Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-05-01

trembled visibly; her excitement was
getting beyond her control. Broxton
looked at her in grave surprise. Then
smile of pity came into his fine face.
You are young yet, Ollie. so young,
and to the young sorrow has such a
dreadful finality in, seeming. But it
is only in seeming. little friend. We
can outlive and live down about all
the troubles malicious fate can con-
ceive of for our, torment if we will
only believe in ourselves, be true to
the best in u.s."
She looked at him with the ghost Of
a smile on her lips. THAT sounds
dreadfully experienced, Tom"
"And am 1 not experienced? Not"
he added, with quick thought for her.
.'that I am quarreling with destiny.
My philosophy il that all that is is
right" -
'That is fatanism, and do not think
fatalism is healthy. especially for SO
young a'man. You see, have not for
gotten how to find fault with you,
Tom"
"No. Come, now, this grows promis-
ing. lived lin Germany just long
enough to acquire taste for meta
physics and to miscaH myself philos
opher. We don't indulge along that
line at the works. Let me hear you
define fatalism."
His cool acceptance of the existing
status Of things exasperated her most
unreasonably.
"You are turning my meaning into a
jest, Thomas. 1 suppose | am not
worth a serious thought nowadays, so
you are obliged to think of me as q
good joke. No; don't mean that at
all, for that implies that you do some
times think about me-"
81 am glad you do not mean it. We
have been good friends too long to
quarrel with each other just as you are
about to put the ocean between us, and
we would have no chance to make UP
inside of whole year"
Nothing could be more matter Of
fact, nothing. less loverlike than, his
entire bearing from the moment of his
arrival If only she could think he
was acting a part, If only she could
think he felt as he had once felt to-
ward her, wanted what he once want
ed-her-it' would make it easier for
her. Before he had come she, standing
before her fathers, portrait, had regis
tered silent promise. "a.
II will try to do your bidding to the
utmost, father. Heretofore have only
refrained from doing that which
would have come between me and it.
am going to marry Thomas Broxton.
Then your sad, pleading voice will die
out of my memory perhaps" =,
| But Tom was making it so dread
fully difficult She took the plunge
presently. Her voice trembled at the
start.
Thomas, Il am going to ask you
question before we part Will you an
swer it very honestiy?"
"That depends He smiled down
calmly into her.troubled face.
Her eyes fell before the cool steadi-
ness of his. She clasped her hands
tightly upon her lap.
II want to ask you how long you
were standing in the doorway of ia
theirs room that-night-bef you
closed the door so softly. that thought
it was the night wind?"
!! A troubled look came into his eyes.
He had not expected this direct cate
chising. He answered inconsequently:
"Reuben>is bungling old idiot. He
told me his orders were to send me di-
rect to my guardian. When.I got there,
I found you were with him, and it was
no time for me to intrude."
mora saw you close the door. She
told me long afterward. 1 want to
know, Thomas, how long you had
been there"
He moved restlessly in his chair.
For her sake he wished he might evade
the truth. mot very long-in fact, only
u second or two"
Were you-there-l enough to
hear my fathers last words?'
He remained stubbornly silent. She
raised her eyes in desperation. He was
looking at her pityingly. 1t was in
tolerable. She lifted her head defiant
ly.
You will, please answer me, Thorn.
AIS. 1t is necessary that you should.
Did you hear my fathers last2words?"
II heard him lay a command upon
you," came with slow reluctance in an
swer.
"And -am-ready-to obey the
commando
The words escaped her in husky
whisper. Her head dropped as if
weighted earthward by the dreadful
humiliation of the moment. Would he
never say anything to ease the smart
Of those words?
The darkening air was heavy with
the fragrance of the flowers she had
plucked for him. A boys shrill whistle
came through the window to her ears
discordantly. She could hear old Reu-
ben call the dogs to their dinner. Ev-
cry sense was on the alert. 1t was as
if her nerves had been laid bare by a
surgeons knife. She had tried to full
fill the command of the dying. She
had offered herself to Thomas Broxton.
She was yindicating her hardness and