The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1914-07-23

he saw Judge Chalmers lift down the
frail form, and suddenly his hear
leaped. There were two feminine fig
ures; Shirley was with her mother.
The doctor stood just inside the Ii
brary door and Mrs. cambridge Wen
hastily toward him, her light cane tap
ping through the stricken silence. Jere
boam lifted his head and looked at hel
piteously.
"Reck'n Mars Monty cyan see ole
Jerry now" he quavered, "but yo-al
glib him NAH love, Mis- Judith, and tel
him" His voice broke.
Eyes, yes, Jerry, l will"
The doctor closed the door upon hel
and came to where Shirley waited
Come, my DEAR" he said, and dropped
his arm about her. LET us go out tt
the garden"
AS they passed Valiant, she held out
her hand to him. There was no wore
between them, but as his hand swal
lowed hers. his heart said to her, 81
love you, love you! No matter what
Is between Us, l shall always love
you'll"
1t was wordless, heart-whisper that
only love itself could hear, and lac
could read no answer in the deer
pools Of her eyes, heavy now with un
shed tears. But in some subtle way
his voiceless greeting comforted and
lightened by little the weight OF
dumb impotence that he had borne.
In the library, lighted SO brightly by
the sunlight, yet grave with the hush
of that solemn presence, the major
looked into the face of the woman fol
whose coming he had waited SO anx
iously.
tits all-up, Judith" he said family
1--WE come to the jumping-off place"
She looked at him whitley. Monty
Monty!" she cried. Don't leave me
this way! l always thought"
He guessed what she would have
said. Heaven knows you're needed
more than me, Judith. After all.
reckon when my time had to come I'd
have chosen the quick way" His
voice trailed out and he struggled for
breath.
"Jerry's in the hall, Monty. He asked
me to give you his love-"
Poor old niger! He-used to tote
me on his back when / was a little
shaver" There was silence. Don't
kneel, Judith" he said at length. you
will be SO tired"
She rose obediently and drew up a
chair. Monty" she faltered tremu'
lousy, shall l say prayer? I've new
er prayed much-my prayers never
seemed to get above the ceiling, some
how. But I'll-try."
He smiled wanly. II wouldn't want
any better than yours, Judith. But
seems as II I'd been prayed over
enough. / reckon God Almighty's like
anybody else, and doesn't want to be
ding-donged all the time"
He seemed to have been gathering
his resolution, and presently his hand
fumbled over his breast "My wallet;
give 1t to me-" She drew 1t from the
pocket and the uncertain fingers took
out key. "It opens tin box In my
trunk. Theresa letter in it for you.
He paused a moment, painting: "Ju
dith," he said, i've got to tell you, but
it's mighty hard. The letter
it's one Valiant gave me for you-that
morning, after the duel. l never gave
1t to you"
If she had been white before, she
grew like marble now. Her slim fin
gers clutched the little cane till 1t rat
tied against the chair, and the lace al
her throat shook with her breathing
"Yes-Monty."
| He lifted his hand with difficulty ant
put the key into hers. 1.-THE seals still
unbroken, Judith" he said, "but I've
kept it these thirty years."
She was holding the key in hel
hands. looking down upon it There
was strained half-fearful wonder II
her face. For an instant she seemed
quite to have forgotten him in the
grip of some swift and painful emo
ton.
II loved you, Judith" he STAN
mered in anguished appeal. From
the time we were boy and girl togeth
er, loved you. You never cared fol
me-Sassoon and Valiant had the In
side track. You might have loved me
but I had no chance with either Of
them. Then came the duel. There was
only Valiant then. / overheard hit
promise to you that night, Judith. He
had broken that! If you cared more
for him than for Sassoon, you nigh
have forgiven him, and should have
lost you! / didn't want you to cal
him back, Judith! ! wanted my
chance! And sol took it. That's
the reason, dear. lists bad one
int it,"
! A SILVER went over her set face
like a breath of wind over tall grass
and she seemed to come back from al
infinite distance to place and moment
Between the curtains white butter