The Watertown weekly leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1912-1917, 1914-05-19
CHAPTER VIII.

What Happened Thirty Years Ago.
When Shirley came across the lawn
at Rosewood, Major Montague Bristow
sat under the arbor talking to her
mother.
The major was massive-framed,
with strong jaw and rubicund
comprehensive sort that might be
supposed to have attained the utmost
benefit to be conferred by a consist
ent indulgence in mint-juleps His
blue eyes were piercing and arched
with brows like sable rainbows, at
variance with his heavy iron-gray hair
and imperial. His head was leonine
and he looked like king who has
humbled his enemy 1t may be added
that his linen was fine and immacu-
late, his black string-tie precisely tied
and a pair of gold-rimmed eyeglasses
swung by fat black cord against his
white waistcoat
Shirley" said her mother, ''the ma
1or's brutal, and he shant have his
mint-tulep.'
What has he been doing?" asked
the other, her brows wrinkling N a
delightful way she had
He has reminded me that I'm grow
ing Old"
Shirley looked at the major skep-
doubted During a long career in law
and legislature it had been said Of
him that he could neither speak on
the tariff question nor defend a man
for murder, without first paying a
tribute to "the women of the South,
sab"
Nothing of the sort" he rumbled.
Mrs. Dandridge's face softened to
wistfulness. Shirley, am II" she
asked, with e qnizzical, almost droll
uneasiness. Why. I've got every emo
ton I've ever had / read all the new
French novels, and I'm even thinking
of going in for the militant suffragette
movement"
The girl had tossed her hat and
crop on the table and seated herself
by her mothers chair. What was 1t
he said, dearest?"
He thinks / ought to wear a wor-
sted shawl and arctics" Her mother
thrust out one little thin-slippered foot,
with it's slender ankle cleaning
through it's open-work stocking like
mother-ofpearl. 'Imaginei In May.
And he knows I'm vain of my feet!
Major, If you had ever had a wife,
you would have learned wisdom. But
you mean well, and I'll take back what
! said about the julep. You mix it,
Shirley. Yours is even better than
Ranston's."
"She makes me one every day, Mon
ty," she continued as Shirley went
into the house. And when she isn't
looking, l pour it into the bush there"
Major Bristow laughed as he bit
the end off a cigar ''All the same
he said in his big rumbling voice,
''you need 'em, l reckon. You need
more than mint-juleps, too You leave
the whiskey to me and the doctor, and
you take Shirley and pull out for
italy. Why not? A year there would
do you heap of good"
She shook her head. mo, Monty.
1t isn't what you think It's-here."
She lifted her hand and touched her
heart. Its been so for long time.
But it may-it can't go on forever,
you see. Nothing can"
The major had leaned forward in
his chair Judith" he said, and his
hand twitched, cit isn't true!" And
then, How do you know"
She smiled at him. you remember
when that big surgeon, from Vienna
came to see the doctor last year?
Well, the doctor brought him to me.
I'd known it before In way, but it
had gone farther than / thought No
one can tell just how long it may be.
1t may be years, of course, but I'm not
taking any sea trips, Monty"
He cleared his throat and his voice
was husky when he spoke. Shirley
doesn't know"
Certainly not. She mustn't" And
then, in sudden sharpness: You
shan't tell her. Monty. You wouldn t
dare,"
mo, indeed" he assured her quick
ly "Of course not"
Its just among us three. Doctor
Southau and you and me. We three