Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-12-04


matrrer years about Damory Court
when the trail of sex had deepened
into mans passion and the devils
rivalry It had been a curious three
sided affair--he, and Valiant and
Sassoon. Sassoon with his dissipated
flair and ungovernable temper and
strange fits of recklessness: clean.
high-idealed straight-away valiant;
and he--a Bristow, neither better nor
worse than the rest Of his name. He
emembered that mad strained season
when he had grimly recognized his
own cause as hopeless, and with burn
ing eyes had watched Sassoon and
Valiant racing abreast He remem-
bered that glittering prodigal dance
when he had come upon Valiant and
Judith standing in the shrubbery, the
candle-light from some open door en-
goldening their faces: hers smiling, a
little flippant perhaps, and conscious
of her spell; his grave and earnest,
yet wistful.
"You promise, john"
Il gave my sacred word. Whatever
the provocation. I will not lift my hand
against him. Never. never" Then
the same voics, vibrant, appealing.
Judith! 1t isn't because-because-
you care for him."
He had plunged away in the dark
ness before her answer came. What
had it mattered then to him what she
had replied? And that very night had
befallen the fatal quarrel.
The major started. How that name
had blown away the dust. That's a
long time ago, Judith"
"Think of it'll wore my hair just
as Shirley does now. 1t was the same
color, with the same fascinating little
lights and whorls in it," She turned
toward him, but he sat rightly up
right. his gaze avoiding hers. Her
dreamy look was gone now, and her
eyes were very bright.
Thirty years ago tomorrow they
fought" she said softly. valiant and
Sassoon. Every woman has her one
anniversary, I suppose, and tomor-
rows NINE Do you know what I do,
every fourteenth Of May, Monty? |
keep my room and spend the day al
ways the same way. There's little
book I read. And there's an old
haircloth trunk that I've had since |
was a girl. Down in the bottom of it
are something's, that take out and
set round the room and there Is
a handful of old letters go over from
first to last. They're almost worn out
now, but could repeat them all with
my eyes shut. Then, there's a tiny
old straw basket with yellow wisp in
It that once was bunch of cape jessa-
mines. I wore them to that last ball
B~h hor
fourteenth of May used to be sad, but
now, do you know, l look forward to
it! I always have a lot of jessamines
that particular day-P1l have Shirley
get me some tomorrow-and in the
evening, when I go downstairs. the
house is full of the scent Of them. All
summer long it's roses, but on the
fourteenth of May lit has to be jessa-
mines. Shirley must think me a
whimsical old woman, but insist on
being humored.' -.5r..a w.
She was silent a moment, the point
of her slender cane tracing circles in
the gravel. Its a black date for you
too, Monty. I know. But men and
women are different. I wonder what
takes the place to man Of woman's
haircloth trunk?"
tiles that had formed its floor were
81 reckon it's demijohn," he said
mirthlessly.
A smile flashed over. her face, like
sunshine over a flower, and she looked
up at him slowly. What bricks men
are to each other. You and the doc
tor were John Valiant's closest friends.
What did you two care what people
ct
each other like that! 1t isn't in petit
coats! 1t wouldn't do for women to
take to dueling, Monty; when the af-
fair was over and done. the seconds
would fall to with their hatpins and
jab each others eyes OUT"
He smiled. a little bleakly, and
cleared his throat.
isn't it strange for me to be talk
ing this way now" she said presently.
Another proof that I'm getting old.
But the date brings it very close; it
seems, somehow, closer than ever this
year,-Monty, weren't you tremend-
ously surprised when | married Tom
Dandridge?"
81 certainly was"
"I'll tell you a secret. I was, too, |
suppose I did it because of a sneak
ing feeling that some people were feel
ing sorry for me, which I never could
stand. Well, - was man any one
might honor. I've always thought a
woman ought to have two husbands:
one to love and cherish, and the
other to honor and obey. l had the
latter, at any rate"
"And you've lived. Judith" he said.
yes she agreed, with little
sigh, 1--WE lived. I've had Shirley
and she's twenty and adorable. Some
of my emotions creak bit in the
hinges, but I've enjoyed things. A
woman is cat enough not to be wholly
miserable II she can sit in the sun and
purr. And I've had people enough
and books to read, and plenty of
pretty things to look at, and old lace
to wear, and I've kept my figure and
my vanity-I'm not too old yet to
thank the Lord for that! So don't
talk to me about worsted shawls and
horrible artics. For won't wear 'em
Not if l know myself! Here comes
Shirley. She's made two juleps, and
If you're gentleman, you'll distract
her attention till I've got rid of mine
in my usual way"
The major, at the foot Of the cherry
L IL r.,