Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1914-04-30

pers mao nitted TO ner-rne tale Oh
Sassoons Observation-Disclosures barbs
that chung to Beauty Valiant's name.
That these should rest unanswered
| had filled her with resentment and
anger. Slowly, but with deadly surety.
had grown the belief that he no longer
| cared. In the end there had been left
her only pride-the pride that covers
it's wound and smiles. And she had
| hidden her wound with flowers. But
in the deepest we'll OF her heart her
love for him had rested unchanged,
clear and defined as O moss in amber.
wrapped In that mystery of silence.
In the little haircloth trunk back In
her room lay an old scrapbook. II
held few leaves torn from letters and
these she had known of his work. his
marriage, the great commercial sue
cess for which his name had stood
the name that from the day of his 60
| ing, she had so seldom taken upon her
| lips. Some of them had dealt with
his habits and idiosyncrasies, hints of
an altered personality, and aloofness
and made him, in a way, stranger to
those who should have known him
best. Thus her mind had come to
| hold double image: The grave man
these Swallowed forth, and the man
| she had loved, whose youthful face was
In the locket she wore always on her
breast. 1t was this face that was
Valiant had stood before her on the
porch at Rosewood, 1t had seemed to
have risen, instinct, from that old
grave.
i He had not kept silence! He had
written! 1t pealed through her brain
| like a muffled bell. But Beauty Vail
| ant was gone with her youth; In the
room near by lay that old companion
who would never speak to her again,
| the lifelong friend-who had really
| failed her thirty years ago! :.
and in a tin box mile away lay let
! ter.
"He won't rouse again." the doctor
naO Salu, DuI u Itlic iheOi' 40 hO "NN
Valiant sat beside the couch, the major
| opened his eyes suddenly.
Shirley" he whispered. where's
| Shirley"
She was sitting on the porch just
outside the open window, and when
she entered, tears we're on her face.
! The doctor drew back silently; but
major called him nearer.
mo-" he painted; Il like to see you
two together" His voice was very
weak and tired.
AS she leaned and touched his hand,
| he smiled whimsically. ITS mighty
| curious" he said, but I can't get it
out of my head that its Beauty Vail
| ant and Judith that I'm really talking
| to. Foolish-isn't it?" But the idea
seemed to master him, and presently
he began to call Shirley by her moth
er's name An odd youthfulness crept
into his eyes; a subtle paradoxical
boyishness. His cheek tinged with
color. The deep lines about his mouth
smoothed miraculously out.
Il
sure you told me the truth while ago,
when you said-you said"
Eyes, yes" Shirley answered, put
| ting her young arm under him, think
| ing only to soothe the anxiety that
seemed vaguely to thread some vague
hallucination.
| He smiled again. ct makes II
easier" he said He looked at Valiant,
his mind seeming to slip farther and
farther away. Beauty" he gasped,
you didn't go away after all. did you!
dreamed it, reckon. It'll be-all
| right with you both"
He sighed peacefully, and his eyes
turned to Shirleys and closed. Tim
so glad" he muttered, so glad L
didn't really do II, Judith. It would
have-been he-only-low-down thing
lever did"
The doctor went swiftly to the door
and beckoned to Jereboam. Come In
now, Jerry" he said In a low voice.
quickly"
The old negro fell on his knees by
the couch. Mars Montyl" he cried.
Us you gwine away en- leabe OIL Jer.
nv? Is vo'? Mars'?"
Jerry, you-black scoundrelI" he
whispered. and Shirley felt his head
grow heavier on her arm, Il reckon it's
l-about time-to me soins-homei-