The Detroit times., 1913-11-12

threw a thin scarf over her shoulders
and stole out to the porch. Its deep
odorous shadow Was crossed by
oblongs OF lemon-colored light from
the windows. Before the kitchen door
Ranstou's voice was humming husk-
lily, accompanied by the soft alto OF
Aunt Judy. the cook
steal away; Steal away!
Steal away TO Jesus
Steal away steal away home
Shirley stepped lightly down TO the
wet grass. Looking back. sne could
see her mothers lighted blind. Ali
around the ground was splotched with
rosepetals. looking In the squares OF
light like bloody rain. Beyond the
margin OF this brightness all was In
darkness. for the moon was not yet
risen. and light damp breeze passed
In . slow rhythm a. II the earth were
breathing MOSTLY In its sleep. Some
where far away sounded the faint. IN
curing 100000 Of an owl. and In the
wet branches Of q walnut tree . pig.
con moved murmuroOV.
She skinned the lawn and ran q
little way down the lane. A shuffiing
sound presently fell on her ear.
rs that you. Unc' Jefferson" she
called softly.
"Yas'm!" The footsteps came near
or. "Et's mo. Mis- Shirley" He TIT
tered noiselessly, and she could see
his bent form vibrating In the gloom.
l.Yo' reck'n All done fergit?"
mo, indeed knew you wouldn't
do that. How II her
He right much bettah." he replied
In the same guarded tone Doctah he
say he be all right In Or few days,
on'y he gotter lay up or while. Dat
was or ugly nip he got rom dat
'spisable reptile. All reck'n de moe
sins Is wuss'n dem ar Floridy yailar-
CATERS"
DO you think there can be any
others about the grOunds?" ~
Nom Dey mos'ly keeps ter De
ma'sh-lan' en- on'y runs whah de I'M
dah-bresh ex thick. gwineter hx
dat ter.morrow. Mars Valiant he tell
me ter grub ct al ONT en- make or
bon-nah OBJ It."
That's right. Unc' Jefferson. Good
NIGHT and thank yuu for coming"
~. Ah0. sfarfod back to the house. when
Nh voice stopped her.
Miss Shirley. 20 dom kser Of de
ole man geddahs two or three oh dem
[xnoushty fon' ~ob dem. He. got one
\ n-er giass but eta mos' da1d now"
Walt Z minuts." she said, and dis
appeared In the darkness, returning
quickly with handful which she
put In his grasp.
'There!" she whispered. and slipped
back through the perfumed dark.
An hour later she stood In the cosy
stiffness Of her bedroom. II was
hung In silvery blue with curtains Of
softly figured shadow-cloth having q
misty design Of mauve and pink n.y.
drangeas. A tilted mirror on the
draped dressing-tabls had . dark ma
h0gany frame ret IN upright posts
carved h . heavy pattsrn Of grape-
leaves. Two candles IN silver candle
sticks stood before II. their friendly
light winking from the fittings Of the
dark bed. from the polished surface
Of the desk In the corner and from
the old piece Of brocade stretched
above the mantel. worked like shred.
ded silver cobwebs.
She threw on her gown, slipped into
= soft loose robe Of msise-colored
silk and stood before the small glass
She pulled out the amber pins and
drew her wonderful hair on either
side Of her face, looking out ct her
reflection like . mermaid from be-
tween the ripping waves Of 4 moon
golden sea. She gased long critical
minute from eyes whose blue seemed
now almost black.
At last she turned, and seating her.
self 1t the desk. took from Il Z diary.
She scanned the pages at random.
her eyes catching lines here and there.
IA Gocd run today. Betty and Judge
Chalmers and the Pendlst0n boys. Ny
fourth brush this season" A frown
drew Itself across her brows, and she
turn3d the page. "One Of the hounds
broke his leg. and gave him 10
Rickey." Chilly Lusk to din.
ner today, after swimming the Lor.
ing Rapid"
She BIT her lip. turned abruptly to
the new page and took up her pen.
This morning . twelve-mile run to
Damory Court" she wrote. "This af.
ternoon went for cape jessamines."
There she paused. The happenings
and sensations of that day would not
be recorded. They were unwritable.
She laid down her pen and put her
forehead on her clasped hands. How
empty and inane these entries seemed
beside this rich and eventful twenty
four hours Just passed! What had
she been doing year ago today? she
wondered. The lower drawer Of the
desk held a number Of slim dairfes
like the one before her. She pulled
II out, took up the last-year's volume
and opened II.
Why" she said In surprise, II. got
jessamine for mother this very same
day last year." she pondered frown-
ing. then reached for a third and q
fourth. From these she looked up.
startled. That date in her mothers
calendar called for cape jessamines
What was the fourteenth of May o.
her?
She bent slow troubled gaze about
her. The room had been hers a.
child. She seemed suddenly back In
that childhood. with her mother bend.
irg over her pillow and fondling her
! rebellious hair. When the wind cried
for loneliness out In the dark she
had sung old songs 70 her that had
seemed to suit windy nisht: MARY
Of the Wild Moor" and Il Am Dream.
Ing Now Of Halle" Sad songs, Even
In those pinafore years Shirley had
vaguely realized that pain lay be-
hind the brave CAV mask Was thero