The Madisonian. (Richmond, Ky.) 1913-1914, 1914-04-28

An hour later she stood in the
cozy stiffness of her bedroom.
She threw off her gown, slipped into
soft loose robe of maize-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 at her reflection
like mermaid from between the rip
plins, waves of moon-golden sea.
At last she turned, and seating her
self at the desk, took from it diary.
She scanned the pages at random, her
eyes catching lines here and there.
"A good run today. Betty and Judge
Chalmers and the Pendleton boys. My
nth brush this season" A frown
ef'ew itself across her brows, and she
tuseNed the page. One of the hounds
broke his leg, and | gave him to
Hickey" Chilly Lusk to
dinner 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
afternoon went for cape sjessamines.' %
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 a year ago today? she
wondered. The lower drawer of the
desk held number of slim diaries
like the one before her. She pulled it
out, took up the last-year's volume
and opened it.
Why" she said in surprise, 81 got
jessamine for mother this very same
day last year!" she pondered frown-
ing, then reached for a third and a
fourth. From these she looked up,
startled. That date in her mother
calendar called for cape jessamines.
What was the fourteenth of May to
her?
She bent slow troubled gaze about
her. The room had been hers as a
child. She seemed suddenly back in
that childhood, with her mother bend
ing over her pillow and fondling her
rebellious hair. When the wind cried
for loneliness out in the dark she had
sung old songs to her. Sad songs!
Even in those pinafore years Shirley
had vaguely realized that pain lay be
hind the brave gay mask. Was there
al hot hoI
caused that dull-colored life and I'M
fulflment? And was today, perhaps,
its anniversary?
John Valiant sat propped up on the
library couch, an open magazine un.
stand beside him was litter of let.
tiers ard papers. The bow-windoW
was open and the honeysuckle breeze
blew about him, lifting his hair and
ruffling the leaves of the papers. In
the garden three darkies were labor
ing, under the supervision of Uncle
Jefferson. The unsightly weeds and
lfchen were gone from the graveled
paths, and from the fountain pool
whose shaft now spouted a slender
spray shivered by the breeze into a
million diamonds, which fell back into
the pool with a tintinabulant trickle
and drip.
The master of Damory Court closed
the magazine with sigh. IF could
only do it all at once!" he muttered
ut takes such COMPOUNDED time
Four days they've been working now
and they haven't done much more
than clean up" He laughed, and
threw the magazine at the dog who
lodged it with injured alacrity. "AfteI
All. Chum." he remarked. its been
ftsirty years getting In this condition.
guess we're doing pretty vel"
He stretched luxuriously. "Tll take
q hand at it myself tomorrow. I'm
as right as rain again now. thanks to
Aunt Daph and the doctor. Some