The Madisonian. (Richmond, Ky.) 1913-1914, 1914-05-26

GROUNDS. lu6r0 are OLA6T
things. For instance, back on the
mountain on my own land-is a set
Element they call Helrs-Half-Acre,
Probably it has well earned the
name. IT'S a wretched collection of
novels and surly men and drabs of
women and unkempt children, the
poorest of poor-whites. Not one of
them can read or write, and they live
like animals. If I'm ever able, mean
to put a Misunderstanding school up
there. And then
He ended with a half laugh, sudden
ly conscious that he was talking in q
language she would scarcely under
stand--in fact, in a tongue new to him.
self. But there was no smile on her
lips and her extraordinary eyes-cool
gray. shot through with emerald
were looking into his with frankness
and sympathy he would not have
guessed lay beneath her glacial pla-
cidity.
To Katharine, indeed, it made little
difference what philanthropic fads the
man she had chosen might affect as
regarded his tenantry. Ambitions like
these had a immortal flavor that did
not displease her. And the Fargo mil
lions would bear much harmless ham
mering. A change, subtle and incom-
municable, passed over her.
81 shall think of you," she sighed,
~as working on in this splendid pro-
gram. For it is splendid. But New
York will miss you, John"
"Ah, no. I've no decisions on that
score. I dare say I'm almost forgotten
there already. Here have a place
Her head, leaned back against the
cushion, turned toward him, the pale
orchids trembling on her bosom-she
was so near that he could feed her
breath on his cheek. A new waltz
had begun to sigh it's dangerous meas
ures.
placer" she queried- do you think
you had no place there? Is it possible
that you do not understand that your
going has left-a void?"
He looked at her suddenly, and her
ever, the big form of Major Bristow
appeared. looking about him.
TT has-left void" she said, her
eyes st1n downcast, her voice Just low
enough, for me-"
The major pounced upon them at
this juncture, feelingfy accusing John
of the nefarious design of robbfhg the
assemblage or its bright and partic-
ular star. When Katharine put her
hand In her cavaliers arm, her eyes
were dewy under their long shading
lashes and her fine lips ever SO little
tremulous. It had been her best avail
able moment, and she had used it.
AS she moved away, her faint color
slightly heightened, she was glad Of
the interruption. 1t was better as 1t
was. When John Valiant came to her
again.
! But to him, as he stood watching
her move lightly from him, there was
vouchsafed illumination. It came to
him suddenly that that placidity and
hauteur which he had so admired in
the old days were no mask for fires
within. The exquisite husk was the
real Katharine Hers was the lowell
ness Of some tall white lily cut in
marble, splendid but chill And with
the thought, between him and her
there swept through the shimmering
candle-lighted air breath of wet rose
fragrance like an impalpable cloud
and set in the midst of 1t a misty star
tinted gown sprayed with hlies-of-the.
valley, and above it a girls face clear
and vivid, her deep shadow-blue eyes
fixed on his.
The music Of two-step was Ian.
gushing when, little later, Valiant
and Shirley strolled down between
the garden box-hedges, cypress-shaped
and lifting spire-like toward a sky
which bent, silent canopy of mauve
and purplish blue Behind them
Damory court lay a nest of woven
music and laughter. The long white
muslined porch shimmered goldenly
and beside it under the lanterns DIAL
lied firtatious couple or two, ghost
like in the shadows
Come" he said. Let me take yor
to see the sun-dial now"
The tangle had been cut away an(
a narrow gravel-path led through the
pruned creepers. She made an excla
nation of delight. The onyx-pillal
stood in an oasis Of white moonfiow
ers, white dahlias, mignonette and mar
cissus; bars of late lilies-of-the-val
ley beyond these, bordered with Arum
lilies, white clematis, iris and bridal
wreath, shading out into tender pale
hues that ringed the spotless purit,
like dawning passion.
White for happiness" he quoted
you said that when you brought MI
here-the day we planted the ram
blers. Do you remember what
said? That some day, perhaps, l shoult
love this spot the best of all at Damon.
court" He was silent a moment, trac
ing with his finger the motto on thu
dials rim. when was very little,
he went on-''hardly more than thre'
years old, think-my father and
had a play, in which we lived in
great mansion like this. It was Gale,
Wishing House, and it was in the mid
die Of the Never-Never Land-a sor
of beautiful fairy country in which
everything happened right l know
now that the Never-Never Land wa
Virginia, and that Wishing House wa
Damory court No wonder my fathe
loved it, No wonder his memory turn
ed back to it always! I've wanted t
make it as it was when he lived here
And want the old dial to count happ
hours for me.
Something had crept into his ton
that struck her with a strange swee