The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1914-06-04

CHAPTER XVI.
The Doctor Speaks.


couples drifted on tireless and con
tent or blissfully sat out" dances or
the stairway, Katharine Fargo held
her stately court no less gaily for the
stealthy doubt that was creeping over
her spirit She had been so certain
of what would happen that evening
that when her father between cigars
on the porch with Judge Chalmers
and Doctor Southall) had searched her
out under a fiag-oftruce, she had sent
him TO the rightabout, laughingly de
clinlng to depart before royalty. But
number followed number, and the
knight In purple and gold had not
paused again before her. Now the
scarlet cloak no longer Haunted
among the dancers and the white
satin gown and sparkling coronal had
disappeared The end Of the next
"round-dance" found her subsiding
into the fiower-banked alcove sudden
ly distract amid her escorts sallies. It
was at this moment that she saw, en-
tering the corridor from the garden.
the missing couple
II was not the faint flush on Shir-
ley's cheek--that was not deep-nor
was II his nearness to her, though they
stood closely, as lovers might But
there was In both their faces a some
thing that resurgent conventionality
had not had time to cover trem.
bling reflection of that light that
never was. on sea or land"-which was
like death-stab to what lay far deep
err than Katharlne's heart, her pride.
She drew swiftly back, dismayed at
the sudden veriiication. and for an In
slant her whole body chilled.
A craving for a glass of water has
served its purpose a thousand times;
as her cavalier sollcitously departed TO
fetch the cooling draught, she rose,
and carelessly humming the refrain
the music had Just left off, sauntered
lightly out by another door to the open
air. A swift glance about her showed
her she was unobserved and she step
ped down to the grass and along the
winding path to a bench at some dis
lance in the shrubbery Here the
smiling mask slipped from her face
and with a SILVER she dropped her hot
face in her hands.
There were no tears. The wave
that was yelling over her was one of
bitter humiliation. She had shot her
bolt and missed-she Katharine Far
go! For three years she had held
John Valiant romantically speaking In
the hollow OF her shapely hand. Now
she had all but thrown herself at his
feet--and he had turned away to this
flame haired. vivid girl whom he had |
not known as many months!
Heavy footballs all at once APPROACH
ed her-two men were coming from
the house. There was the splitting |
crackle of a match, and as she peered |
out. its red flare lighted the massive
face and floating hair of Major Bris-
tow, His companions face was in the
shadow. She waited thinking they
would pass; but to her annoyance,
when she looked again. they had seat
ed themselves on bench few PAGES
away.
To be found incoming in the shrub
berry like a schoolgirl did not please
her. but 1t seemed there was no re-
course, and she had half arisen, when
the majors grun-voiced companion
spoke name that caused her to sit
down abruptly.
'Bristow. Shirley's a magnificent
girl"
Finest In seven counties" agreed
the majors bass
Whom dc you reckon she'll choose
20 marry?"
Chilly Lusk. of course. The boys .
been In love with her since they were
in bibs, And he comes as near being
tit for her as anybody"
Hump" said the other sardonical-
ly. mo man | ever saw was half good
enough for a good woman But good
women marry just the same. II isn't
Jusk. | used to think II would be,
but I've got pair of eyes In my :
read. II you haven't. It's young Val
ant"
The pearl fan twisted in Katha- =
ines fingers. What she had guessed !
vas an open secret, them =
The major made an exclamation that ),
lad the effect of coming after a Jaw .
Iropped silence. Ill never thought ;
# that" a
The other resumed slowly, some V
What bitterly, 1t seemed TO the girl
istening. IF her mother was in love v
With Sassoon-" q
Katharines heart beat fast and then 1,
TODD still. Sassoonl That was the "
anne OF he man Valiant's father had :,
illed In that old duel OF which Judge "a
halmers had told! IF her mother
hirley Dandridge's mother-"was In q,
I'VE with Sassoonl" Why"
WAS she?" II
The majors query held sharpness 8,
nat seemed almost appel. She was O.
onscious that the other had faced II
bout abruptly.
I've always believed so, certainly.
she had loved Valiant, would she X
ave thrown him over merely because
e broke bis promise not to be party :, =
} quarrel?" ~
You think not?" said the major =
uskQv ~