The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1913-11-07

of them was the man from Peters
burg) When she was married, one
OF them wrote her and asked for his
ring. II had seven diamonds set In
| the shape OF cross I'm telling you
this In confidence. just as II was told
\ to me. She didn't write reply-she
only sent him a telegram: Simply
to thy cross I cling. She wears the
| stones yet In a bracelet"
For time the conversation Ian
guished. Then Mrs. Clifford asked
suddenly who do you suppose she
could have been 1.-THE girl behind
that old Valiant affair
| Mrs. Mason shook her head. NO
one knows for certain-unless, or
course, the major or the doctor, and l
wouldn't question either OF them for
worlds. You see. people had stopped
Sossiping about 1t before l Was out OF
| school
but surely your husband"
"Thc only quarrel we had while we
were engaged was over that. tried
TO make him tell me. imagined
srom something he said then that the
young men who did know had pledged
one another not to speak OF It."
II wonder why?' said the othor
thoughtfully.
"Oh, undoubtedly out OF regard oor
tho girl. I've always thought IL so
decent OF them! II there was Cir,
III tho case, her position must have
been unpleasant enough, II she wac
not actually heart-brokon. Ipaogine
the poor thing, knowing that wherever
che went, people would b saying
She's the ono thoy fought the duel
over! Look 1t hort n she grisved.
they'd say she'd boon crazy IL love
With Sassoon. and point out the dark
circles under hor oyos, and wonder
Il she'd ever set over It. II she
didn't mopo. thoy'd say she was In
love with Valiant and was Glad II
was Sassoon who was shot II she
ahut herself up. thoy'd say she had
40 Pride: X she didn't, they'd aay she
had no heart. II was far bottcr to
cover the story up and lot It die"
But the subject was too fascinating
for her morning visitor to abandon.
''She probably loved one OF them. !"
she said. II wonder which II was.
IN ask the major whom I see him
I'm not afraid. He cant eat me!
Wouldn't II be curious" she con-
tinued, III It should be somebody
who lives here now-whom we've al
ways known, I can't think who It
could have been. though. There's
Jenny Quarles-she's eight years
older than we are, II she's q day
she was a nice little thing. but you
couldn't dream of anybody ever fight
ing a duel over her. There's Polly
Pendleton, and Berenice Garland
they must have been about the right
age, end they never marrfed-but no,
It couldn't have been either Of them.
| The only other spinster can think
OF il Miss Matte Sue. and she was
as poor as Jobs turkey and teaching
school. Besides, she must have been
years and years too old. Hush.
| There's Major Bristow vt the cate
now. And the doctors just coming
out again.
The major wore a suit OF vhito
linen. with q PREDETERMINED straw
hat, and a pink W In his button
hole, but to the observing, his step
might have seemed to lack an accus-
toned jauntiness. As he cane up
the path the doctor opened his once
door. Standing on the threshold. his
legs wide apart and his hands under
his coat-tails. he nodded grimly across
the marigolds. How do you fool this
morning. Major"
"Feel?' rumbled the major; the
way any gentleman ought to feel this
time OF the morning, sab. Like hell.
sab"
The doctor bent his gaze On tho
hilarious blossom in the others h.
pei. N were you, Bristow," be said
scathingly. II reckon I'd QUIT Galt
wanting around to bridS e-1ghts with
perfumery on my handkerchief Svsry
evening. IT'S q devil of IN example
to the young"
The roclxingchadrs bohdnd the
screening vines became mCt10ulsss.
and the ladies exchanged surreptL
tious smiles. II tho two gpntlcmon
wore aware Of each others Seerlins
qualities, their mutual appreciation
was In inverse ratio to It's sxpres-
sion, and, as the DluciniAa myvterfss,
cloaked before the wori1 In public
the doctor was wont to remark THAI
the major talked hke q Caesar. looked
like a p14notunor and was tho only
NAN he had sver seon who could strut
sitting down. Never wero his s1bcs
80 barbed as whom launched against
the majors white-walstcoafod and
patrician calm. and conversely. mover
did the majors bland suavity % near.
~ approach an undignifed irritation
- when receiving the euvenomed
darts Of that accomplished cynic.
The major settled his black de. "A
little wholesome exercise wouldn't be
> bad thing for you, Doctor" he said
succinctly. You're looking a shade
pasty today"
'Txerc1sci" snapped tho other vici-
ously. 40 he pounded down tho stops.
ga, hal suppose you cYerciee-
hxying out to the Dandridges' once
week Cor julep. and the rest Of the
time wearing out good cnne,bottoms
snd palm-leaf fans and cusslng ct the
heat You'll 20 OF With spopIexy one
Of these days"
7 shall n they're scared enough to
call you," the major shot after him,
neftfed. But tho doctor did not
pause. He vent On down the street
without turning his hood.
The major liftod his hat CALAMITY
70 the ladies'. whose presence he had
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