The Cairo bulletin., 1914-02-13


and he-a Bris.ow, neither better mol
worse than the rest of his name. He
remembered that mad strained season
| when he had grimly recognized his
own cause as hopeless. and with burn
ing eyes had watched Sassoon and
Valiant racing abreast. He remem
bered that glittering prodigal dance
when he had come upon Valiant and
| Judith standing in the shrubbery, the
candle-light from some open door en-
| goldening their faces: hers smiling. a
! little flippant perhaps, and conscious
of her spell; his grave and earnest,
| yet wistful.
You promise. John?''
| Il give my sacred word What
ever the provocation. will not lift
my hand against him. Never. never,"
Then the same voice. vibrant, appeal
| ing. Judith, II isn't because--be-
cause-you care for him."
He had plunged away in the dark
ness before her answer came. What
had it mattered then 10 him what she
had replied? And that very night had
! befallen the fatal quarrel,
The major started How that name
had blown away the dust, That's
a long time ago, Judith.
Thirty years ago tomorrow they
fought" she said softly, Valiant and
Sassoon Evey woman has her one
oprivarcar,- euopoca and tor,nr
, rows mine. Do you know what
/ do, every fourteenth of MAY, Monty?
| keep my room and spend the day
always the same way. There's a little
book read. And there's an old hair
cloth trunk that I've had since | was
girl. Down in the bottom of it are
something's. that ! take out and set
round the room and there
is handful OF old letters I go over
from first TO last They're almost
all with my eyes shut Then there's a
tiny old straw basket with yellow
wisp in It that once was bunch OF
cape iessamines | wore them to that
, last ball-the night before 1t hap
pened The fourteenth of May used to
be sad, but now, do you know, | look
forward to it! | always have a lot of
jessamines that particular day-Ill
have Shirley get me some tomorrow
and in the evening, when go down
stairs, the house is full of the scent
of them All summer long It's roses,
but on the fourteenth of May It has
to be jessamines. Shirley must think
me whimsical old woman, but in
sist on being humored.'
He smiled, little blcakly, and
cleared his throat.
Isn't it strange for me to be talk
Ing this way now!" she said present.
~. Another proof that I'm getting
old. But the date brings 1t very close;
it seems. somehow, closer than ever
this year-Monty, weren't you tre-
mendously surprised when ! married
Tom cambridge"
Il certainly was"
"rn tell you a secret. I was, too.
| suppose I did 1t because of a sneak
ing feeling that some people we're feel
ing sorry for me. which | never could
stand, WE'LL he was man any one
might honor. I've always thought a
woman ought to have two husbands:
one to love and cherish, and the other
to honor and obey. had the latter,
at any rate"
And you've lived, Judith" he said.
Yes" she agreed, with a little sigh,
1--WE lived. I've had Shirley. and she's
twenty and adorable. And I've had
people enough, and books to read, and
plenty of pretty things to look at, and
old lace to wear, and I've kept
my figure and my vanity-I'm not too
old yet to thank the Lord for that!
So don't talk to me about worsted
shawls and horrible arctics. For |
won't wear 'em. Not il know my
self! Here comes Shirley. She's
made two juleps, and il you're a gen
tleman, you'll distract her attention
till I've got rid of mine in my usual
way
The major, at the foot of the cherry
bordered lane, looked back across the
box-hedge to where the two figures
sat under the rose-arbor. the mothers
face turned lovingly down to Shirley
at her knee. He stood a moment
watching them from under his
,slouched hat-brim.
You never looked at me that way
Judith, did you." he sighed to him
self. ITS been long time, too, since
| began to want you to-'most forty
years. When 1t came to the show
down, | wasn't even as fit as Ton
DaDdr' Il vol"