Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-01-08

uAu SiloOk HIS Hedu, ne lay Slieul lOIt
while after the Judge had gone out
he seemed housing his strength
while the ormolu clock on the desk
licked onimously on, and the doctor
busted himself with the glasses be-
side him. Presently he said huskily:
you've had bad fall, Bristow.
You were dizzy. reckon"
Dizzy" echoed the major with
feeble asperity. 1T was Greet King"
"Greef King! Good God"
He was hiding behind the screen.
He struck me with something. He
swore at his trial he'd get me. was
"a fool not to have remembered his
time was out"
A look, wolf-like and grim. had
sprung into the doctors face. his
eyes searched the room, and he
crossed the floor and picked up some
thing from the rug. He looked at it
moment, then thrust it hastily into
his breast pocket.
'I-remember now. It was a pis-
toll. He snapped it twice, but it
missed fire"
He can't hide where we'll not find
him. The doctor spoke with low but
terrible energy. g..
mot that care-myself," said the
major difficulty. But l reckon he'd
better be settled with, or hell-be
killing some one worth while one of
these days"
from the doctors eyelid and rolled
down his cheek. and he turned hastily
away
There's no call to feel bad" said
the major gruffly. "I've sort Of been
a thorn-in-the-lesh to you. Southall.
We always rowed, somehow, and
yet"
The doctor choked and cleared his
throat.
81 reckon" the major murmured
with faint smile. you won't get
quite so much fun out of Chalmers
and the rest. They never did rise to
you as I did"
A little later he asked for the
restorative. "Ten minutes gone," he
said then. Chalmers ought to be at
Rosewood by now e. . what fool
way to go--like this. But it wasn't
apoplexy, Southall, anyway"
At the sound of wheels on the drive
Valiant went out quietly. Huddled in
a corner Of the hall were Uncle JEFF
ferson and Aunt Daphne, with Jere-
boam, the majors body-servant. Aunt
Daphne, her apron thrown over her
face was rocking to and fro silently.
and old Jereboam's head was bowed
on his breast. Valiant went quickly
to the rear of the hall. A painful en-
barrassment had come to him--a curl
$o1Jc FIRE ,c11i In mi Po
GUS sense of shrinking. How should
he meet this woman who recoiled from
the very sight of his face? In the
swiftness of the tragic event he had
forgotten this. From the background
he saw Judge Chalmers lift down the
frail form, and suddenly his heart
leaped There were two feminine
figures; Shirley was with her mother.
The doctor stood just inside the IL
brary door and Mrs. cambridge went
hastily toward him, her light cane tap
ping through the stricken silence.
Jereboam lifted his head and looked
at her piteously. --.s t.s. r..
"Reck'n Mars Monty cyan see ole
Jerry now" he quavered, "but yo'-all
glib him NAH love, Mis- Judith, and tell
him" His voice broke.
Eyes, yes, Jerry. I will"
The doctor closed the door upon her
and came to where Shirley waited.
"Come, my dear" he said, and drop
ped his arm about her. Let us go
out to the garden" -
AS they passed Valiant, she held out
her hand to him. There was no word
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, shall always love
you'll"
1t was wordless, a heart-whisper
that only love itself could hear, and he
could read no answer In the deep
pools Of her eyes, heavy now with un-
shed tears. But in some subtle way
this 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 wom-
an for whose coming he had waited so
anxiously.
"It's all-up, Judith" he said faint
~. w GUILE " Lne 'JuApAu5-OA
place."
She looked at him Whitley. Monty,
Monty" she cried. Don't leave me
this way! I 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. ..N
"Jerry's in the hall. Monty. He
asked me to give you his love-"
"Pcor old Niger! He-used to tote
me on his back when I 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 | say a prayer? I've
never prayed much-my prayers never
seemed to get above the ceiling, some
how But I'll-try.'
He smiled wanly 81 wouldn't want
any better than yours, Judith. But