The Tucumcari news and Tucumcari times. [volume] (Tucumcari, N.M.) 1907-1921, 1914-09-03

HlolNo iOT eaCH ItdI. lOuHy y u tnls
Every man carries his fate on n rib.
and about his neck Last night |
would have smiled at that. perhaps;
today ! say TO myself, lite true-it's
true!' Two little hours ago I could
have sworn that whatever happened
to me Sassoon would suffer no harm.
Judith, | could not avoid the meet.
Ing. You will know the circum.
stances. and will see that II was forced
upon me. But though we met on the
field. ! kept my promise. Sassoon did
not fall by my hand"
She had begun TO tremble so that
the paper shook In her hands, and
from her breast, shattered by her
quick breathing. the brown jeesamine
petals busted down In her lap. II was
some moments before she could calm.
herself sufficiently to read on.
He fired at the signal and the shot
went wide. | threw my pistol on the
ground. Then-whether ~maddened by
my refusal to fire. | cannot tell--he
turned his weapon all at once and shot
himself through the breast. II was
over In an instant. The seconds did
not guess--do not even now. for II
happened but an hour ago. As the
code DEGREES. their backs were turned
when the shots were fred. But there
were circumstances cannot touch
upon TO you which made them disap.
prove-which made my facing him
just then seem ~unchivalrous. saw
II In Bristow's face. and liked him the
better for II. even while Il touched
my pride. They could not know, OF
course. that I did not intend to fire.
Well, you and they will know II now!
And Bristow has my pistol: he will
find II undischarged - thank God.
thank God!
But will that matter 10 you? II
you loved Sassoon. | shall always In
your mind stand as the indirect cause
OF his death! II Ia for this reason I
am going away could not bear to
look In your accusing eyes and hear
you say II. Nor could | beqr TO stay
here. a reminder TO you OF such a
horror. II you love me, you will write
and call me back TO you. oh, Ju.
dith. Judith. my dear love! !
pray God you wilt"
She put the letter down and laid
her face upon Il. Beauty! Beauty!"
she whispered. ~dry-eyed. Il never
knew! ] never knew! But Il would
have made no difference. darling.
would have forgiven you anything
everything! You know that, now,
dear! You have been certain OF Il all
these years that have been so empty,
empty to mel"
But when tho faded r%ose-coiored
gown and the poor time.yellowed slip
had been laid back in the hair.
cloth trunk; when. her door once more
unboltsd. she lay IN her bed in tho dim
glow OF the reading.lamp. with her
curling silvery hair drifting across the
pillow and the letter beneath Il, ut
last the tears came coursing down her
cheeks.
And with the loosening Of her tears.
gradually and softly came joy-inn.
nitely deeper than the anguish and
sense OF betrayal. II poured upon her
like a trembling food. Long, long ago
he had gone u OF the world-it was
only his memory that counted to her.
Now that could nc longer spell pain
or emptiness or denial. II was engold.
ened by a new light. and In that light
she would walk gently and smiiingly
TO the end.
She found the slender golden chain
that hung about her neck and opened
the little black locket with It's circlst
OF laureled pearls. And a. she gazed at
the face Il held. which time had not
touched with change. the sound OF
shirlsy's harp came softly In through
the window. She was playing an old.
fashioned song. Of the sort che knew
her mother loved best:
Darling, I am growing old.
silver threads among the gold
Shine upon my brow today;
Life 10 fading fast away.
Y my darling. you will be
Always young and fair to me.
Outside the leaves rustied, the birds
called and the eriokets sang their I'M.
ending spithalamia OF summer nights,
on this tons-backSround the rsei.
ody rose tsnderiy and lingsringly like
a haunting perfume Of pressed flowers.
She smiled and lifted the iockot to her
face. whispering the words OF the re.
rss. my darling. you will BE-
Always young and fair to mel
The smile was still on her lips when
she fell asleep. and the little locket
still lay in her fingers.
CHAPTER xxxiv.
When the Clock Struck.
sorrow wseps-sorrow sings" Az
Shirley played that night. the old Rus