The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1913-12-03
CHAPTER XVII.
(ContInued.l

(ContInued.)
a moment she stood listening to the
low regular breathing OF the sleeper
The reading-lamp shed q shaded glow
on the pillow with It's spread-out all
yer hair. and on the delicate hands
ciasped loosely on the coverlet. Shir'
ley came close and looked down on
the placid face. Ii was smooth as q
childs and smile touched II lightly
as II some pleasant sleep-thought had
just laid rosy fingers on the dreaming
lips. The light caught and sparkled
from something bright that lay be-
tween her mothers hands. 1t was
the enamel brooch that held her own
baby curl, and she saw suddenly that
what she had all her life thought was
a solid pendant, was now open locket.
wise and that the two halves clasped
q miniature. II came to her at once
that the picture must be Sassoon .,
and q quick thrill OF pity and yearning
welled up through her own detection.
STOPPING. she looked at 1t closely. She
started as she did so, for the face
on the little disk OF ivory was that
Of John Valiant.
An instant she stared unbelieving-
ly. Then recollection OF the resem-
blance Of which Valiant had told her
rushed to her, and she realized that
It must be the picture OF his father.
| The fact shocked and. COMPOUNDED her.
Why should her mother carry In Sc
cret the miniature~of the man who
had killed
Shirley's breath stopped She felt
her face tinging and curious weak
ness~ came on her limbs. Why indeed,
uhless the thought was like a wild
prayer In her mind-she had been mis-
taken in her surmise? Thoughts came
thronging In panic haste: the four
teenth OF May and the cape jessa-
mines-these might point no less to
Valiant than TO Sassoon. But her
mothers fainting at the sight OF the
son-the eager interest she had dis
played In Shirley's accounts OF him,
from the episode OF the rose and the
bulldog to the tournament ball-seem-
ed now to stand out In new light.
throbbing and rOseate. Could II be?
Had she been stumbling along a blind
trail, misled by the cunning dove
tailing Of circumstances? Her heart
Was beating stifingly. II she should
be mistaken now She dashed her
hand across her eyes as though to
compel their clearness. and looked
again.
Il was Beauty Valiant's face thar
lay In the locket, and that could mean
but one thing: II was he. not Sas-
soon, whom her mother loved!
The lamplight seemed to grow and
spread to an unbearable radiance.
Shirley thought she cried out with
sudden sweet wildness. but she had
not moved or uttered a sound. The
illumination was all about her. like a
bplendid cloud. The impossible had
happened. The miracle for which
sne haf Historically prayed had been
wrought!
When she blew out the light, the
thinning still remained. That glow
ng knowledge. like vitalizing and
physical presence. passed with her
through the hall to her own room. AS
bhe stood in the elnsh light Of her
bne candle. the poignancy OF her Joy
was as sharp as her past pain. Later
was to come the wonder how that
tragedy had bent Beauty Valiant's life
% exile and her mothers to unfulfil-
nent, and in time she was to know
hese things. too. But now the one
treat knowledge blotted out all else.
bhe need starve her fancy no longer!
rhe hours with her lover might again
weep across her memory undenied.
bhe felt his arms. his kisses. heard
his whispers against her cheek and
melled the perfume OF Madonna
lilies.
She drew the curtain and opened
he window noiselessly to the night.
Only q few hours ago she had been
inging to her harp in what wretch
I'd
elf The quiet night was full OF his
oice: 81 love you. want nothing
but YOU" How her pitiful error had
ortured and wrung them both! But
omOrrow he, too, would know that
IL was well.
A clear sound chimed across the
istance-the bell of the courthouse
lock, striking midnight. One! :.
rwo.. How often lately 1t had
Jung discordantly across her mood;
low It seemed CLAIMANT watcher,
olling Joy. Three! !. f. Four!
rive! Perhaps he was sleep
ess, listening, too. Was he In
he old library thinking OF her?
Biz! +. Seven! Eight! :.
Vine! II she could only send
Ter message to him on the bells!
ZEN! II swelled more loudly
how, more deliberate. Eleven! .
Another day was almost gone.
Twelve! Joy cometh In the
horning'-ran the whisper across her
thought. II was morning now.
Thirteen!
She caught sharp breath. Her ear
lad not deceived her--the vibration
tin palpitated on the air like heart
K sound. II had struck thirteen!