Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1914-08-20
She Tried to Imagine That Letters
Coming to Her-Then. Thirty
Years Ago!

grave. Valiant, standing with the rest,
saw Shirley, with her mother and the
doctor, pass out Of the gate. She was
not looking toward him. A mist was
before his eyes as they drove away,
and the vision of her remained waver-
| ing and indistinct-a pale blurred face
under shining hair.
| He realized after a time that the
yard was empty and the sexton was
| locking the church door. He went
slowly to the gate, and just outside
some one spoke to him It was CHS
holm Lusk. They had not met since
the night of the ball. Even in his, own
! pTeoccupauon, Valiant noted that
Lusk's face seemed to have lost its
exuberant youthfulness. 1t was worn,
as if with sleeplessness, and had a
| look of suffering that touched him.
And all at once, while they stood look
ing at each other, Valiant knew what
| the other had waited to say.
Il won't beat about the BUSH" said
Lusk stammering. I've got to ask
you something. l reckon you've
guessed that THAT Shirley"
Valiant touched the young fellows
arm. Yes" he said, 81 think know"
Its no new thing, with me-" said
the other hoarsely. It's been three
years. The night of the ball, l thought
perhaps that don't mean to ask
what you might have a right to resent
but l must find out. Is there any
reason why I shouldn't try my luck?"
Valiant shook his head mo-" he
said heavily, there is no reason"
The boyish look sprang back to
Lusk's face. He drew a long breath
Why, then I WILL" he said. Tim
sorry if I hurt you. Heaven knows
didn't want to!'
He grasped the others hand with a
mans heartiness and went up the road
with swinging stride; and Valiant
stood watching him go, with his hands
tight-clenched at his side.
A little later Valiant climbed the
sloping driveway of Damory court It
| seemed to stare at him from a thou
sand reproachful eyes. The bachelor
| red squirrel from his tree-crotch
looked down at him askance The
redbirds, flashing through the hedges,
huttered disconsolately. Fire-Cracker,
the peacock, was shrieking from the
upper lawn and the strident discord
seemed to mock his mood.
! The great house had become horne
to him; he told himself that he would
make no other. The few things he had
brought-his books and trophies-had
grown to be part of it, and they
| should remain. The ak should not be
| laid to the walnut grove AS his IA
| Their had done, he would leave behind
him the life he had lived there, and
the old court should be once more
| closed and deserted. Uncle Jefferson
and Aunt Daphne might live on In the
| cabin back Of the kitchens. There
was pasturage for the horse and the
COWS and for old Sukey. and some
acres had already been cleared for
planting. And there would be the
swans, the ducks and chickens, the
peafowl and the fish.
! A letter had come to him that morn
ing. The corporation had resumed
/ business with credit unim paired Pub
/ lie opinion was more than friendly
now. A place waited for him there,
and one Of added honor, in a concern
condition he succeeded in bringing it
| to Fredericksburg alive 1t is sup
posed the hawk saw only Spicer's
/ eyes through the brush, and thought
him rabbit or other prey