Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1913-09-02
convright BY Bobbs- Merrill Co.

bench at some distance, IN Ine SnruD-
berry. Here the smiling mask slipped
from her face and with a shiver she
dropped her hot face in her hands.
There were no tears. The wave that
was yelling over her was one of bit
ter humiliation. She had shot her
bolt and missed-she. Katharine
Fargol For three years she had held
John Valiant, romanticaily speaking,
in the hollow of her shapely hand.
Now she had all but thrown herself
at his feet--and he had turned away
to this flame-haired, vivid girl wnom
he had not known as many months!
The ranking barb was dipped In no
poison of unrequited love. Hers was
the anger of the self-willed and in
tensely proud woman denied her dear
est wish, and crossed and fouted Tor
the first time in her pampered eX-
quisite life.
Heavy footballs all at once APP
preached her-two men were coming
from the house. There was the spit
ting craclxle of match, and as she
peered out it's red flare lighted the
massive face and floating hair OF
Major y BristoW. His. companion
face was in the shadow. She waited,
thinking they would pass; but to her
annoyance, when she looked again.
they had seated themselves on a
bench few PAGES away.
To be found incoming in the shrub
berry like a schoolgirl did not please
her. but it seemed there was no re-
course, and she had half arisen, Wnen
the majors gruff-voiced companion
spoke name that caused her TO SIT
down abruptly. To do Katharine JUS
tice. II did not occur to her at the
moment that she was eavesdropplns
and such was the significance or th
sentences she heard and such their
bearing on the turmoil of her miho
that n woman of more SENSITIVE hpei
might have fingered. .e,+
"Bristow, Shirley's a magnlrceh'
girl" raea
sFinest in seven counties, agreed
the majors bass. ,,,. o,,oose
Whom do you reckon she II cnoose
to marry?' Tho bov's
been iT, love with her since they were
in hibs. And he comes as near oeliis
fit for her as anybody
,eHumphl" said the other sardon-
ically. mo man l ever saw was nan
good enough for a good woman but
good women marry, just the same. 1,
isn't Iusk. l used to think 1t would
he hit I've got a pair of eyes In my
head, If you haven't It's young
Valiant"
The pearl fan twisted in Katharine
fingers. What she had guessed was
an open secret then.
The major made an exclamation
that had the effect of coming after a
jaw dropping silence. II never
thought of that"
The other resumed slowly, some
what bitterly, it seemed to the girl
listening. IF her mother was in love
with Sassoon-"
Katharine's heart beat fast and
then stood still. Sassooni That was
the name of the man Valiant's father
had killed in that old duel of which
Judge Chalmers had told! IF her
mother" Dandridges mother
was in love with Sassoon!" Why
WAS she?''
The majors query held a sharpness
that seemed almost appeal. She was
conscious that the other had faced
about abruptly.
1--WE always believed so, certainly.
If she had loved Valiant, would she
have thrown him over merely because
he broke his promise not to be party
to quarrel?"
you think not?" said the major
huskily.
mot under the circumstances.
Valiant was forced into 1t. No gentle
man, at that day, could have declined
the meeting. He could have explained
it to Judiths satisfaction-a woman
doesn't need much evidence to justify
the man she's in love with. He must
have written her-he couldn't have
gone away without that-and if she
had loved him, she would have called
him back"
The major made no answer. Kath-
arine saw a cigar fall unheeded upon
the grass, where it lay glowing like a
panther's eyes.
The other had risen now his
stopped figure bulking in the moon
light His voice sounded harsh and
strained. IT loved Beauty Valiant
he said, land his son is his son to
me-but l have to think of Judith,
too. She tainted, Bristow, when she
saw him-Shirley told me about it.
Her mother has made her think it
was the scent of the rosesi He's his
| fathers living image, and he's
brought the past back with him.
Every sound of his voice, every sight
of his face, will be. a separate stab!
Oh, his mere presence will be enough
| for Judith to bear. But with her
| heart in the grave with Sassoon, what
would love between Shirley and young
Valiant mean to her? Think of it,!
| He broke off, and there was a blank
| of silence, in which he turned with
almost a sigh. Then Katharine saw
him reach the bench with single
stride and drop his hand on the bowed
shoulder.
"Bristow!" he said bruskly. You're
i'll! This COMPOUNDED philandering at
your time of life"
The majors face looked ashy pale
but he got up with laugh mot T.
he said 81 was never better in my
| lifei We've had our mouthful of air
Come on back to the house."
mot much!'' grunted the other
TIN going where we both ought to
have been hours ago" He threw
away his cigar and stalked down the
path into the darkness.
The major stood looking after him
| till he had disappeared, then sudden
! ly dropped on the bench and covered
/ his face. Something like a groan
! burst from him.
my God" he said, and his voice
came to Katharine with a quaver OF
age and suffering-verys different