Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1914-04-01
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. ILLUSTRATED 81 LAUREN STOUT

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When the service was ended the
people filled the big yard while tho
last reverent words were spoken at the
grave. Valiant. standing with the rest,
saw Shirley, with her mother and the
doctor. pass out Of the gate. She was
not looking toward him., A mist was
before his eyes 40 they drove away,
and the vision Of her remained waver-
ing and indistinct-a pale blurred face
under shining hair.
He realized after time that the
yard was empty and the sexton was
locking the church door. He went
slowly to the gete. and just outside
some one spoke 70 him. It was CHS.
holm Lusk. They had not met since
the night OF the ball. Even, In his own
preoccupation, Valiant noted that
Lusk's face seemed to have lost its
exuberant youthfulness. It was worn
~ II with sleeplessness. and had =
look Of suffering that touched him.
And al at once, while they stood look
Ing ut each other. Valiant knew what
the other had visited to say. -.
II won't beat about the BUSH" said
Lusk stammering. i've got to ask
you something. reckon you've
guessed that That Shirley"
Valiant touched the young fellows
arm. YES" he said. Il think know"
ITS no new thing. with me-" said
the other hosrsely. tits been three
years. The night Of the ball. thought
perhaps that don't mean to ask
what you might have right to resent
but must ind out. Is there any
reason why shouldn't try my luck!"
Valiant shook his head. NO." he
said heavily, there Is no reason"
The boyish look sprang back to
Lusk's face. He drew a long breath.
why. then WILL" he said. Tin
sorry If I hurt You. Heaven knows I
didn't want ro!''
He grasped the others hand with .
mans heartiness and went up the road
with q swinging stride; and Valiant
stood watching him 60, with his hands
usht-clenched at his side.
- .
A little later Valiant climbed the
slopins driveway Of Damory court. It
seemed to stare 1t him from q thou.
sand reproachful eyes. The bachelor
red squirrel from his tree crotch
looked down at him askance. The
redbirds. flashing through the hedges.
huttered disoonsolataly. Fre-Cracker.
the peacock, was shrieking from tho
upper lawn and the strident discord
seemed to mock his mood.
The great house had become homo
to hip; he told himself that he would
make NO other. The few things he had
brought-his books and trophies-had
grown to be part Of 1t, and they
should remain. The AZ should not be
laid to the walnut grove. As his ia
thor had done, he would leave behind
him the life he had lived there. and
the old court should be once more
closed and deserted. Uncle Jefferson
and Aunt Daphne might live on in the
cabin back Of the kitchens. There
was pasturage for the horse and the
COWS and for old sukey. and some
acres had already been cleared for
planting. And there would be the
swans, the ducks and chickens, the
peafowl and the fish.
A letter had come to him that morn.
ing. The corporation had resumed
business with credit unimpaired. Pub
lie opinion was moro than friendly
now. A place waited for him there,
and one Of added honor. in concern
that had vigorously cleansed itself and
already looked forward to q new ca.
reer Of prosperity. But he thought of
this now with no thrill. The old life
no longer called There were still
wide unpeopled spaces somewhere
where q mans hand and brain were no
less needed. and there was work there
that would help him to bear, II not for.
get.
He paced up and down the porch I'M.
der the great gray columns, his steps
spiritlcss and tagging. The Virginia
creeper, trailing over it, end, waved
to and fro with . sound like . Sigh.
How long would it be before the lawn
was once moro unkempt and draggled
Before burdock and thistle, MULLEN
and Spanish-needle would return to
smother the clover7 Before Damory
court. on which he had spent such
loving labor. would lie again as it lay
that afternoon when he had ratified
thither on Uncle Jeffersons crazy
hack? Before there would be for him.
In some far-away corner Of the world,
only Westinghouse and the Never.
Never Land?
In the hall he stood . moment be-
fore the fireplace. his eyes on its
carven motto. II clinge:" the phrase
was like q spearthrust He began to
wander restlessly through the house.
up and down. like . proving animal.
The dining.room looked austere and
chill-only the little lady In hoops and
love-curls who had been his great.
grandmother smiled wistfully down
from her gilt frame above the console
and In the library . melancholy
deeper than that OF yesterdays trag.