Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1914-03-20
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WLLANTSe}VIRdLNIA
@I HALLI IIu1INl[ RIVIS pe ss2s s;&rra)
ILLUSTRATED 81 LAUREN STOUT

, language she would scarcely under
stand-in fact, in tongue new to him
self. But there was no smile on hel
lips and her extraordinary eyes-coo
gray, shot through with emerald,
we're looking into his with frankness
and sympathy he would not have
guessed lay beneath her glacial pla
cldity.
To Katharine, indeed, it made little
difference what philanthropic fads the
man she had chosen might affect as
regarded his tenantry. Ambitions like
these had a manorial flavor that did
not displease her. And the Fargo mil.
lions would bear much harmless ham.
mering. A change, subtle and incom.
municable, passed over her.
81 shall think of you" she sighed
"as working on in this splendid pro-
gram. For 1t is splendid. But New
York will miss you, john
"Ah, no. I've no decisions on that
score I dare say I'm almost forgotten
there already. Here I have place
Her head, leaned back against the
EuouiCtl, III Icu w" al iiiAAt, Viz PeAAS
orchids trembling on her bosom-she
was so near that he could feel her
breath on his cheek. A new waltz
had begun to sigh its languorous meas
ures.
place." she queried. "Do you think
you had no place there? Is it possible
that you do not understand that your
going has left-a void?"
He looked at her suddenly, and her
eyes fell. Before he answered, how.
ever. the big form of Major Bristow
appeared, looking about him.
1T has-left void" she said, her
eyes still downcast, her voice just low
enough, for me-
The major pcunced upon them at
this juncture, elingly accusing John
Of the nefariou design of robbing the
assemblage of bright and partic
ular star. " en- Katharine put hel
hand in her valier's arm, her eyes
were dewy u, er their long shading
lashes ana h fine lips ever so little
tremulous. Il had been her best avail
able moment. and she had used It.
A. she moved away. her faint colo,
slightly heightened. she was glad Of
the interruption. It was better as II
was. When John Valiant came to he,
again. ss',t-
But 10 him. % he stood watching
her move lightly from him, there wa
vouohsafed illuminauon. II came to
him suddenly tha& that placidity and
hauteur which b had % admired IL
the old days were no mask for nret
within. The exquisite husk was the
real Katharine. Hers was the lowell
ness Of some tall white lily cut IL
marble. splendid but chill. And witt
the thought. between him and he1
there swept through tho shimmerinl
candle-lighted air breath Of wet rose
fragrance like an impalpable cloud
and set in the midst of It q misty star
tinted gown sprayed with lilies-of-the
valley, and above It . girls face clear
and vivid, her deep shadow-blue eyes
fixed on his.
The music Of . two-stap was Ian
gushing when, a little later. Valiant
and Shirley strolled down between
the garden box-hedEes, cypress-shapec
and lifting spire-like toward Sky
which bent, silent canopy Of mauvt
and purplish blue. Behind then
Damory court lay q nest Of wover
music and laughter. The long white
muslined porch shimmered goldenly
and beside it under the lanterns dal
lied q firtatious couple or two. ghost
like In the shadows.
Come" he said. Let me take yor
to see the sun-dial now"
The tangle had been cut away ant
q narrow gravel-path led through The
pruned creepers. She made an excla
nation of delight. The onyx-Dillal
stood in an CASTS Of white-moonflow
ers. white dahlias, mignonette and mar
c!ssus: bars of late lilies-of-the-val
Icy beyond these, bordered with Arum
lilies. white clematis, iris and bridal
wreath, shading out into tender pale'
hues that ringed the spotless purit!
like dawning passion.
white for happiness" he quoted
you said that when you brought mi
here-ine Gay we planted the ram
blers- Do you remember what
said? That some day, perhaps. shoult
love this spot the best Of all at Damo-!
court" He was silent a moment, trac
ing with his finger the motto on thu
diaps rim. when l was very little.
re went on-"hardly more than three
years old, I think-my father and
had play, in which we lived in
great mansion like this. 1t was calle'
Wishing House, and it was in the mid
die Of the Never-Never Land-a sor
OF beautiful fairy country in which
everything happened right. l know
now that the Never-Never Land wa
Virginia, and that Wishing House wa
Damory court. No wonder my fathe
loved it! No wonder his memory turn