The Cairo bulletin., 1914-03-15

PAIN.
There welled over her in tide those
days of puzzle, the weeks of waiting
silence. the slow memorable months OF
heartache, the long years that had
deepened the mystery of Beauty vail
ants exile. In the first shock OF the
news that Sassoon had fallen by Ills
hand, she had thought she could not
forgive him that broken faith. she
and his promise to her had not weighed
in the balance against the idea oil
manly "honor!" But this bitterness
had at length slipped away. HE will
write" she had told herself, "and ex-
plain" But no word had come. Wits
pers had fitted to her-the tale of
Sassoon's oxication-stinging barbs
that chung to Beauty Valiant's name.
That these should rest unanswered
had filled her with resentment and
anger. Slowly. but with deadly surety,
had grown the belief that he no longer
cared. In the end there had been left
her only pride-the pride that covers
its wound and smiles. And she had
hidden her wound with flowers. But
in the deepest well of her heart her
love for him had rested unchanged.
clear and defined as a moss in amber,
wrapped in that mystery of silence.
In the little haircloth trunk back in
her room lay an old scrapbook. It
held few leaves torn from letters and
many newspaper clippings. From
these she had known of his work, his
marriage, the great commercial sue
cess for which his name had stood
the name that from the day of his 60
ing, she had so seldom taken upon her
lips. Some of them had dealt with
his habits and idiosyncrasies, hints of
an altered personality, and alooiness
or loneliness that had set him apart
and made him, in way. a stranger to
those who should have known him
best. Thus her mind had come to
hold a double image; The grave man
these Swallowed forth, and the man
she had loved. whose youthful face was
in the locket she wore always on her
breast. 1t was this face that was
printed ON her heart, and when JAhn
Valiant had stood before her on tAk
porch at Rosewood, 1t had seemedsE
have risen, instinct, from that OF
grave. III
He had not kept silence! He had
written! 1t pealed through i-or brain
like a muffied bell. But Beauty Vail
ant was gone with her youth; in the
room near by lay that old companion
who would never speak to her again,
the lifelong friend-who had really
failed her thirty years ago! !.
and in tin box mile away lay let
ter.
"He won't rouse again. the doctor
had said, but a little later, as he and
Valiant sat beside the couch, the major
lopened his eyes suddenly
Shirley" he whispered. Where's
Shirley"
She was sitting on the porch just
outside the open window, and when
ishe entered, tears were on her face.
The doctor drew back silently; but
when Valiant would have done SO, the
major called him nearer.
NO" he painted; Il like to see you
two together" His voice was very
weak and tired.
/ AcSc h tpn,rI Nd fn,+aknI hir hand
he smiled whimsically. Its mighty
curious" he said, but I can't get ii
tout of my head that it's Beauty Vah
ant and Judith that I'm really talking
to. Foolisl-isn't it?" But the idea
seemed to master him, and presently
he began to call Shirley by her moth
er's name. An odd youthfulness crop
into his eyes; subtle paradoxica
boyishness. His cheek tinged witt
color. The deep lines about his mouth
smoothed miraculously out.
Judith" he whispered, YOU
sure you told me the truth while ago,
when you said--you said"
"Yes, yes" Shirley answered, put.
ting her young arm under him, think.
ing only to soothe the anxiety that
seemed vaguely to thread some vague
Authorization.
He emiled again. at makes II
easier" he said. He looked at Valiant
his mind seeming to slip farther ant
farther away. Beauty he gasped
you didn't go away after all, did you
] dreamed i'll reckon. tn be--al
right with you both"
He sighed peacefully, and his eye
turned to Shirley's and closed. I'm
so glad" he muttered, so glad l.
didn't really do it, Judith. 1t woul
have--been Observation-Disclosures thin
r-I--ever did"
The doctor went swiftly to the doc
and beckoned to Jereboam. Come i
now, jerry" he said In low voics
quickly"
The old negro fell on his knees b
The couch. Mars Monty" he criet
Is you gwine away en- leabe oil Jel
~? 1s yo'? Mars'?"
The cracked but loving voice struc
hcross the void Of the failing sens,
For a last time the major opened hi
misting eyes.
Jerry. you---black scoundrel!" h
whispered, and Shirley felt his hea
grow heavier on her arm. Il reckon it
Habout time--to me going-home!"
49, ITO b continued)