Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1901-01-03

- X
YOUR WIFE SAID IT WOULD BE
BETTER FOR YOU TO SEND UP
YOUR CARD"
late papers and magazines not far
from cheerful CRATE fire
"Come in, Rowland, and don't scold
me-" she said, throwing her shapely
arms round his neck ~ know you
must have been frightened when you
missed me-"
He found himself all of a tremble,
and his voice refused to come to him
readily. He could only press her to
him convulsively as he moved towards
the sofa and drew her down by his
side. Despite her warmth of greet
ing he was unable to conquer the
fears which had laid such firm hold
on him during his lonely ride.
"Why did you do this, Jeanne?" he
managed to say. presently.
Don't scold me-" she repeated, but
there was certain reserve in her
tone which made him feel that her
words had only perfunctory signif-
canoe. Something seemed to whisper
that he was on the eve of battle, but
the war spirit was dead within him;
he had the feeling of being con-
quered.
"Why did you have me meet you
here?" he demanded.
To prove your love for me. Row
land, she replied, and the smile which
accompanied her. words was the cold
est he had ever seen on her face. and
yet if but for it's remote kinship to
former smiles of hers he adored it.
"Younever doubted my love, Jeanne;i
that is certainty
''Then have had you come that we
may agree on a plan of action" she
said. She nestled nearer to him and
took one of his cold hands and
pressed it.
Il missed the money, too, Jeanne?"
"Oh, did you? Well, may as we'll
confess that this meeting is an after
thought, and do think. if you care
for me, that you ought to appreciate
that"
"You intended, then, to desert me ?"
"Yes, that was the intention forced
on me-"
Forced on your"
Eyes, cannot go on at Lyndhurst
as it is. You knew when l became
your wife that 1 could not remain
stationary-not progress. When T
married you it was clearly understood
that l was to be able to crafty GER
tain desires that 1 frankly confessed
had always had firm hold on me.
Well, your recent speculations have
reduced us to Lyndhurst and trivial
income"
"But it will be secure" he reioined,
desperately.
"Oh, don't doubt its security, Row
land, dear, but it is hardly more than
these two hands and my brain used
to earn. Oh, you can see what mean!
am simply an ambitious woman I
want things. 1 want power, and am
going to get my desires through you,
dear husband, or we must part COM
pany. love you as much as any wom-
an could love man, but my ambition
is at least half of me, and it will drag
me away from you if you don't come
to my assistance"
Jeanne, you know would do any
thing in my power to crafty you. I
know have violated part of our
matrimonial contract, but I could not
help things taking such an unexpect-
ed turn"
She stroked his hand caressingly
and raised it to her warm, red lips.
Listen to me-" she began, laying
her head on his broad shoulder. 81
want to tell you something you do not
know, then / shall propose plan.
You remember that DIR. Fleming, the
famous English expert on heart
troubles, came to see Blanche a month
ago--the day before he returned to
London"
eyes, remember that" said the
major. wonderingly.
"WeN, perhaps it was because he
thought ! looked as if 1 could keep a
secret-and some one ought to know
the truth-that he made an important
disclosure to me. He was deeply con-
cerned after he had examined Blanche
and sent for me to meet him in the Ii
brary. He then told me, and his face
was actually pale, for he seemed to
like her, that she had the most fatal
case Of 'aortic aneurism' he called it
IAN acute disease of the heart-that
he had ever met with in ali his exc
,perience."
my God. you can't be serious!" en-
claimed the major. "Sha looks So