Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1901-08-22

way of her's-of theirs, 1 suppose it
s. bother them. She's treating every
body and everything as if they don't
exist
She'll go back to Blent suppose?
well, she must. Somebody must
have it."
'If it's going begging, call on me,
said the major, equally He was in a
better humor with the world than he
had been for long while: his con-
nection with Iver promised well. But
Nina shifted scornfuily; she was IN no
mood for idealists.
Cecily had been told about the
scheme and it's lamentable end. Herr
attitude was one of entire unconcern.
What was it to her if Harry were
made viscount, a duke, or the pope?
What was anything to her? She was
going back to her father at Blent. The
only animation she displayed was in
resenting the reminder, and indeed,
denying the fact that she had ever
been other than absolutely happy and
contented at Blent. Nina presented
the point and Cecily then declared
that now, at any rate, her conscience
was at rest. She had tried to do
what was right-at what sacrifice Mi
ma knew. Now perhaps Nina could
sympathize with her. and could under
stand the sort of way in which Cousin
Harry received attempts to help him.
On this point they drew together
again.
You must come back to Merton,
DEAR" urged Cecily.
Nina, who never meant to do any
thing else, embraced her friend af-
fectionately and consented. 1t is al
ways pleasant to do on entreaty what
we might be driven to do unasked.
Goodby had to be said to Lady
Evenswood That lady was very
cheerful about Harry. She was, hard
| ly with any disguise, an admirer of
his conduct, and said that undoubtedly
he had made very favorable impress
sion on Robert. She seemed to make
little of the desperate condition of
affairs as regarded Cecily. She was
thinking of Harry's career, and that
seemed to her very promising. What,
ever he tries think he'll succeed in,
she said. That was not enough for
Nina. He must try Mina's things
those she had set her heart on-be
fore she could be content. Blu,
you've never brought Cecily to see
me-" Lady Evenswood complained
And I'm just going away now
That was it, Nina decided. Lady
Evenswood had not seen Cecily. She
had approached the Tristram puzzle
from one side only, and had perceived
but one aspect of it. She did not I'm
derstand that it was complex and dou
BILE headed. 1t was neither Harry no
Cecily, but Harry and Cecily.
and Flora Disney has quite takel
! him up" Lady Evenswood pursued
{ George tells me he's been to luncl
; there twice. George is a terrible gos
sip"
What does Lady Flora Disney wan
J with him."
: well, my dear, are you going t
turn round and say you don't under
) stand why he interests women?"
; Il don't see why he should interes
Lady Flora" Nina had already mad
up her mind that she hated that sol
: of woman. 1t was bad enough to hav
. captured Nh. Disney: must the inss
:, tiate creature draw into her net Ha
! ry Tristram also?"
9 "And of course he's fattered. An
young man would be-"
e 81 don't think he's improved sine
: he left Blent.'
: Country folks always say tina
about their young men when the
j. come to town." smiled Lady Even:
n wood. He's learning his world, m
!, dear, and he seems very sensible. H
! hasn't inherited poor Adde'S wildnes
t Yes, he has. But it only comes OF
e now and then. When it does"
y ut won't come out with Flora," Lad
:. Evenswood interrupted reassuringly
But another thing was to happe
$ before Nina went back to the vale
Q of the Blent; fearful, delightfl
+! thing. An astonishing missive cam
/ Ia card inviting her to dine with M
I and Lady Flora Disney. She gaspe
! as she read it; had Lady Flora eve
n INDUCED in the same expression {
|, feeling, it would have been when sh
was asked to send it. Gasping still
{ Nina telegraphed for her best froc
u and all the jeweled tokens of affe
S tion which survived to testify
J. Adolph Zabriskas love. 1t was i
! itself an infinitely great occasion
destined always to loom large in men
DRY; but it proved to have a bearin
on the Tristram problem to.
For Harry was there; he sat OH til
, hostess left: on her other side Wa
- handsome Lord Hove, very resplel
', ant in full dress, starred and ribbone
= Several of the men We're like tina
;, there was some function later on, NJ
ma learned from an easy-mannere
. youth who sat by her and SCENE
= bored with the party. Disney came
y late, in his usual indifferently fifth
morning clothes, snatching an hol
from the house, in the strongest co
trast to the fair sumptuousness of h
y. wife. He took vacant chair tW
- places from Nina, and nodded at h,
- in friendly way. They were at
u round table, and there were only
~ dozen there. The easy-mannert
II youth told her all about them, inclu
n ing several things which it is to
- hoped We're not true: he seemed
n view them from an altitude of goo
e humored contempt Nina discovert
n afterward that he was a cousin
Lody Flora's, and occupied positlt
T in Messrs. Coutts bank. He chuc
led once, remarking:
e, "Flora's talking to Tristram all tt
L L l. L. ,1s,.,f. rt,f