The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1914-03-18

I said about the julep. You mix 1t,
Shirley. Yours is even better than
Ranston's."
"She makes me one every day, Mon
ty," she continued, as Shirley went
into the house. "And when she isn't
looking, pour 1t into the bush there"
Major Bristow laughed as he h't
the end off cigar. "All the same,"
he said in his big rumbling voice,
"you need 'em, reckon. You need
the whiskey to me and the doctor, and
you take Shirley and pull out for
Italy. Why not? A year there would
do you heap of good"
She shook her head. mo, Monty
1t isn't what you think. It's--hcre."
She lifted her hand and touched her
heart. ITS been SO for long time
But 1t may-it can't go on forever
you see. Nothing can"
The major had leaned forward in
his chair Judith" he said, and his
hand twitched, 'it isn't true!" And
then, Glow do you know?"
She smiled at him. "You remember
when that big surgeon from Vienna
came to see the doctor last year?
Well. the doctor brought him to me.
Id known 1t before in way. but II
had gone farther than ! thought No
ono can tell just how long it may be.
1t may be years, Of course, but I'm not
taking any sea trips. Monty"
He cleared his throat and his voice
was husky when he spoke. Shirley
doesn't know?"
"Certainly not. She mustn't" And
then, in sudden sharpness: "You
shan't tell her, Monty. You wouldn't
darc!"
mo, indeed" he assured her quick
ly. "Of course not"
ITS just among us three, Doctor
Southall and you and me. We three
have had our secrets before, eh, Mon
ty?"
"Yes, Judith, we have"
She bent toward him, her hands
tightening on the cane. after all,
It's true. Today | am getting old.
may look only fifty, but feel sixty
and I'll admit to seventy-five. It's
JOY that keeps us young, and didn't
Get my fair share of that, Monty.
For just one little week my heart had
it all-all-and then-well, then it
was finished. 1t was finished long be-
fore I married Tom cambridge. 1t
isn't that I'm empty-headed It's that
I've been an empty-hearted woman,
Monty-as empty and dusty and desc
late as the old house over yonder ON
tho ridge"
II know, Judith, I know
you've been empty in way, too,"
she said. 'But it's been a different
way. You were never in love-really
in love, I mean. Certainly not with
me, Monty, though you tried to make
me think SO once upon time, before
Sassoon came along, and-Beauty Va
liant"
The major blinked, suddenly
startled 1t was out. the one name
neither had spoken to the other for
thirty years! He looked at her n lit.
tie guiltily; but her eyes had turned
away. Everything changed then"
she continued drcamily. "everything."
The majors fingers straycd across
his waistcoat. fumbling uncertainty
for his eyeglasses For an instant
he, too was back in the loug-ago
past, when he and Valiant had been
comrades. 1t had hecn curious
three sided alfair-hc, and Valiant and
SassooD. Sassoon with his dissipated
flair and ungovernable temper and
strange fits Of recklessness clean,
hgh-idealed straight-away Valiant;
and he-a Bristow, neither better nor
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?'
II give my sacred word. What,
ever the provocation, I will not lift
my hand against him. Never, never!"
Then the same voice, vibrant. appeal
Ing. Judith! 1t isn't becausc-be-
cause-you care for him?"
He had plunged away in the dark
ness before her answer came. What,
had 1t mattered then to him what she
had replied? And that very night had
befallen the fatal quarrel!
The major started. How that name
had blown away tho dust! That's
q long time ago, Judith"
Thirty years ago tomorrow they
fought" she said softly "Valiant and