, 1915-10-14

IyIWN&
'He Went Upstairs, Into the Bedrooms
One by One.
home one spoke to him. 1t was CHS
holm Lusk. They had not met since
HE night of the ball. Even in his own
pr~eoccupation. Valiant noted that
Lusk's face seemed to have lost its
exuberant youthfulness. 1t was worn
ks If with sleeplessness, and had a
look of suffering that touched him.
and all at once. while they stood look
ing at each other, Valiant knew what
The other had waited to say.
Il won't beat about the bush," said
Lusk stammering. I've got to ask
kou something. 1 reckon you've
Guessed that THAT Shirley"
Valiant touched the young fellows
lrm. Yes" he said, Il think l know"
IT'S no new thing, with me-" said
he other hoarsely. ITS been three
tears. The night of the ball, l thought
perhaps that don't mean to ask
What you might have a right to resent
Ebut l must find out. Is there any
feason why 1 shouldn't try my luck?"
Valiant shook his head. NO." he
bald heavily, there Is no reason"
The boyish look sprang back to
Lusk's face. He drew a long breath.
fWhy, then / wfIl." he said. Tim
aorry II l hurt you. Heaven knows /
Didn't want to!"
He grasped the others hand with a
pans heartiness and went up the road
With a swinging stride; and Valiant
TODD watching him go, with his hands
t~ghtclenched at his side.
A little later Valiant climbed the
looping driveway of Damory court. II
feemed to stare at him from a thou.
Pand ~reproachful eyes. The bachelor
FED squirrel from his ~tree-crotch
BOXED down at him askance. The
fedbirds. flashing through the hedges
uttered disconsolately. Fire-Cracker
he peacock, was shrieking from the
Piper lawn and the strident discord
Peemed to mock his mood.
The great house had become home
e him; he told himself that he would
make no other. The few things he had
prought-his books and trophies-hat
Brown to be a part of 1t, and they
bhould remain. The ak should not BIZ
laid to the walnut grove. AS his ia
ther had done, he would leave behint
PIN the life he had lived there. ant
fhe old court should be once mors
closed and deserted. Uncle Jefferson
hhd Aunt Daphne might live on in the
cabin back of the kitchens. There
was pasturage for the horse and the
COWS and for old Sukey, and some
|Acres had already been cleared fol
planting. And there would be the
vans. the ducks and chickens, the
peafowl and the fish.
A letter had come to him that morn
ins. The corporation had resumed
business with credit unimpaired. Pub
nc opinion was more than friendly
now A place waited for him there
80 one or added honor. in a concern
'Iat mad vigorously cleansed itself ant
ALREADY looked forward to a new ca
.eer OF prosperity. But he thought O
'his now with no thrill. The old life
~ longer called. There were still
"tue unpeopled spaces somewher,
~nere a mans hand and brain were nc
.eSs needed. and there was work Their,
maj would help him to bear, II not for
get
he paced up and down the porch un
yer the great gray columns, his steps
spir''iess and tagging. The Virgins
.feeper trailing over its end, waved
~ and fro with a sound like q sigh
now long would 1t be before the lawr
nss once more unkempt and draggled
Deiore ourdock and thistle, mullen
Alu s~panish-needle would return tc
omother the clover? Before Damory
Eur on which he had spent suct
.v'ihS labor, would lie again as 1t lay
. afternoon when he had ratified
.nlther on Uncle Jefferson's crazy
IaeA' Before there would be for him
u some PARKWAY corner Of the world
only Wilmington and the Never
Never Landf
IN me hall he stood a moment be
.ofe The fireplace. his ayes on III
SaiVen motto, 81 clinge:" the phrase
IKE a spear-thrust He began tc
lander ~restleesly through the house
ana down, like a prowling animal
e@lpE.rooR looked austere and