Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1901-08-15

| Woll, IleH, SlOuluut udIe you
for giving me Blent? That was
worse. You could refuse. couldn't
have it: | have to keep it." In her
excitement she rose and faced him.
"And because of you | can't be hap
py!" she cried resentfully.
| Il see. | ought to have drowned
myself instead of merely going away,
| o, | know | owe the world at large
apologies for my existence, and you,
in particular, of course. Unfortun-
ately, though, intend to go on exist
ing. I even intend to live life of
my own-not the life of hanger-on
If you'll kindly allow me-"
Would any other man in the world
talk like this after"
ANY man who had the sense to see
what you'd done. I'm bound to be
nuisance to you, anyhow. | should be
least of nuisance as your husband.
That was it. o, I'm past astonish-
ment at you.'
His words sounded savage, but it
was not their fierceness that banished
her mirth. 1t was the new light that
they threw on that impulse of hers
She could not fall back on her old re-
elimination.
| Wnen you gave me Blent-
Hold your tongue about Blent,' he
commanded. imperiousiy. "If it were
not mine again, and l came to you
and said, You're on my conscience:
you fret me: you worry me! Marry
me and | shall be more comfortable
What them"
Why, it would be just like you to
do it.' she cried in malicious tri-
umph.
THE sort of thing runs in the fam
lily, then" She started at the plain
ness of his sheer. 20, yes, that was
1t. Well, what would your answer be?
Shall | tell you? You'd ask the first
man who came by to kick me out of
the room. And you'd be right"
The truth of his words pierced her.
: She flushed red. But she was resolv-
ed to admit nothing. Before him, at
any rate, she would cling to her case,
, to the view of her own action to
which she stood committed. He at
least should never know that now at
) last he had made her bitterly and
horribly ashamed, with a shame not
, for what she had proposed to do her
: self, but for what she had dared to
J ask him to do. She saw the thing
now as he saw it. Had his manner
softened had he made any appeal
/ had he not dashed her with the bitter.
J est words he could find she would
have been in tears at his feet But
: now she faced him so boldly that he
7 took her flush to mean anger. He
turned away from her with scornfu
5 laugh, and picked up his hat from the
5 chair on which he had thrown it.
: We'll, that's all, isn't ito" he asked
Before she had time to answer there
was cry from the doorway full Of
establishment. CONSERVATION, and iii
: must be added) outraged propriety
! For it was past o'clock and Nina
! Iabriska, tor all her freakishness
4 had been bred on strict lines of de
!. corum. "Cecily.' she cried. "Ant
Il you." she added a moment later
They turned and saw her STANDING
g there in her dressing gown, holding
candle. The sudden turn of events
I the introduction of this new figure
I the intrusion that seemed so absurd
0 overcame Cecily. She sank back ii
her chair and laid her head on he
!. hands on the table, laughing hystel
II ically. Harry's frown grew heavier.
" 80, you're there?" he said to Nina
" You're in it. too, | suppose? w
a always had the misfortune to interes
YOU haven't |? You wanted to tur
e me out first. Now you're trying t
put me in again, are you? o. you We
4 men: can't you leave man alone
II Il don't know what you are talkin
II about And what are you doin
here? Do you know it's half past 9?
st 1T would be all the same to me
h. it was half past 22," said Harry, COZ
1t temptuously.
You've been here with her all tn
he time?"
IL 20, Lord, yes. Are you the chal
IN eron?" he laughed, as unceremon
" ously he clapped his hat to his hea,
Ill We've had an evening out, my cousin
and saw her home And now I'm g
~ ing home. Nothing wrong, hop
Nine. Zabriska?"
- Cecily raised her head: she We
laughing still, with tears in her eye
Nina looked at her. Consideration
: of propriety fell into the backgroun
But, what's it all about?" 81
to cried.
I'll leave Cecily to tell you" +
ca was quiet now but with viciol
quietness. I've been explaining TIL
an l have a preference for being lie
alone. Perhaps it may not be supe
:" fiuous to mention the fact to you to
er Nine zsbriska. My cabs waitin
Goodnight" He looked a moment
Cecily, and his eyes seemed to DIVE
M little longer than he had meant.
a tone rather softer and more gent
mt he repeated, Good night"
i'm Cecily sprang to her feet. Il shs
as remember she cried. Il shall /
IN member" Her voice was full OF b
he terness. Her manner proudly. {
FAINT
as Harry hesitated moment tn
smiled grimly. Il shouldn't be al
to complain of that he said as
We turned and went out to his cab.
Cecily threw herself into her CHI
his again. Tie bewildered Imp sto
staring at her.
2" Il didn't know where you wer,
m, Nina complained.
20, it doesn't matter"
a Fancy being here with him at Il
or time of night
on Cecily gave no signs of hearing Il
he superficial criticism on her conduct