understand how she has helped me
keep the balance OF things. When she's
finished dancing you'll let me bring her
to you, won't your
And Kitty, who had expected much
different words, struggled with the
meaning OF these unexpected ones
The strangeness OF the pain bewildered
her. Her dazed consciousness refused
to accept that Peter was asking per
mission to present TO her n woman
whom she thought would not have
been permitted to enter her presence.
There was about her a white flame of
anger that seemed to lick up the red
blood In her veins rs she turned to an
swer:
she is u%ndeniably handsome, Peter.
but | do not care to meet your mis-.
t-ess."
He bowed low to her as Lieutenant