The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1914-07-15
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 (bctween cigars
on the porch with Judge Chalmers
and Doctor SouthalD had searched her
out under flag-of-truce she had sent
him to 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 tho next
"round-dance" found her subsiding
into the flower banked alcove sudden
ly distrait amid her escorts sallies. 1t
was at this moment that she saw, en-.
tering the corridor from the garden,
the missing couple.
1t was not the faint flush on Shir.
ley's cheek-that was not deep-nor
was 1t his nearness to her, though they
stood closely. as lovers might. But
there was in both their faces some.
thing that resurgent conventionality
had not had time to cover trem.
never was. on sea or land"-which was
like death-stab to what lay far deep.
er than Katharine's heart. her pride.
She drew swiftly back, dismayed at
the sudden verification, and for an in.
stant 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 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 bench at some dis
tance in the shrubbery. Here the
smiling mask slipped from her face
and with shiver she dropped her hot
face in her hands.
There were no tears. Tho 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. 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
flame-haired, vivid girl whom he had
not known as many months
Heavy footballs all at once APPROACH
ed her-two mon were coming from
the house. There was the splitting
crackle OF match, and as she pecred
out, its red flare lighted the massive
face and floating hair Of Major Brig
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
cd themselves on bench a 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 majors gruff-voiced companion
spoke name that caused her to sit
down abruptly.
"Rristow, shirley's magnificent
girl
FINEST in seven counties" 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
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. 1t isn't
Lusk. used to think it would be,
but I've got pair Of eyes in my
head, If you haven't. It's young Val.
iant."
The pearl fan twisted in Katha.
rine's fingers. What she had guessed
was an open secret, them
The major made an exclamation that
had the effect of coming after a jaw.
dropped silence. "I-I never thought
Of that"
The other resumed slowly, some.
what bitterly, 1t seemed to the girl
listening. "If 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 Sassoon!" Why"