Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1914-04-09
CHAPTER XVI.
The Doctor Speaks.

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 Southall) had searched her
out under a flag-of-truce, she had sent
him 10 the right-about, laughingly de-
clining 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
'round-dance" found her subsiding
into the f1ower-banked alcove sudden
ly Iistrait amid her escorts sallies. 1t
was at this ~>oment that she saw, en-
tering the corridor from the garden
the missing couple
It was not the faint flush on Shir
leys cheek-that was not deep-noI
was il 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 light that
never was on sea or land'-which was
like a death-stab to what lay far deep
er than Katharine's heart, her pride
She drew swiftly back, dismayed al
the sudden verification. and for an in.
slant her whole body chilled.
A craving for a glass of water has
served it's purpose a thousand times;
as her cavalier solicitously departed tc
fetch the cooling draught, she rose
and carelessly humming the refrain
the music had just left off, 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 a bench at some dis.
lance in the shrubbery. Here the
smiling mask slipped from her face
and with a SILVER 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.
gol For three years she had held
John Valiant, romantically 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
flamehaired, vivid girl whom he had
not known as many monthsl
Heavy footballs all at once approach.
ed her-two men were coming from
the house. There was the splitting
crackle of a match, and as she peered
out, its red flare 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,
when she looked again, they had seat.
ed themselves on bench few PAGES
away.
To be found incoming in the shrub.
berry like a schoolgirl did not please
her, but It seemed there was no re-
course, and she had half arisen. when
the ms5ors gruff-voiced companion
spoke a name that caused her TO sit
down abruptly.
"Bristow, shirley's a magnificent
girl"
Finest in seven counties" agreed
the majors bass.
Whom do you reckon she'll choose
to marry?"
Chilly Lusk, OF course. The boy S
been in love with her since they were
in bibs. And he comes as near being
fit for her as anybody"
Hump" said the other sardonical.
ly. mo man ever saw was half good
enough for a good woman. But good
women marry just the same. IL isn't
Lusk | used to think II would be-
but I've got pair Of eyes in my
head, If you haven't. It's young Val
liant"
The pearl fan twisted in Katha-
rine's fingers. What she had guessed
was an open secret, then!
The major made an exclamation that
had the effect of coming after a jaw.
dropped silence. II never thought
OF that"
The other resumed slowly, some
what bitterly, 1t seemed to the girl
listening. III her mother was in love
with Sassoon-"
Katharine's heart beat fast and then
stood still. Sassoon! That was the
name of the man Valiant's father had
killed in that old duel Of which Judge
Chalmers had told IF her mother
Shirley Dandridge's mother-"was In
love with Sassoonl" Why"
WAS she?"
The majors query held a sharpness
seemed almost appeal. She was