Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1913-09-08
Continued from saturday,

Poor old Niger. He-used to tote
me on his back when I was little
shaver" There was a silence. Don't
kneel, Judith" he said at length.
'You will be so tired"
"she rose obediently and drew up
/ a chair. Monty" she faltered
I've never prayed much-my prayers
never seemed to get above the CELL
ing, somehow. But Tll-try."
He smiled wanly. Il wouldn't want
any better than yours, Judith. But
seems as If I'd been prayed over
enough. 1 reckon God Almightys
like anybody else, and doesn't want
to be ding-donged all the. time"
He seemed to have been gathering
his resolution, and presently nus
hand fumbled over his breast. my
wallet: give it to me- She drew 1t
from the pocket and the uncertain
fingers took out a key. lit opens a
tin box in my trunk. Theresa let
ter In it for you" He paused a
moment, painting: Judith" he said,
1--WE got to tell you. but it's mighty
hard. The letter It's one
Valiant gave me for you-that morn
ing after the duel I-never gave It
to you."
IF she had been white before, she
grew like marble now. Her slim
fingers clutched the little cane till 1t
ratified against the chair, and the
lace. at. her throat shook with her
breathing. "Yes-Monty.
He lifted his hand with difficulty
and put the key into hers. the
seals still unbroken, Judith" he
said, "but I've kept it these thirty
years.
She was. holding the key in her
hands, looking down upon II. There
was a strained fearful wonder
in her face. For an instant she
seemed. quite. to. have forgotten him
in the grip of some swift and pain
aI loved YOU, Judith he STAN
mered in anguished appeal, From
the time we were boy and girl. to-
gether, loved you. You never cared
for me-Sassoon and Valiant had the
inside track. You might have loved
me; but had no chance with eltncr
of them. Then came the duel There
was only Valiant then. / overheard
his promise to you that night, Judith.
He had broken that! If you cared
more for him than for Sassoon you
might have forgiven him, and
should have lost you! | didn't want
YOU to call him back, Judith. l want
ed my chance and SO took IT. That s
the reason. dear. lts-1ts q eao
one, isn't it?'
A shiver went over her set face
like a breath of wind over tall grass.
and she seemed to come back from
an infinite distance to place and
moment. Between the curtains
white butterfly lowered an instant,
and In the yard she heard the SOUND
of some winged thing fiuttering. Tae
thought darted to her that it was. the
sound of her own dead heart awak-
ing. She looked at the key and al!
at once put hand to her mouth as
though to still words ciamoring
there.
Judith" he said TREMENDOUSLY, be-
tween short struggles for breath, AL
these years, after / found there was
no chance for me, / reckon I've
prayed only one. prayer. God, let It
be Sassoon that she lovedn And
I've prayed that mighty near every
day. The thought that maybe II
was Valiant has haunted me like a
ghost. You never told-and | never
dared ask you. judith
Her face was still averted. and
when she did not speak he turned his
head from her on the pillow, with a
breath that was almost a moan. She
started, looking at him an instant In
piteous hesitation, then swiftly kissed
the little key and closed her hand
tight upon it. Truth? She saw only
the pillow and the CRAVING face upoi,
it, She threw herself on her knees
by the couch and laid her lips on
the pallid forehead
Tit was Sassoon, Monty" she
said, and her voice broke on the
first lie she had ever told.
THANK God," he gasped. He strue
gled to raise himself on his elbow,
then suddenly the strength faded out
and he settled back
Her cry brought the doctor, but
this time the restorative seemed of
no. avail. and after a. time he came
and touched her shoulder. With a
last long look at the ash-pale face
on the settee, she followed him from
the room. In the yellow parlor he
put her into a chair.