The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1914-06-18

only pride. You see the corporation
was my fathers great idea-the thing
no created and put his soul into-and
It was laundering. know that would
have hurt him. One thing I've wanted
to say TO you, ever since the day we
talked together-about the duel.
want tossay that whatever lay behind
II, my fathers whole life was darkened
by that event. Now that I can put
two aud two together. know that It
was the cause OF his sadness"
"Ah, can believe that" she re-
piled.
II think he had only two interests
myself and the corporation. SO you
see why I'd rather save that and be a
beggar the rest OF my natural life.
But I'm not a beggar. Damory Court
alone Is WORTH know It nova hun.
dred times what I left"
You are 80 utterly different from
what | imagined you'll
II could never have imagined you"
he said, never"
II must be terribly outre."
You are so many women in one.
When listened TO your harp playing
could hardly believe II was the same
you ! saw galloping across the fields
that morning. Now you are different
woman from both of those"
AS she looked at him, her lips curled
corner-wise, her foot slipped on the
sheer edge OF the turf. She swayed
toward him and he caught her. feel
ing for a sharp instant the adorable
nearness OF her body. II ridged all his
skin with a creeping delight. She re-
covered her footing with an exclama-
tion. and turned back somewhat abb
ruptly to the porch where she seated
herself on the step, drawing her filmy
skirt aside to make a place for him.
There was a moment OF silence which
he broke.
That exquisite serenade you were
playingl You know the words, OF
course"
They are more lovely. II possible,
.han the score. Do you care for
| poetry?"
i've always loved It," he said. I've
been reading some lately-a little old.
| fashioned book found at Damory
Court. It's Lucille Do you know it?'
Yes. It's my mothers favorite."
He drew it from his pocket. See
I've got 1t here. It's marked, too"
He opened 1t, to close It instantly
not, however, before she had put out
her hand and laid It, palm down. on
the page. THAT rose! Oh. let me
have it,"
"Never!" he protested. Look here
When | put 1t between the leaves.
did so at random. | didn't see til
now that had opened It at marked
passage"
Let us read It," she said.
He leaned and held the leaf to the
light from the doorway and the two
heads bent together over the text.
A sound fell behind them and bott
turned. A slight figure, In a soft gray
gown with old lace at the throat. stood
IN the doorway behind them. Johr
Valiant sprang to his feet.
"Ah. Shirley. thought heard
voices, Is that you. Chilly?"
TITS not Mr.. Lusk, mother" sait
Shirley. Its our new neighbor. Mr.
Valiant"
AS he bent over The frail hand. mur
muring the conventional words tha
presentations are believed to require
Mrs. cambridge sank into a deeI
cushioned chair. Wont you 81
DOWN" she said He noticed that. sh,
did not look directly at him. and tha
her face was as pallid as her hair.
Thank you," said John Valiant, an,
resumed his place on the lower step.
Shirley. who had again seated her
self. suddenly laughed. and pointed t,
the book which lay between them
Imagine what we are doing. dearest
We were reading Lucille together"
She saw the other vince, and tn
deep dark eyes lifted, as II under CON
pulsion, from the book-cover to Val
ants face. He was startled by Shil
ley's cry and the sudden limp uncor
scious settling-back into the cushion
OF the fragile form.