The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1914-06-25

clear that the barrier must in the en-
: yield before their love- He had neve
thought Of surrender. Now he toll,
himself that flight WAS all that wa
left him. She--her happiness-noth
ing else mattered. Damory court ant
its future-the plans he had made-th,
Valiant name-fn that clarifying In
slant he knew that all these, from thai
May day on the Red road, had clunf
about her. She had been the inspira
ton Of all.
Lead, kindly Light amid the encirclinl
gloom"
The voices OF the invested choir
rose clearly and some one at his side
was whispering that this had been the
majors favorite hymn. But he
scarcely heard.
When the service was ended the
people filled the big yard while the
last reverent words were spoken at the
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. 1t was CHS
holm Lusk. They had not met since
the night>of the ball. Even in his own
preoccupation, Valiant noted that
Luek'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. 1 reckon you've
guessed that THAT Shirley"
Valiant touched the young fellows
arm. YES" he said, Il think know"
Its no new thing. with me-" said
the other hoarsely. ITS been three
years. The night of the ball, thought
perhaps that don't mean to ask
what you might have right to resent |
but l must find out Is there any |
reason why shouldn't try my luck?"
Valiant shook his head No." he |
said heavily, there is no reason"
The boyish look sprang back to
Lusk's face. He drew a long breath.
Why, then WILL" he said. Tim
sorry If 1 hurt you. Heaven knows
iidn't want tot"
He grasped the others hand with
mans heartiness and went up the road
With a swinging stride; and Valiant
stood watching him go, with his hands
ight-clenched at his side.
A little later Valiant climbed the
looping driveway of Damory court 1t
eemed to stare at him from a thou
and reproachful eyes. The bachelor
ed squirrel from his tree-crotch
ooked down at him askance The
edbirds, flashing through the hedges,
uttered disconsolately Fire Cracker,
he peacock, was shrieking from the
PIPER lawn and the strident discord
eemed to mock his mood.
The great house had, become home
him; he told himself that he would
lake no other. The few things he had
books and trophies-had
rown to be part Of it, and they
hould remain. The ak should not be
lid to the walnut grove. AS his IA
her had done, he would leave behind
i'm the life he had lived there, and
le old court should be once more
losed and deserted. Uncle Jefferson
nd Aunt Daphne might live on in the
ab1n back of the kitchens. There
as pasturage for the horse and the
ows and for old Sukey. and some
,res had already been cleared for :
Ianting. And there would be the =
vans, the ducks and chickens, the
eafowl and the fish.
A letter had come to him that morn
e. The corporation had resumed
isiness with credit unimpaired. Pub
opinion was more than friendly
wv. A place waited for him there,
Id one of added honor, in a concern
at had vigorously cleansed itself and
ready looked forward to a new ca
er of prosperity. But he thought of
is now with no thrill. The old life
longer called. There were still
de unpeopled spaces somewhere
lere mans hand and brain were no
IS needed, and there was work there
at would help him to bear, if not for.
t.
He paced up and down the porch un-
r the great gray columns, his steps
iritless and tagging. The Virginia
eeper, trailing over its end, waved
and fro with a sound like a sigh.
w long would it be before the lawn
s once more unkempt and draggled?
fore burdock and thistle, mullen
Spanish-needle would return to
other the clover? Before Damory
irt, on which he had spent such
ing labor would lie again as it lay
It afternoon when he had ratified
Their on Uncle Jefferson's crazy
*? Before there would be for him,
some far-away corner of the world,
y Westinghouse and the Never. -
YER Land?
n the hall he stood a monoanf ha.