Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1901-09-12
Cecily and he went upstairs.
"Qf callrse-When they're

VI COURSE neil uney re gone.
mo, directly. l want to say a
word to YOU
1--WE must escape them she laugh
ed. 20, we'll, they'll expect that,
suppose" Her delight in her love
dubbed over in her laugh.
They came to the door of her room,
and she stopped.
"Here?" asked Harry. Eyes, it
was my mothers room. You reign now
in my mothers stead"
His voice had ring of triumph in
it. He kissed her hand. Dinner as
soon as you're ready" said he.
She laughed again and blushed as
she opened the door and stood bold
ing the handle.
Wont you come in-just for a, min
ute, Harry? II haven't changed
this room at all"
"All is yours to change or to- keep
unchanged" said he.
20, I've no reason for changing any
thing now. Everything's to he put
back in the long gallery" She
paused, and then said again Wont
you come in for just a minute,
Harry"
q must go back to our friends,
downstairs, ne answered.
The preteNt was threadbare. What
did the guests matter? They would
do we'll enough. 1t had cost her
something to ask-a little effort
since the request still seemed so
strange, since its pleasure had a fear
in it. And now she was refused.
Il ask you,' she said, with sudden
haughtiness.
He stood looking at her a. moment.
There was brisk step along the cor
rider.
80, beg your ladyships pardon. 1
didn't know your ladyship had come
upstairs" 1t was Cecily's maid
"In about 20 minutes" said Harry,
with a nod. Slowly CeciEy followed
the maid inside.
After he had washed his hands,
Harry rejoined his friends. They
were still sitting in the hall with an
air of expectancy.
You've told herr" cried Nina. so,
yes; Mr.. Neeld has told me every
thing"
well, I've mentioned the bare fact
-" Neeld began.
Eyes, yes, that's the only thing that
matters. You've told her, Harry?"
The last two days had made him
Harry" and her Nina"
mo; had chance, and funk
ed it," said Harry, slow in speech and
slow in smile. ''She asked me into
her room. Well wouldn't go"
He laughed as he spoke, laughed
rather scornfully.
ITS rather absurd. I shall be all
ribht after dinner" he added, laugh
ing still Cor would you like to do
the job for me, Mina?'
The Imp shook her head with i'm
mense determination. 'Ill throw my
self into the Blent, if you like" she
said.
What about you, Mr.. Neeld?"
"My dear friend! o, my dear
friend!" Undisguised pains took pos
session of Mr.. Neeld. He tried to
| cover it by saying sternly. "This-
er-preposterous position is entirely
your own fault, you know. You have
acted"
Yes, i Know nodded Harry, not
impatiently, but with "a son1ber as
sent. He reused himself the next
moment, SAYING We'll, somebody Is
got to bell the cat, you know
| Really, it's not my business pro.
tested Neeld and Nina in one breath
| both laughing nel-vously.
''You like the fun, but you don't
want any of the work" remarked
| Harry.
That was true, true to their dis
grace. They both felt the reproach
Cecily came down. She passed
Harry with a rather distant air, and
took Neelds arm.
"They say dinners ready" said
She Nina, will you come with Har.
ry?'
| Harry sank into the chair opposite
| Cecily-and opposite the picture OF
! Addie Tristram on the wall "Well
somehow I've managed to get back
here" said he.
The shadow had passed from Ceci.
ly's face. She looked at him, blush.
ing and laughing.
"At a terrible price, poor Harry
she said.
"At big price," he answered.
She looked around at the three.
Harry was composed, but there was
no mistaking the perturbation of the
Imp and Mr.. Neeld.
"a big price?" she asked wonder.
ingly Isn't that a queer compli.
ment, Harry? Then a light seemed
| to break in on her, and she cried:
| "He means the cost of his pride. |
should never let that stand between
you and mel"
"Will you make a note of that adj
mission, Mina?" said Harry, with a
smile. Because you didn't say so,
| always, Cecily. Do you recollect
what you once said? IF ever the
time comes, shall remember That
was what you said"
| She looked at him with a glance
| that was suddenly troubled. There
seemed a meaning in his words. She
pushed back her chair and rose from
the table.
81 don't want dinner. I'm going
into the garden" she said
They sat still as she went out Har-
| ry refolded his napkin and slowly
rose to his feet Il should have liked
| it better after dinner" he observed.
Nina and Mr.. Neeld sat on
Are we to dine?" whispered Neeld.
There is the body, after all"
Co. yes, sir, came in Masons
soothing tones over his shoulder I'VE
never waited for her ladvcbino And