The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1914-04-30

doesn't know?"
Certainly not. She mustn't" And
then. in sudden sharpness: "You
shan't tell her. Monty. You wouldn't
dare!"
mo. indeed" he assured her quick
ly. "Of course not"
IT'S Just among us three, Doctor
Southal! and you and me. We three
have had our secrets before. eh, Mon
ty?"
Yes, Judith, we have"
She bent toward him, her hands
tightening on the cane. After ALL
It's true Today | am getting old.
may look only fifty, but l feel sixty
and I'll admit to seventy-five. It's
Joy that keeps us young, and | didn't
get my fair share OF that. Monty.
For Just one little week my heart had
II all-all-and then-well then II
was finished. II was finished long be-
fore ! married Tom cambridge. II
isn't that I'm empty-headed. It's that
I've been an empty-hearted woman,
Monty--as empty and dusty and DESC
late as the old house over yonder on
the ridge"
81 know, Judith, / know"
You've been empty in way. too,"
she said But it's been a different
way You we're never in love-really
in love. mean. Certainly not with
me. Monty. though you tried to make
me think so once upon time, before
Sassoon came along. and-Beauty Va
liant"
The major blinked, suddenly
startled. II was out, the one name
neither had spoken to the other for
thirty yearsi He looked at her a lit
tie guiltily; but her eyes had turned
away. Everything changed then"
she continued dreamlly, everything"
The majors fingers strayed across
his waistcoat. fumbllng uncertainty
for his eyeglasses. For an instant
he, too, was back In the long-ago
past, when he and Valiant had been
comrades. 1t had been a curious
three sided affair-he, and Valiant and
Sassoon. Sassoon with his dissipated
fair and ungovernable temper and
strange fits OF recklessness; clean,
high-idealed. straight-away Valiant;
and he-a Bristow, neither better nor
worse than the rest of his name. He
remembered that mad strained season
when he had grimly recognized his
own cause as hopeless, and with burn
ing eyes had watched Sassoon and
Valiant racing abreast He remem-
bered that glittering prodigal dance
when he had come upon Valiant and
Judith standing in the shrubbery, the
candle-light from some open door en-
goldening their faces: hers smiling. a
little fiippant perhaps, and conscious
of her spell; his grave and earnest,
yet wistful.
You promise, Johnf'
Il give my sacred word. What
ever the provocation, will not lift
my hand against him. Never never!"
Then the same voice. vibrant, appeal
ing. Judith 1t isn't because-be-
cause-you care for him?"
He had plunged away in the dark
ness before her answer came. What
had 1t mattered then to him what she
had replied? And that very night had
befallen the fatal quarrel!
The major started. How that name
had blown away the dust That's
long time ago. Judith"
Thirty years ago tomorrow they
fought" she said softly. valiant and
Sassoon. Every woman has her one
anniversary, | suppose, and tomor.
rows mine. Do you know what
do. every fourteenth OF May, Monty?
keep my room and spend the day
always the same way. There's a little
book read. And there's an old hair
cloth trunk that I've had since | was
a girl Down in the bottom OF II are
something's. that take out and set
round the room and there
Is a handful Of old letters | go over
| from first to last. They're almost
worn out now, but could repeat them
all with my eyes shut. Then there's a
| tiny old straw basket with a yellow
| gisp in II that once was a bunch OF
cape jessamines. ! wore them to that
last ball-the night before II hap
pened The fourteenth OF May used to
be sad, but now. do you know, look
forward to 1t! | always have a lot OF
jessamines that particular day--I'll
have Shirley get me some tomorrow
and In the evening, when go down.
stairs. the house is full OF the scent
of them. All summer long it's roses
but on the fourteenth OF May It has
to be jessamines. Shirley must think
me a whimsical old woman. but l in
sist on being humored"
He smiled. little bleakly. and
cleared his throat.
Isn't 1t strange for me to be talk
Ing this way now!" she said present
ly. Another proof that I'm getting
old But the date brings 1t very close;
II seems, somehow. closer than evel
this year,-Monty, weren't you tire
mendously surprised when | married
Tom Dandridge?"
II certainly was"
'i'll tell you a secret. was, too
suppose did It because OF sneak