The Tucumcari news and Tucumcari times. [volume] (Tucumcari, N.M.) 1907-1921, 1914-06-11

aloud and her mother listened with an
expression that puzzled her. When
she finished. both were silent for a
moment. then she asked. You must
have known his father. dearest: didn't
your"
Yes" said Mrs. cambridge after a
pause. "I-knew his father"
Shirley said no more. and facing
each other In the candle-glow. across
the spotless damask. they talked. as
with common consent. OF other things.
She thought she had never seen her
mother more brilliant. An odd excite
ment was flooding her cheek with red
and she chatted and laughed as she
had not done for years.
But after dinner the gaiety and Of.
feryescence faded quickly and Mrs
cambridge went early to her room.
She mounted the stair with her arm
thrown about Shirley's plant waist.
At her door she kissed her. looking at
her with a strange smile. How Gu.
rious," she said, as II TO herself. that
II should have happened today"
The re%ading.lamp had been lighted
on her table. She drew a slim gold
chain from tho bosom OF her dress
and held to the light n little locket.
brooch IL carried. II was OF black en-
amel. with n tiny laurel.wreath OF
pearls on one side encircling u single
diamond. The other side was Of crys-
tai and covered a baby's russet.col.
ored curl. In her fingers II opened
and disclosed a miniature at which
she looked closely for a moment.
Her eyes turned restlessly about the
II had been hers as a girl. for
Rosewood had been the old Garland
homestead. II seemed now all at once
to be full OF calling memories Of her
youth.
.
How strange that II should have
been today" II had been on Shirley's
lips to question. but the door had
closed. and she went slowly down.
stairs. She sat n while thinking. but
at length grew restless and began to
walk TO and fro across the floor. her
hands clasped behind her head so that
the cool air filed her flowing sleeves.
In the hall she could hear the leisure.
ly kon.kon-kon.kon OF the tall clock.
The evening outside was exquisitely
still and the metallic monotone was
threaded with the airy hddle-hddle of
crickets In tho grass and punctuated
with the rain.glad cloap OF n frog.
Shirley stepped lightly down to the
wet grass. Looking back. she could
see her mothers lighted blind. All
around the ground was splotched with
rose.petals, looking In the squares OF
light. like bloody rain. She skinned
the lawn and RAJ a little way down
the lane. A shuffling sound presently
fell on her ear.
rs that you. Unc' Jefferson" she
called softly.
"Yas'm!" The footsteps came near
err. "Et's me, Miss Shirley" He tit,
tered noiselessly. and she could see
his bent form vibrating in the gloom.
"Yo' reck'n All done fergit?"
mo, indeed. | knew you wouldn't
| do that. How In he?"
He right much bettah." he replied
In the same guarded tone. "Doctah
be say he be all right In er few days,
on'y he gotter lay up er while. Dat
was err ugly nip he got rom dat 'spis'
able reptile"
DO you think there can be any
others about the %grounds?"
Nom. Dey mostly keeps ter de
ma'sh.lan' en- on'y runs whah do IN.
dah.bresh ez thick. | gwineter fix dat
, ter.morrow. Mars Valiant he tell me
fab oh g."
That's right, Unc' Jefferson. Good
night. and thank you for coming"
She started back TO the house. when
his voice stopped her.
Mis- Shirley. yo' don keer ef dc
ole man geddahs two er three oh dem
roses? Seems lax young mars
moughty fon' oh dem. He got one In
or glass but cts mos daid now"
Wait a minute" she said. and dis
appeared In the darkness. returning
quickly with a handful which she put
in his grasp,
THERE" she whispered. and slipped
back through the perfumed dark.
An hour later she stood In the
coy stiffness OF her bedroom
she threw OF her gown. slipped int
a soft loose robe OF ma~izecolored silk
and stood before the small glass. Sh'
pulled out the amber pins and drew
her wonderful hair on either side Of
her face, looking out at her reflection
like a mermaid from between the rip
pling waves OF n moon.golden sea.
At last she turned. and seating her
self Mt the desk. took from IL n diary
She scanned the pages at random, heI
eyes catching lines here and there
"A good run today. Betty and Judg,
Chalmers and the Pendleton boys. NJ!
fourth brush this season." A frowr
drew itself across her brows. and sh,
turned the page. One OF the hounds
broke his leg. and | gave him I,
Hickey" Chilly Lusk 4
dinner today. after swimming the Lor
ing Rapid"
She bit her lip, turned abruptly I,
the new page and took up her pen
This morning a twelve.mile run I,