Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1901-07-25

spoke i'll the majors wheel, yet, and
to do that was his contract with Hair
ry Tristram, as well as his own
strong desire.
Have you sympathized, or condoled
or triumphed-eno she asked:
she was fierce STILL
Il don't know that I've had a
chance of saying anything much" he
observed with some business.
Il really don't see what you can
have to say. What is there to sayoo"
We'll, there's just this to say-that
I'm Jolly glad of it."
She was startled by his blunt sim
certify, so startled that she passed the
obvious chance of accusing him of
cruelty toward Harry Tristram, and
thought only of how his words touch
ed herself.
Glad of it! o, if you knew how it
makes me feel about myself, But
you don't, or you'd never be here,
now"
why shouldn't | be here now?"
He spoke slowly as though he were
himself searching for any sound
reason.
20, it's" the power of explanation
isaiiNu liti. 'oDlt WllO Will ilOU see
obvious things sometimes hold a very
strong position. jamie began to feel
rather helpless. do go. don't want
anybody to come and find you here
She had turned from command to
entreaty.
I'm jolly glad" he resumed, set
Ting himself back in his chair, chat
the business between you and Harry
Tristram is all over. 1t ought never
to have gone so far you know"
Are you out of your mind today,
Bob?"
"And now what about the major.
Miss Janie?"
She flushed red in indignation, per.
haps in guilt, too. How dare you.
You've no business to-"
Il don't know the right way to
say things, l dare say" he admitted,
but win an abominable tranquility
Still | expect YOU know what mean,
all the same
DO you accuse me of having en-.
couraged Major Duplay?'
Il should say you'd been pretty
pleasant to him. But it's not my
business to worry myself about
Duplay."
Il wish you always understood as
well what isn't your business"
And it isn't what you have done,
but what you are going to do that I'm
interested in" He paused several mo.
ments and then went on very slowly:
Il tell you what it is. I'm not very
proud of myself. So if you happen
to be feeling the same, why that's all
right, Miss jamie. The fact is, | let
Harry Tristram put me in a funk, you
know. He was a swell, but he's got
sort of way about him too But I'm
hanged if I'm going to be in funk of
Duplay." He seemed to ask her ap-
prevail of the proposed firmness of
his attitude. 1--we been a bit of an
ass about it all, think" he concluded
with an air of thoughtful inquiry.
The opening was irresistible. jamie
seized it with impetuous careless
ness. yes, you have; you have, in
deed. Only / don't see why you think
it's over, I'm sure"
The whole thing was preposterous;
jamie was bewildered. He had out
ragged all decency in coming at such
a moment and in talking like this. She
stood still in the middle of the room,
looking at him as he sat square1y in
his chair. s.
Since you've said what you want
ed to say I should think you might
CO."
Eyes, | suppose l might. but" He
was puzzled He had said what he
wanted to say, or thought he had;
but it had failed to produce the sit
uation he had anticipated from it.
But, don't you think you might tell
me what you think about it," he asked
in the end.
II think I'm not fit to live" cried
JAMIE. That's what think about it,
Bob" Her voice trembled; she was
afraid she might cry soon if some
thing did not happen to relieve the
strain of this interview. "And you
saw what Harry thought by send
ing me that letter! The very mo-
ment it happened he sent me that
letter.
81 saw what he thought pretty well,
anyhow" said Bob, smiling reflective
ly again.
Bob looked at his watch the action
seemed in the nature of an ultima
tum; his glance from the watch to
jamie heightened the impression.
You've nothing more to say?" he
asked her.
No. agreed with what you said
that you'd been-an ass. / don't
know that you've said anything else"
''All right" He got up and came to
her, holding out his hand. Gcodby
For the present, then"
She took his hand-and she held it.
20, dear4old Bob I'm SO miserable;
hate myself for having done it, and
hate myself worse for being so glad
It's undone. 1t did seem best till did
i. No, suppose really wanted the
itle-and and all that, And now
he very same day let you"
You haven't let me do much,' he
suggested, consolingly.
Yes | have. AT least" She came
little nearer to him. He took hold |
If her other hand. He drew her to |
lin and held her in his arms.
That's all right" he remarked. still
n tones of consolation.
If anybody knew this. You won't |
say a word, will you, Bob? Not for
ever so long? You will pretend it was
sver SO long before-I mean be-
.ween?'
I.It11 ta1l o,,, liz ,o;l |