The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1914-07-22
The Ambush.
301s2aSw Gs3 81 6oRoS-/sHsx/eqI On
..-aPTER XVII.

sounded to rolling wheels and the
voices Of negro drivers, and the house
entrance jostled with groups, mufIled
In loose carrlage-wraps, silken cloaks
and light overcoats, calling tired but
laughing farewells.
Katharine, on the step, found her.
self looking into Valiant's eyes. How
can tell you how much have en-.
joyed it all?" she said. i've stayed
till the very last minute-which Is
something for ones fourth season!
And now, goodby, for we are off tomor-
row for Hot Springs"
Her father had long ago betaken
himself homeward, and the big three
seated surrey-holding six comf'table
and nine fumliah," in the phrase Of
Lige the coachman-had returned for
the rest: Judge Chalmers, the two
younger girls and Shirley. Katharine
greeted the latter with charming
smile. What moro natural than that
she should find herself straightway on
the rear seat with royalty? The two
girls safely disposed in the middle, the
Judge climbed up beside the driver,
who cracked his whip and they were
Off
The way was not long, and Katha-
rine had need of dispatch if that re-
yengeful weapon were to be used:
which fate had put into her hands.
She wasted little time.
1T seems SO strange" she said ito
find our host in such surroundings!
can scarcely believe him the same
John Valiant I've danced with a hun
dred times in New York He's been
here such short while and yet he
couldn't possibly be moro at home IL
he'd lived in Virginia always. And you
all treat him as II he we're quite one of
yourselves.'
Shirley smiled enchantingly. why
yes" she said, maybe it seems odd to
outsiders. But, you see, with us Val
liant is always Valiant. No matter
wnere he has lived, he's the son or his
father and the master of Damory
emrt."
hats the wonderful part of It. It's
English, somehow"
it," said Shirley T never
ght Of it. But perhaps it seems
We have the old houses and the
names and think Of than, no doubt,
lie same way.
What sad life his father had!"
ursued Katharine dreamily "You
now all about the duel, of course?"
Shirley shrank imperceptibly now.
The subject touched Valiant so closely
1t seemed almost as if it belonged to
him and to her alone-not thing to
be fippantly touched on. YES" she
said somewhat slowly, every one here
knows Of it,"
"No doubt it has been almost forgot
ten" the other continued, but Johns
coming must naturally have revamped
the old story. What was it about
the quarrel? a love-affair?"
- It's so long ago." murmured Shir-
ley. n suppose some one could tell
II they would"
Major Bristow. perhaps" conJec-
tured Katharine thoughtfully.
He was one Of the seconds" admit
ted Shirley unhappily. "But by com
mon consent that side Of it wasn't
talked Of at the time. Men In Vir-
,ginia have old-fashioned ideas about
women. :"
"Ah, it's fine Of them!" pacaned
katharine II can imagine the men
(Who knew about that dreadful affair,
I'm their southern chivalry, drawing O
fcordon OF silence about the name Of
that girl with her broken heart. For
lf she loved one of the two, 1t must
have been Sassoon-not Valiant, else
he would have stayed How terrible
ITO see ones lover killed in such a way.
+. 1t was quickly ended for him,
but tho poor woman was left to bear It
'all the years. | fancy she would never
wholly get over 1t, never be able to
forget him, though she tried"
Shirley made some reply that was
lost in the whirring wheels The 9TH
er's words seemed almost an echo of
what she herself had been thinking.
Maybe sho married after a while,
300. woman must make life for
herself, you know. If she lives here,
1t will be sad for her, this opening of
the old wound by Johns coming.
And looking so like his father"
Katharine paused. There was kind
OF exhiaration in this subtle batting.
Shirley stirred uneasily, and in the
'glimpsing light her face looked trou-
fbled. Katharine's voice had touched
pathos. and in spite Of her dstaste OF
the subject, Shirley had been entering
into the feeling Of that supposititious
woman
The Judge, on the front seat, was
telling low-toned story over his
shoulder for the delectation Of Nancy
and Betty, but Shirley was not listen