Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1901-08-01
Her successor, My Cousin cecily's

Lady Evenswood was more struck
by the way he spoke than by the
meaning of what he said. She wanted
to say "Bravo!" and to pat him on
the back; he had avoided SO entirely
any hesitation or affection in naming
his cousin, Addie Tristrams success
er. who had superseded him.
She talks and moves and sits and
looks at you in the same way l was
amazed to see it." He said not word
of this to anybody since he left Bleht.
Lady Evenswood studying him : very
curiously, began to make conjectures
about the history of the affair, also
what lay behind her visitors COM
posed face: there was a hint of
things suppressed in his voice. But
he had the bride on himself again in
moment. Very curious these like
nesses are" he ended with shrug
| She decided that he was remarka-
Bile for boy of his age, bred in the
country. astonishing. She had heard
her father describe Pitt at 81 and By
ron at IS. Without making absurd
| comparisons, there was, all the same,
something OF that precocity of man.
hood here, something also of the ar
rogance that the great men had ex-
hibited. She was very glad that she
had sent for him. ~
Il don't want to be impertinent. .
she said. She had not meant to
make even this much apology, but
perhaps an old woman may tell you
that she is very sorry for-for this
turn in your fortune, Mr.. Tristram." ,
You're very kind. 1t was all my
own doing, you know. Nobody could
have touched me-
But that would have meant" she
exclaimed, startled into candor.
20, yes, l know. Still-but since
things have turned out differently l
needn't trouble you with that
She saw the truth, seeming to learn
1t from the set of his jaw. She en-
Joyed man who was not afraid to
defy things, and she had been heard
to lament that everybody had con-
science a-days-nay, insisted on
bringing it even into politics. Imme-
diately she conceived the idea of in
wiling him to dinner to meet Mr.. Dis
ney; but of course that must wait for
little while.
Everything must seem rather
Eyes, very" he answered thought
fully. Pm beginning to think that
some day | shall look back on my boy
hood with downright incrednlity. 1
shan't seem to have been that boy in
the least"
What are you going to do in the
meantime to procure that feeling?
She was getting to the point she
wished to arrive at, but very cautious
lily.
81 don't know yet. It's hard to
choose.
"You certainly won't want for
friends"
Eyes, that's pleasant, of course
20, and serviceable, too" she cor
rected him. with a nod of wise expe-
rience. Jobs are frowned at now,
but many great men have started by
means of them. Robert Disney him
self came in for pocket borough"
| We'll, | really don't know" he re-
peated thoughtfully but with no sign
of anxiety or fretting There's lots
of time, Lady Evenswood!"
| mot for me-" she said with all her
graciousness.
He smiled again, this time cordial.
ly, as he arose to take his leave But
| she detained him.
You're on friendly terms with your
cousin, | suppose?"
Certainly, if we meet. OF course
| haven't seen her since | left Blent
She's there you know
| Have you written to herr"
No! l think its best not to ask
her to think of me just now"
She looked at him for moment
seeming to consider.
Perhaps" she said at last. But
don't overdo that. Don't be cruel.'
"Cruel?" There was strong sur.
prise in his voice and on his face.
| yes, cruel! Have you ever trou-
bled to think what she may be feel
ing?"
81 don't know that l ever have
Harry admitted slowly. AT first
sight it looks as though l might be the
person who might be supposed to be
feeling"
AT first sight, yes. Is that always
to be enough for you, Mr.. Tristram
If so. | shan't regret SO much that l
haven't-lots of time"
He stood silent before her for sew
efdl SECONDS.
Yes, | see. Perhaps. | daresay |
can find out something about it. At
ter all, I've given some evidence of
consideration for her."
THAT makes it worse, if you give
none now. Goodby."
Its less than fortnight since |
first met her She won't miss me much
Lady Evenswood.'
Times everything, isn't it? @,
you're not stupid. Think it over. Mr..
Tristram. And don't conclude | shant
think about you because it's only an
hour since we met. We women are
curious. When you've nothing better
to do it will pay you to study u.s.
AS Harry walked down from her
house in Green street his thoughts
were divided between the new life and
that old one which she had raised
again before his eyes by her refer
ence to Cecily The balance was
turned in favor of Blent by the sight
of a man who was associated in his
mind with it-Sloyd, the house agent
who had let Merton lodge to Nina
Zabriska. Sloyd was as smart as us
ual, but he was walking along in a
detected way, and his hat was unfash-