The Detroit times., 1913-11-29
CHAPTER Xiv.
fTon<in.s>AN

NVAP EN- AIlv.
(Continued.)
mo, he said. in answer TO her
look. he won't rouse again
II will watt she told him. and he
left her, shutting the door with care
full softness.
But the slight figure with its silver
hair, sitting there. was not alone.
Ghosts were walking up and down.
Not the misty wraiths John Valiant
had at times imagined went fitting
along the empty corridors, but faces
very clear In the sunlight. that came
and went with the memories SO long
woven over by the shuttle OF time
evoked now by the touch OF a key
that her hand still clenched tightly
In It's palm.
There welled over her In tide
those days Of puzzle, the weeks OF
waiting silence. the slow inex0rable
months of heartache, the long years
that had deepened the mystery or
Beauty Valiant's exile. In the first
shock of the news that Sassoon had
fallen by his hand, she had thought
faith. She and his promise to her
had not weighed In the balance
against, his idea Of manly honor"
But this bitterness had at length
slipped away. He will write," she
had told herself, land explain" But
no word had come. Whispers had
fitted to her-the tale OF Sassoon's
Observation-Disclosures barbs that
chung to Beauty valiant's name. That
these should rest unanswered had
filed her with resentment and anger.
Slowly. but with deadly surety, had
grown the belief that he no longer
cared. In the end there had been
left. her only pride-the pride that
covers its wound and smiles. And
she had hidden her wound with how-
ers. But In the deepest we'll of her
heart her love for him had rested un-
changed. clear and defined Is Z moss
in amber, wrapped In that mystery
of silence - ~
In q little haircloth trunk back In
her room lay an old scrap-book. 1t
held few leaves torn from letters
and many newspaper clippings. From
these she had known of his work, hts
marriage. the great commercial sue.
cess for which his name had stood
the name that from the day of his
going. she had 80 seldom taken upon
her lips. Some Of them had dealt
with his habits and idiosyncrasies.
hints Of an altered personality, and
aloOfness or loneliness that had set
him apart and made him, In a way,
q stranger to those who should have
known him best Thus her mind had
come to hold q double image: the
grave man these Swallowed forth, and
the man she had loved, whose youth,
full face was in the locket she wore
always on her breast. 1t was this
face that was printed on her heart.
and when John Valiant had stood be-
fore her on the porch at Rosewood.
1t had seemed to have risen, instinct
from that old grave.
He had not kept silence. He had
written. 1t pealed through her brain
like mufRled bell. But Beauty Va
liant was gone with her youth; In
the room near by lay that old com
panlOn who would never speak to her
again. the lifelong friend-who had
really failed her thirty years ago. =.
and in a tin box q mile away lay a
letter
He won't rouse again." the doctor
had said. but little later, as he and
Valiant sat beside the couch, the ma
jor opened his eyes suddenly.
Shirley" he whispered. Where's
Shirley"
She was sitting on the porch just
outside the open window. and when
she entered, tears were on her face.
The doctor drew back silently, but
when Valiant would have done SO,
the major called him nearer.
No" he painted: II like TO see you
two together" His voice was very
weak and tired.
As she leaned and touched his
hand. he smiled whimsically. ITS
mighty curious" he said, "but can't
get 1t out of my head that It's Beauty
Valiant and Judith that I'm really talk.
ing to. Foolish-isn't IT." But the
idea seemed to master him, and pres
emily he began to call Shirley by
her mothers name An odd youth
fulness crept into his eyes: 4. subtle
paraduxical boyiahness His cheek
tinged with color. The deep lines
about his mouth smoothed miracai-
lousiy out.
Judith" he whispered, YOU
sure you told me the truth while
ago. when you said--you said"
Yes, yes" Shirley answered. put
ting her young arm under him. think.
ing only to soothe the anxiety that
seemed vaguely to thread some vague
Authorization
He smiled again. ut makes It
easier" he said. He looked at Vail
ant. his mind seeming TO slip farther
and farther away. Beauty" he
gasped. you didn't go away after all.
did YOU dreamed tt reckon. tn
be-all right with you both
! He sighed peacefully, and his eyes
turned to Shirley's and closed. I'm
so glad" he muttered, so glad l.
didn't really do IT, Judith. II would
have-been the - only - low down
!thing-I--ever did"
The doctor went swiftly to the door
and beckoned 10 Jereboam. Come In
now. Jerry" he said In a low voice.
quickly"
The old Negro fell on his knees
by the couch. Mars Monty" he
cried rs you gwine away en- leabe
oil Jerry? Is yo'? Mars"
! The cracked but loving voice struck
across the void of the falling sense
For last time the major opened his
misting eyes.
Jerry, you--black scoundrel." ne
whispered, and Shirley felt his hea q