The state herald., 1914-06-26

had vanished utterly!
She read the newspaper article
aloud and her mother listened with an
expression that puzzled her. When
she finished. both were silent for
moment, then she asked, You must
have known his father. dearest; didn't
you?"
Yes" said Mrs. cambridge after a
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.
But after dinner the gaiety and eff
fervescence faded quickly and Mrs.
cambridge went early to her room.
She mounted the stair with her arm
thrown about Shirley's plant waist.
AT her door she kissed her. looking at
her with 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. 1t was OF black en-
amel, with a tiny laurel.wreath of
pearls on one side encirclihg single
diamond. The other side was Of crys-
tai and covered a baby's russet-col-
ored curl. In her fingers 1t opened
and disclosed miniature at which
she looked closely for moment.
Her eyes turned restlessly about the
room. II had been hers as a girl, for
Rosewood had been the old Garland
homestead. 1t seemed now all at once
to be full of calling memories OF her
youth.
How strange that It should have
been today!" II 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 floor. her
hands clasped behind her head SO that
the cool air filed her flowing sleeves
In the hall she could hear the leisure.
ly kon-kon-kon.kon of the tall clock
The evening outside was exquisitely
still and the metallic monotone was
threaded with the airy fddle-fiddle of
crickets in the grass and punctuated
with the rain-glad cloap OF q 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 lane. A shuiiling sound presently
fell on her ear.
rs that you. Unc' Jeferson!" she
called softly.
"Yas'm!" The footsteps came near
er. "Ets me. Miss Shirley" He tit
tered noiselessly. and she could see
his bent form vibrating In the gloom.
"Yo' reck'n An done fergit7'
NO, indeed. I knew you wouldn't
do that. How Is heY
''He right much bettah.' he replied
In the same guarded tone. ''Doctah
he say he be all right In er few days.
on'y he gotter lay up er while. Dat
was er ugly nip he got rom dat 'spis-
able reptyle."
DO you think there can be any
others about the grounds?"
Nom. Dey mosly keeps ter de
ma a'shlan' en- on'y runs whah de un.
dah.bresh ez thick. | gwineter fix dat
ter-morrow. Mars Valiant he tell me
ter grub ct all out en- make er bon.
flah oh It,"
That's right. unc' Jefferson. Good
night. and thank you for coming"
She started back to the house. when
his voice stopped her.
Mis- Shirley. yo' don keer ef de
ole man geddahs two er three oh dem
roscsr Seems lax young mars
moughty fon' oh dem. He bot one In
er glass but cts mos daid now"
walt n minute" she said. and dis.
appeared In the darkness. returning
quickly with n handful which she put
In his grasp
''Thercl" she whispered. and slipped
back through the perfumed dark.
An hour later she stood In the
cory stiffness OF her bedroom.
She threw on her gown. slipped into
soft loose robe Of maize colored 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 mermaid from between the rip.
pling waves OF q moon golden sea
Al last she turned. and seating her
self nj the desk. took from II diary
She scanned tho pages at random. her
eyes catching lines here and there
"a good run today Betty and Judge
Chalmers and tho Pcndleton boys. My
fourth brush this season" A frown
drew Itself across hor brows. and shc
turned the page "onc OF thu hounds
broke his leg, and gave him TO
Rickcy." Chilly Lunk to
Al