The Tucumcari news and Tucumcari times. [volume] (Tucumcari, N.M.) 1907-1921, 1914-07-30
CHAPTER XVII.
The Ambush.


Not long after. from the musicians
bower the sound OF Home. Swee,
Home" drifted over the poignant rose
scent, and presently the driveway re.
sounded to rolling wheels and the
voices OF negro drivers. and the house.
entrance Jostled with groups. muiled
In loose carriage-wraps. sllken cloaks
and light ~oyercoats. calling tired bu,
laughing farewells.
Katharine, on the step. found her.
self looking into Vallant's eyes. How
a ! tell you how much | have en-.
joyed II all?" she said. i've stayed
till the very last mlnute-y.hich Is
something for ones fourth season.
And now. goodby. for We are of tomor.
row for Hot Springs"
Her father had long g betaken
himself homeward. and the big three.
seated surrey-holdlng six comf'table
and nine fumiliah." In the phrase OF
Lag the coachman-had returned for
the rest: Judge Chalmers. the two
younger girls and Shirley. Katharine
greeted the latter with a charming
smile. What more natural than that
she should find herself s%tralghtway 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
on.
The way was not long. and Katha.
rine had need OF dispatch II that re.
%vengeful weapon were to be used
which fate had put into her hands
She wasted little time.
1t seems so strange" she said, ito
ind u host in such surroundings, I
can scarcely believe him the same
John valiant I've danced with a hun.
dred times In New York. He's been
here such a short while and yet he
couldn't possibly be more at home II
he'd lived In Virginia always. And you
all treat him az II he were quite one OF
yourselves"
Shirley smiled enchantingly. why,
yes" she said. maybe II seems odd 10
outsiders. But, you see, with us a Val.
liant lie always a Valiant. No matter
S1here he has lived. he's the son or his
father and the master OF Damory
court"
That's the wonderful part OF Il. TIA
1910 English. somehow"
rs IT." said Shirley. ~ never
thought OF II. But perhaps Il seems
30. We have the old houses and the
old names and think OF them, no doubt.
In the same way"
What n sad life his father had"
pursued Katharine dreamily. You
know all about the duel. OF c%ourse?"
Shirley shrank imperceptibly now.
The subject touched Valiant 20 closely
Il seemed almost II II II belonged to
him and TO her alone-not a thing TO
be ~flppantly touched on. Yes" she
said somewhat slowly. every one here
knows of H."
NO doubt II has been almost forgot.
ten" tho other continued. but Johns
coming must naturally have revamped
the old story. What was II about
the quarrel? A love-affair?"
IT'S 80 long ago." murmured Shir.
ley. Il suppose some one could tell
II they would"
Major Bristow. perhaps" c%onjec.
tured Katharine thoughtfully.
He was n OF the seconds" admit.
ted Shirley %unhappily, But by com.
mon consent that side OF Il wasn't
talked Of at the time. Men in vlr.
ginia have old.fashioned ideas about
women. b"
"Ah. It's fine OF them!" paeaned
Katharine. Il car imagine the men
who knew about that dreadful AFFAIR,
In their southern chlvalry, drawing a
Gordon OF silence about the name OF
that girl with her broken heart. For
II she loved one OF the two. II must
have been sassoon-not Valiant, else
he would have stayed. How terrible
to see ones lover killed in such q way