, 1915-10-07

throat.
II reckon" the major murmured
with q faint smile, you won't get
quite SO much fun out OF Chalmers
and the rest They never did rise to
you as I did"
A little later he asked for the restor-
alive. Ten minutes gone." he said
then. Chalmers ought to be at Rose
wood by o . . what a fool way
10 so-like this. But it wasn't-apo-
piexy, Southall. anyway"
At the sound of wheels on the drive,
Valiant went out quietly. Huddled in
q corner of the hall were Uncle JEFF
ferson and Aunt Daphne. with Jere-
beam. the majors body-servant. Aunt
Daphne. her apron thrown over her
face was rocking to and fro silently,
and old Jer. boam's head was bowed
on his breast. Valiant went quickly
to the rear Of the hall. A painful en-
barrassment had come to him-a curl
u confusion mingling with a fastidi-
GUS sense of shrinking. How should
he meet this woman who recoiled from
the very sight Of his face? In the
swiftness of the tragic event he had
forgotten this. From the background
he saw Judge Chalmers lift down the
frail form, and suddenly his heart
leaped. There were two feminine fig
ures; Shirley was with her mother.
The doctor stood just inside the H.
brary door and Mrs. cambridge went
hastily toward him, her light cane tap
ping through the stricken silence. Jere-
boam lifted his head and looked at her
piteously.
"Reck'n Mars Monty cyan see ole
Jerry now" he ~Quavered, but yo'all
glib him nah love. Mis- Judith, and tell
him" His voice broke.
Yes, yes, Jerry. will"
The doctor closed the door upon her
and came to where Shirley waited.
Come, my dear" he said, and dropped
his arm about her. Let US go out TO
the garden"
As they passed Valiant, she held out
her hand to him. There was no word
between them, but as his hand swal-
lowed hers. his heart said to her, 81
love you, l love you! No matter what
Is between us, l shall always love
you'll"
1t was wordless. q heart-whisper that
only love itself could hear, and he
could read no answer in the deep
pools OF her eyes. heavy now with un-
shed tears. But in some subtle way
his voiceless greeting comforted and
lightened by q little the weight of
dumb impotence that he had borne.
In the library, lighted so brightly by
the sunlight, yet grave with the hush
of that solemn presence. the major
looked into the lace of the woman for
whose coming he had waited SO anx-
iously.
TITS all-up. Judith" he said family.
I've come to the jumping-off place"
She looked at him whitley. Monty,
Monty" she cried. Don't leave me
this way! I always thought"
He guessed what she would have
said. Heaven knows you're needed
more than me, Judith. After all. I
reckon when my time had to come I'd
have chosen the quick way" His
voice trailed out and he struggled for
breath.
"Jerry's in the hall, Monty. He asked
me to give you his love"
SoA olu hI6BCAs LC"uboo ~ Soso
me IN his back when I was a little
shaver" There was a silence. Don't
kneel, Judith" he said at length. You
will be SO tired"
She rose obediently and drew up q
chair. Monty" she faltered tremu-
lousy. shall I say a prayer? I've new
er prayed much-my prayers never
seemed to get above the ceiling, ome
how. But Iu-try."
He smiled wanly. "1 wouldn't want
any better than yours, Judith. But
seems as If I'd been prayed over
enough. l reckon God Almighty's like
anybody else, and doesn't want TO be
ding-donged all the time"
He seemed to have been gathering
his resolution. and presently his hand
fumbied over his breast. my wallet;
give It to me-" She drew It from the
pocket and the uncertain fingers took
out q key. 1T opens a tin box in my
trunk There's-a letter In It for you"
He paused a moment, painting: "Ju-
dith." he said. rive got to tell you. but
it's mighty hard. The letter d.
it's n Valiant gave me for you-that
morning. after the duel. / never gave
It to you"
II she had been white before, she
grew III marble now. Her slim fin
gers clutched the little cane till 1t rat
tied against the chair, and the lace at
her throat shook with her breathing.
'Yes-Monty."
He lifted his hand with difficulty and
put the key into hers. The seals still
unbroken, Judith" he said, but I've
kept It these thirty years"
She was holding the key in her
hands, looking down upon 1t. There
was q strained half-fearful wonder in
her face. For an instant she seemed
quite TO have forgotten him in the
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