The Irish standard., 1914-03-14

broke his leg, and I gave him to
Hickey" Chilly Lusk to
dinner today, after swimming the Lor
ing Rapid"
She bit her lip. turned abruptly to
the new page and took up her pen.
This morning twelve-mile run to
Damory Court" she wrote. This
afternoon went for cape jessamines."
There she paused. The happenings
and sensations Of that day would not
be recorded. They were unwritable,
She laid down her pen and put her
forehead on her clasped hands. How
empty and inane these entries seemed
beside this rich and eventful twenty.
four hours just passed! What had
she been doing . year ago today? she
wondered. The lower drawer of the
desk held number Of slim diaries
like the one before her. She pulled II
out, took up the last-year's volume
and opened 1t.
why" she said in surprise, II got
jessamine fer mother this very same
day last year," she pondered frown.
ing, then reached for . third and q
fourth. From these she looked up,
startled. That date in her mothers
calendar called for cape jessamines
What was the fourteenth of May tc
her?
She bent slow troubled gaze about
her. The room had been hers ~ q
child. She seemed suddenly back In
that childhood. with her mother bend
Ing over her pillow and fondling her
rebellious hair. When the wind cried
for loneliness out in the dark she had
sung old songs to her. Sad songs!
Even In those pinafore years Shirley
had vaguely realized that pain lay be
hind the brave gay mask. Was there
something - some event - that had
caused that dull-colored life and un
fulhlment? And was today, perhapA
its anniversary?
.
John Valiant sat propped up on the
library couch. an open magazine un.
needed on his knee. The reading.
stand beside him was q Inter Of let.
ters ard paperA The bov.window
was open and the honeysuckle breeze
blew about him. lifting his hair and
ruhling the leaves Of the papers. In
the garden three darkies were labor
ing, under the supervision of Uncle
Jefferson. The unsightly weeds and
lichen were gone from the graveled
paths. and from the fountain pool,
whose shaft now spoated a slender
spray shivered by the breeze into a
million diamonds, which fell back into
the pool with q tintinabulant trickle
and drip.
The master Of Damory Court closed
the magazine with q sigh. III could
only do 1t all at once!" he muttered
1T takes such q COMPOUNDED time.
-Four days they've been working now,
and they haven't done much more
than clean up" He laughed, and
threw the magazine at the dog who
lodged 1t with injured alacrity. After
~ Chum." he remarked. ITS bssa
thirty years getting in this condition.
I guess we're doing pretty we'll"
He stretched luxuriously. I'll take
q hand at 1t myself tomorrow. I'm
% right a. rain again now, thanks to
Aunt Daph and the doctor. Some.
thing Of crusty citizen. the doctor.
but he's all to the good"
A heavy step came along tho porch
and Uncle Jefferson appeared with .
tray holding a covered dish with q
plate Of biscuit and round jam.pot.
Look here" said John Valiant. II
had my luncheon three hours ago. I'm
being stuffed like q milk-fed turkey"
The old man smiled widely. "Et's
jes' or Ill snack er BROTH" he said.
'Reck'n ETH kinder float eroun' do
yuddah things. Dis yeah pots dat
apple-buttah whut Miss Matte Sue
SEN yo' by Hickey Snyder"
Valiant shifted with satisfaction.
I'm getting so oonfoundedly spoiled"
he said, that I'm tempted to stay sick
and do nothing but eat. BY the way.
Uncle Jefferson, where did Hickey
come from? Does she belong heref"
ANO, Duu. 6u0 COu0 Ou 110u y"
Half.Acre."
What's that?"
Oats dat ornery passle o. folks
yondah on de Dome." explained On.
Gle Jefferson. "Dey's been dab longs
All kin recommembah-jes' er ram
shackle lot O. shifless po'-white trash
whut git erlong anyways t all"
That's interesting" said Valiant
$50 Hickey belonged thereT"
"Yas, sub: nebbah d a-come down
heah 'cep'in' TO Mis- Shirley. She dc
one whut fotch de Ill gal outen dat
place. en- put huh wild Mis- Matte Sue.
three yeah ergo"
A sudden color came into John Va
liant's cheeks. TELL me about It"
His voice vibrated eagerly.
"Well. subj" continued Uncle Jeffer.
son, "dey was one o. dem low-down
Hell's-Half.Acrers. name Greet King.