Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-04-05

ridiculous boy! Papa wants me to
have everything that makes me hap
Ply. Ergo he wants me to have you.'
"Not so ridiculous as it might seem.
have never got over his start of sur
prise when asked him for your hand
nor his unguarded expression"
"Unguarded expression?''
'Yes He looked at me in startled
sort Of way and said: What! You? 1
had hoped had Then he stopped
in very evident confusion
"Well," said Ollie, with partisan heat,
"he meant. poor old darling, he hoped
that I wouldn't think Of marrying for
a great many years to Gomez
"Your explanation does not dispose
of his startled What! Your"
"Oh. well, that just meant nothing
at ALP
She was glad that the light Of the
moon is not of revealing character.
She blushed furiously, as she always
did when equivoeating BY nature and
habit she was singularly direct and
truth loving nLCle DOQy.
81 am sorry not to be able to take
that view of it, my DEAR
t'What, then? Do you know papa SO
much better than do?'
They were perilously near to a lovers
quarrel.
sit meant thought so at the time,
and his evasion of the point whenever
tried to consult with him as to the
date of our marriage confirms me il.
the idea-that he had other views for
you"
"Other views for me?'
Eyes" Here MI. Clarence swung
his long whip about the pointed ears of
his team with an irritated swish that
stimulated them to brisk trot "Has
it never occurred to you, Ollie, that
your father is holding me off until
Broxton gets home; that he would
rather you should marry his ward
But
"There! Don't say another word,
| please, Clarence. Did ever I expect
to hear poor papa, who adores me and
only asks to keep me by his side for
ever and forever, accused Of maneu-
vering to get rid of me like any daugh.
| ter burdened society mamma? 1t is 4
shame, a perfect shamew
what! Crying about it? / do won.
der why woman's tear duct was
made SO perilously convenient
Clarence, hate you. There, now
! I am quite sure I shall ALWAYS hate
your
They had finally arrived at lovers
quarrel Of generous proportions, anl
the horses were permitted to sustain
| their reputation as fast trotters unit
the Matthews gate was reached.
you will come in?" Ollie asked, try
/ ing to be polite, in aesmothered voice {
Not tonight, thank you," the mar
she hated answered haughtily, and sht
ran up the walk alone.
The memory of Toms unanswered
letter smote upon her conscience. Hel
tiff with Westover primed her com
fortably for answering it just as sht
/ did, and for fear Of a softer mood an(
a less decided quietus she wrote it i'm
/
i Facing toward the house after drop
ping her letter in the box, she observ
ed bright light still burning in he
,, fathers study in the wing of thu
house. Entering it, she found hin
sitting in his office chair, surrounded
by a hopeless litter of loose papers
His head had dropped forward on hi
folded arms. Apparently he wa
asleep. She laid her hand gently OF
his shoulder.
| Father, this is not right. 1t is very
very wrong. You know DR.. Goyan ha
positively forbidden you any nigh
work. You took advantage Of my be
ing away. You don't love me, or yol
would not worry me SO. You naught,
papa!'
/ The face that was lifted at th,
sound of her voice was white an,
drawn. The eyes that looked longingl,
into hers We're heavy and bloodshot.
Don't love you? Don't love you
Girl, it would have been better for u
both, far better, if had loved 70,
less.''
"Father!w She recoiled from him il
resentment.
He pushed his chair back abrupt,
and, standing up, frowned down upol