Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1899-10-19

volunteers who would pledge themselves
to do everything after asking the ques-
tion, What would Jesus dor y
There's no danger Of it. said Rose,
rising suddenly from the couch as the
tea bell rang.
"It's very impracticable movement
to my mind, said Mr.. Sterling sharply.
81 understand from Rachel's letter
that the church in Raymond is going
to make an attempt to extend the idea
Of the pledge to the other churches If
they succeed, they will certainly make
great changes in the churches and in
peoples lives" said Felicia.
"Oh, well, let's have some tea first. "
said Rose, walking. into the dining
room. Her father and Felicia followed.
and the meal proceeded in silence. Mrs.
Sterling had her meals served in her
room. Mr.. Sterling was preoccupied.
he ate very little and excused himself
early, and, although it was Saturday
night, he remarked as he went out that
he would be down town late on some
special business.
Don't you think father looks very
much disturbed lately 2" asked Felicia
little while after he had gone ont.
Oh, don T knowl hadn't noticed
anything unusual replied Rose After
silence she said: Are You going to
the play tonight. FeliciaP Mrs. Delano
will be here at half past Z / think you
ought to go. She will feel hurt if you
uI,,,
= ". uon care apous IT, = can
sc s,iauo"s eiiousn "ithout going 70
'ie e. p,ay
N lna' a aoleiui remark TOT q girl
80 yea,s oiu 70 lfiaAe, repaed Rose
pul tnen you re queer IN your Ideas
any now, reiicla, u you re going up TO
SEQ inotner' te9l ner ! u run IN after the
pay y sle rs sun awake u
| seilcia wen. up 10 see her mother
anu remain Win her until the Deiano
carriage came. MIS- STERLING was wor-
| Iieu apo'ie her hu .. she TAXED IN
'essan :. anu was lrri1ated py every re-
mara mar = re,ic.a mace She wound not ilst-
gu 20 reIcla attenpts TO read even a
ya.e 81 :, hachei $ ietter. ana When fe-
ncla oliereu 70 scay Win ner TOT the
evening she refused the offer with q
booo aeai OF posltlye sharpness
% reilcia STARTED on 70 the play not
very nappy' ois she was falnlilar WIN lll
lnal 'eei'ns, only sometimes she was
tnofe unhappy thah AZ otnef times times her
feeling expressed itself tonight by a
withdrawal into herself. When the
company was seated in the box and the
curtain was up, Felicia was back of
the Others and remained for the even
ing by herself Mrs. Delano as chaperon
for half dozen young ladies, under
stood Fellcin well enough TO know that
/ she was queer; ;ls Rose sooften said.
AMI she made no attempt to draw her
| out of the corner. and SO Felicia really
experienced that night by herself one
OF the feelings that added to the mo-
4 mentum that was increasing the coming
on OF her great crisis.
The play was an English melodrama
full OF startling situations, realistic
scenery and unexpected climaxes. There
was one scene in the third act that I'M
pressed even Rose Sterling
It was midnight on Blackfriars
bridge The Thames flowed dark and
forbidding below. st, Parl's rose
through the dim light. imposing, its
dome seeming to float above the build
ings surrounding it. The figure Of a
child came upon tho bridge and stood
there for moment, peering about as
| if looking for some one. Several persons
were crossing the bridge. but in one Of
the recesses about midway of the river
a woman stood. leaning out over the
parapet with strained agony of face
and figure that told plainly of her in
tentions. just as she was stealthily
mounting the parapet to throw herself
into the river the child caught sight Of
her. ran forward. with u shrill cry more
animal than human, and. selling the
woman's dress. dragged back upon ii
with all her little strength. Then there
came suddenly upon the scene two othe,
characters who had already figured in
4 the play. tall, handsome, athletic gen
4 tleman dressed in the fashion, attended
by slim figured lad. who was as re.
fined in dress and appearance as the lit
tie girl clinging to her mother was