The state herald., 1914-09-18

uOtto lVI edCh iedl. loudy 10 tuio
Every man carries his fate on rib
and about his neck Last night
would have smiled at that, perhaps;
today / say to myself. Its true-it'i
true! Two little hours ago | coult
have sworn that whatever happened
to me Sassoon would suffer no harm
Judith. could not avoid the meet
ing. You will know the circum
stances. and will see that 1t was forced
upon me. But though we met on the
field. kept my promise. sassoon did
not fall by my hand"
She had begun to tremble so that
the paper shook in her hands. and
from her breast, shattered by her
quick breathing, the brown jessamine
petals busted down in her lap. 1t was
some moments before she could calm
herself sufficiently to read on
He fired at the signal and the shot
went wide. threw my pistol on the
ground. Then-whether maddened by
my refusal to fire. l cannot tell-he
turned his weapon all at once and shot
himself through the breast 1t was
over In an instant. The seconds did
not guess-do not even now, for 1t
happened but an hour ago. As the
code DEGREES. their backs were turned
when the shots were fired. But there
were circumstances cannot touch
upon to you which made them disap-
prove-which made my facing him
just then seem unchivalrous. saw
1t in Bristow's face. and liked him the
better for 1t, even while 1t touched
my pride. They could not know, Of
course. that ! did not intend to fire.
Well. you and they will know 1t nowi
And Bristow has my pistol; he will
find 1t undischarged = thank God,
thank Godl
But will that matter to you? II
you loved Sassoon. shall always in
your mind stand as the indirect cause
Of his death! 1t Is for this reason
am going away-I could not bear to
look in your accusing eyes and hear
you say It. Nor could bear to stay
here. reminder to you OF such
horror. II you love me. you will write
and call me back to you. oh. Ju-
dith. Judith. my own dear love! /
pray God you Wilt"
She put the letter down and laid
her face upon 1t. Beauty! Beauty!"
she whispered, dry-eyed. Il never
knewl never knew. But it would
have made no difference. darling. I
would have forgiven you anything
everythingl You know that. now,
dear! You have been certain OF It all
these years that have been so empty,
empty to mel"
But when the faded rose.colored
gown and the poor ume-yellowed slip
pers had been laid back In the hair.
cloth trunk: when. her door once more
unbolted. she lay In her bed In the dim
glow OF the reading lamp. with her
curling silvery hair drifting across the
pillow and the letter beneath II, at
last the tears came coursing down her
cheeks.
And with the loosening OF her tears.
gradually and softly came joy--inf.
ni,ely deeper than the anguish and
sense OF betrayal. 1t poured upon her
like n trembling food. Long, long ago
he had gone out OF the world-it was
only his memory that counted to her.
Now that could no longer spell pain
or emptiness or denial. II was engold.
ened by a new light. and In that light
she would walk gently and smllingly
to the end.
She found the slender golden chain
that hung about her neck and opened
the little black loeket with its circiet
Of laureled pearls. And as she gaxed at
the face II held. which time had not
touched with change. the sound OF
Shirley's harp came softly In through
tho window. She was playing an old.
fashioned song. OF the sort che knew
her mother loved best;
Darling. I am growing old.
silver threads among the gold
Hhins upon my brow today.
i.lfs is fading fast away
But. my darling. you will be
Always young and fair 10 me.
Outside the leaves rus,ied. the birds
called and tho crickcts sang their un'
ending epithalamia ut summer nights
and on this ,one,baokgrouud the mel
ody rose tcnderly and lIngeringly like
a haunting perfume Of pressed flowers
She smiled and lifted the locke, to her
face. whispering tho word- OF the re-
frain.
Yes my darling. you will be
Always young and fair TO mel
The smile was stiii on her lips wher
uho fell asleep. and tho little locke
ftill lay in hor fingers.