The Ordway new era., 1914-06-26

aloud and her mother listened Win an
expression that puzzled her. When
she finished. both were silent for a
moment. then she asked. you must
have known his father. dearest; didn't
your"
Yes" said Mrs. cambridge after =
pause. "I-knew his father.
Shirley said no more. and facing
each other in the. candle-glow, across
the spotless damask. they talked. as
with common consent. Of other things.
She thought she had never seen her
mother more brilliant. An odd excite
ment was flooding her cheek with red
and she chatted and laughed as she
had not done for years. = i.
But after dinner the gaiety and ef-
fervescence faded quickly and Mrs.
She mounted the stair with her arm
thrown about Shirley's plant waist.
At her door she kissed her. looking at
her with q strange smile. How Gu
rious." she said. as II to herself. that
1t should have happened today"
The reading-lamp had been lighted
on her table. She drew . slim gold
chain from the bosom Of her dress
and held to the light . little locket-
brooch 1t carried. It was Of black en-
amel, with q tiny laurel-wreath Of
pearls on one side encircliAg . single
diamond. The other side was Of crys-
tai and covered a baby's russet-col-
ored curl. In her fingers It opened
and disclosed a miniature ut which
she looked closely for moment.
Her eyes turned restleasly about the
room. It had been hers a. girl. for
Rosewood had been the old Garland
homestead. 1t seemed now all ut once
to be full Of calling memories Of her
youth.
How strange that 1t should have
been today" It had been on shirley's
lips to question. but the door had
closed. and she went slowly down
stairs. She sat . while thinking. but
at length grew restless and began to
walk to and fro across the door. her
hands clasped behind her head 20 that
the cool air dlled her flowing sleeves.
In the hall she could hear the leisure
ly Naturalization Of the tall clock.
The evening outside was exquisitely
still and the metallic monotone was
threaded with the airy fddls-Addle Of
crickets In tho grass and punctuated
with the rain-glad cloap Of frog.
Shirley stepped lightly down to the
wet grass. Looking back. she could
see her mothers lighted blind. All
around the ground was splotched with
rose-petals. looking in the squares Of
light like bloody rain. She skinned
the lawn and ran little way down
the lane. A shunling sound presently
fell on her ear.
''Is that you. Unc' Jenersoni' she
called softly.
"Yas'm!" The footsteps came near
or. "Ets me. Miss Shirley" He tit
tered noiselessly. and she could sss
his bent form vibrating in the gloom.
"Yo' reck'n All done fergit?"
mo. indeed. knew you wouldn't
do that How IL he7"
He right much bettah." he replied
in tho same guarded tone. "Doctah
he say he be all right in or few days.
on'y he gotter lay up or while. Dat
was or ugly nip he got fom dat 'spis-
able reptyle." 81
do you think there can be any
others about the grounds?"
Nom. Dey mos1y keeps ter de
ma'sh.lan' en- on'y runs whah de I'M
dab. bresh ex thick. gwineter FIX dat
ter.morrow. Mars Valiant he tell me
ter grub ct all out en- make er bon.
nah OBJ IT,"
THAT'S right. Unc' Jefferson. Good
night. and thank you for coming"
She started back to the house. when
his voice stopped her. 49, Ca.
Mis- Shirley. 20 dom keer ef de
ole man geddahs two er three OBJ dem
roses? Seems lax young mars
moughty fon' OBJ dem. He st one in
or glass but cts mos daid now"
"Wait q minute" she said. and dis
appeared in the darkness. returning
quickly with handful which she put
In his grasp.
"There!" she whispered. and slipped
back through the perfumed dark
An hour later she stood in the
coy stiffness of her bedroom.
She threw OF her gown. slipped into
. soft loose robe Of maizecolored 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 q mermaid from between the rip
pling 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
fourth brush this season" A frown
drew itself across her brows. and she
turned the page. -One Of the hounds
broke his leg. and gave him to
Hickey" 80 Chilly Lusk to
dinner today. after swimming the Lor-
ing Rapid" la
She bit her lip. turned abruptly to
the new page and took up her pen.