The Watertown weekly leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1912-1917, 1914-09-29
CHAPTER XVI.
TIE Doctor Speaks.

TIE Doctor Speaks.
While the vibrant strings Lr 1!
and sang through the roses, anu the
couples drifted on tireless and con-
tent, or blissfully sat OUT dances ON
the stairway, Katharine Fargo held
her stately court no less gaily for the
Stealthy doubt that was creeping over
her spirit. She had been so certain
of what would happen that evening
that when her father (between cigars
on the porch with Judge Chalmers
and Doctor SouthalD had searched her
out under f1ag-of-truce, she had sent
him to the right-about, laughingly de-
Ginning to depart before royalty. But
number followed number. and the
knight in purple and gold had not
paused again before her. Now the
scarlet cloak no longer Haunted
among the dancers, and the white
satin gown and sparkling coronal had
disappeared. The end Of the next
"rouhd-dance" found her subsiding
into the ower-banked alcove sudden
ly distract amid her escorts sallies. 1t
was at this moment that she saw, en-
tering the corridor from the garden.
the missing couple.
It was not the faint flush on Shir-
ley's cheek-that was not deep-nor
was it his nearness to her. though they
stood closely, as lovers might. But
there was in both their faces a some
thing that resurgent conventionality
had not had time to cover a trem-
bling reflection of that Tight that
never was, on sea or land'-which was
like death-stab to what lay far deep
er than Katharine'ss heart, her pride.
She drew swiftly back, dismayed at
the sudden verification, and for an in
slant her whole body chilled.
A craving for glass of water has
served It's purpose a thousand times;
as her cavalier solicitously departed to
fetch the cooling draught, she rose.
and carelessly humming the refrain
the music had just left of. sauntered
lightly out by another door to the open
air. A swift glance about her showed
her she was unobserved and she STEP
ped down to the grass and along the
winding path to bench at some dis
lance in the shrubbery. 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
bitter humiliation. She had shot her
bolt and missed-she, Katharine Far
go! For three years she had held
John Valiant, Economically 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
fame-haired. vivid girl whom he had
not known as many months!
Heavy footballs all at once APPROACH
ed her-two men were coming from
the house. There was the splitting
crackle Of match, and as she peered
out, its red fare lighted the massive
face and floating hair OF Major Bris.
tow. His companions face was in the
shadow. She waited, thinking they
would pass; but to her annoyance,
WAOn SuO AOOhC0 dSd10, IAcy Ad0 SC0b
ed themselves on a bench few PAGES
away.
To be found incoming in the shrub
berry like a schoolgirl did not please
her, but 1t seemed there was no re-
course. and she had half arisen, when
the majors gruff- voiced companion
spoke a name that caused her to sit
down abruptly.
"Bristow, Shirley's q magnificent
girl"
Finest in seven countess agreed
the majors bass.
Whom do you reckon she'll choose
to marry?"
Chilly Lusk, Of course. The boys
been In love with her since they were
In bibs. And he comes as near being
At for her as anybody"
Hump" said the other sardonical-
ly. No man I ever saw was half good
enough for good woman But good
women marry just the same. It isn't
Lusk. I used to think 1t would be,
but I've got pair Of eyes in my
head, II you haven't It's young Val
liant"
The pearl fan twisted In Katha-
rine's fingers. What she had guessed