The Madisonian. (Richmond, Ky.) 1913-1914, 1914-06-02

PScp4c, w. uOWj dlOuuu ub, dAu
shall hear you say: I, Shirley, take
thee, John And to think it is really
to come true! Do you remember the
text the minister preached from? 1t was
But all men perceive that they have
riches and that their faces shine as
the faces of angels / think 1 shall
go about henceforth Eith my face
shining. so that ali men viii see that
have riches-your love for me, dear.
II am so happy can hardly see the
words--or perhaps it IS that the sun
has set am sending this over by
Uncle Jefferson. Send me back Just
word by him, sweetheart, to say
may come to you tonight. And add
the three short words I am SO thirsty
to hear over and Overcome verb be-
tween two pronouns-so that I can
kiss them all at once!"
He raised his head, a little flushed
and with eyes brilliant, lighted a
candle, sealed the letter with the ring
he wore and dispatched 1t.
Thereafter he sat looking into the
growing dusk, watching the pale
lamps of the consultations deepen to
green gilt against the lapis-lazuH of
the sky, and listening to the insect
noises dulling into the woven chorus
of evening. Uncle Jefferson was long
in returning, and he grew impatient
finally and began to prowl through the
dusty corridors like leopard, then
to the front porch and finally to the
driveway. listening at every turn for
the familiar slouching step.
When at length the old negro APP
peared, Valiant took the note he
brought, his heart beating rapidly,
and carried it hastily in to the candle
light. He did not open it at once, but
sat for a full minute pressing it be
tween his palms as though to extract
from the delicate paper the beloved
thrill of her touch. His hand shook
slightly as he drew the folded leaves
from the envelope. How would it be
gin? my Knight of the Crimson
Rose?" or Dear Gardener" (She had
called him Gardener the day they had
set out the roses) or perhaps even
Sweetheart" 1t would not be long
only mere "Yes' or "Come to me,
perhaps; yet even the shortest missive
had it's beginning and it's ending.
He opened and read.
For an instant he stared unbeliev
ingly. Then the paper cracked to g
ball in his clutched hand, and he made
hoarse sound which was half cry
then sat perfectly still, his whole face
shuddering. What he crushed in his
hand was no note Of tender love
phrases; it was an abrupt dismissal
The staggering contretemps STRUCK
the color from his face and left every
nerve raw and quivering. To be moth
ing to her, as she could be nothing tt
him?" He felt CHASTITY inclination tt
laugh. Nothing to her!
Presently, his brows frowning heav
lily, he spread out the crumpled paper
and reread it with bitter slowness
weighing each phrase. Something
which she had learned since she las
saw him, which lay between them.
She had not known it, then, last night
when they had kissed beside the sun
dial! She had loved him then! VIVA
could there be that thrust them irrev
! ocably apart?
Without stopping to think Of tn,
darkness or that the friendly doors o
the edifice would be closed, he caugh
up his hat and went swiftly down tn,
drive to the road, along which b,
plunged breathlessly. The blue star
spangled sky was now streaked witt
! clouds like faded orchids, and tn
shadows on the uneven ground unde
his hurried feet made him giddy
Through the din and hurly-burly of hi
thoughts he was conscious of dimIy
moving shapes across fences, tn,
sweet breath of cows, and negro Dc
destrian who greeted him in passing
He was stricken suddenly with tn
thought that Shirley was suffering
too. 1t seemed incredible that b
should now be raging along countr
road at nightfall to find something
that so horribly hurt them both.
1t was almost dark-save for tn
starlight-when he saw the shadow O
the square ivy-grown spire rearin
stark from it's huddle of foliag
against the blurred background. H
pushed open the gate and went slowl
up the worn path toward the grea
iron-bound and hooded door. Unde
the larches on either hand the outline
of the gravestones doomed pallidly
and from the bell tower came the fain
inquiring cry of a small owl. Valian
stood looking about him. What coul
he learn here? He read no answer t
the riddle. A little to one side of tn
path something showed snow-like o.
the ground, and he went toward II
Nearer, he saw that 1t was a mass O
flowers, staring up Whitley from tn
semi-obscurity from within an iro
railing. He bent over, suddenly notin
the scent; 1t was cape jeesamine.
With the curious sensation of almos
prescience plucking at him, he took
box of vestas from his pocket an
struck one. It fiared up illuminatin
fat granite slab in which was Gu
name and inscription:
EDWARD SASSOON.