The Madisonian. (Richmond, Ky.) 1913-1914, 1914-04-07
wish he'd manage to show it some

wish he'd manage to show it some
times"
Mrs. Mason took off her glasses and
wiped them carefully. 81 saw 1t when
my husband died." she said softly
THAT was before you came. They
were old friends, you know. He was
sick almost a year, and the doctor
used to carry him out here on the
porch every day in his arms, like a
child. And then, when the typhus
came that summer among the negroes,
he quarantined himself with them-the
only white man there-and treated
and nursed them and buried the dead
with his own hands, till it was
stamped out. That's the real Doctor
Southall'
The rockers vibrated in silence for a
moment. Then Mrs. Clifford said: II
never knew before that he had any
thing to do with that duel. Was he
one of Valiant's seconds?"
YES" said Mrs. Mason; "and the
major was the other. / was a little
girl when it happened. can barely
remember it, but it made big sensa-
ton
And over a love-affair!" exclaimed
Mrs. Clifford in the tone of one to
whom romance was daily bread.
Il suppose>it was"
For a time the conversation Ian
guished. Then Mrs. Clifford asked sud-
denly: who do you suppose she
could have been?-the girl behind that
old Valiant affair"
Mrs. Mason shook her head. mo
one knows for certain-unless, Of
course, the major or the doctor, and
wouldn't question either of them for
worlds. You see, people had stopped
gossiping about it before was out Of
school. There's Major Bristow at the
gate now. And the doctors Just COM
ing out again"
The major wore a suit Of white
linen, with a broad-brimmed straw
hat, and a pink was in his button
hole, but to the observing, his step
might have seemed to lack an accus-
toned jauntiness. AS he came up the
path the doctor opened his office.
How do you feel this morning, Ma
jor"
"FeeiT' rumbled the major; the
way any gentleman ought to feel this
time of the morning, sab. Like hell,
sab"
The doctor bent his gaze on the
hilarious blossom in the others lapel.
IF 1 were you, Bristow," he said
scathingly, st reckon I'd quit galivant-
ing around to bridge-fghts with per-
fumery on my handkerchief every
evening. It's the devil of an example
to the young"
The rocking-chafrs behind the
screening vines became motionless,
and the ladies exchanged surreptitious
smiles. II the two gentlemen were
aware Of each others sterling quail
ties, their mutual appreciation was in
inverse ratio to its expression, and.
as the Elucinian mysteries, cloaked
before the world. In public the doctor
was wont to remark that the major
talked like a Caesar, looked like a
piano-tuner and was the only man he
had ever seen who could strut sit
Il.
barbed as when launched against the
majors white-waistcoated and patri-
clan calm, and conversely, never did
the majors bland suavity SO nearly
approach an undignified irritation as
when receiving the envenomed darts
of that accomplished cynic.
The major settled his black tie. "a
little wholesome exercise wouldn't be
bad thing for you, Doctor" he said
succinctly. You're looking a shade
pasty today"
'Exercise!" snapped the other
viciously, as he pounded down the
steps, "Ha, ha! 1 suppose you exer-
cise-lazying out to the Dandrfdges
once a week for a julep, and the rest
of the time wearing out good cane-bot-
toms and palm-leaf fans and cussing
at the heat. You'll go off with apo
plexy one Of these days"
II shall if they're scared enough to
call you," the major shot after him.
nettled. But the doctor did not pause.
He went on down the street without
turning his head
The major lifted his hat calamity
to the ladies, whose presence he had
just observed.
do sit down, Major said Mrs. Gift
ford. There's a question I'm just
dying to ask you We've had such an
interesting conversation. You've
heard the news, of course, that young
Mr.. Valiant is coming to Damory
Court?"
The major sat down heavily. IN the
bright light his face seemed suddenly
pale and old.
MOP" the lady's tone was arch.
Have all the rest of US really got
ahead of you for once? Yes, It's true
There's some one there getting it to
rights Now here's the question.
There was a woman, of course, at the
bottom of the Valiant duel I'd never
dream of asking you who she was.
But which was it she loved. Valiant
or Sassoon?"
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