Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1901-09-12
CHAPTER XVIII.
The Cat and the ReU

might have endured the note that had
been left for hint said only that
his daughter had gone to town for a
couple of days with Nina Zabriska;
besides he had had notes left for him
before. But there was Mason's ac-
count of the evening and of the morn
ing-of Harry's arrival, of the confer
ence in the long gallery, of the sand
wiches and the old brown. of the de-
parture of the ladies at o'clock Ma
son was convinced that something
was up: knowing Mr.. Harry as he
did and her late ladyship as he had,
he really would not like to hazard an
opinion what. Mr.. Gainsborough,
however, could see for himself that
candles had been left to burn them
selves out. and that china had been
broken in the long gallery. There
lay his bit of Chelsea on the floor-up-
set, smashed, not picked up! There
must have been a convulsion indeed,
he declared, as ruefully and tenderly
he gathered the fragments.
Quite off his balance, and forgetful
Of perils, he ordered the pony chaise
and had himself driven into Blen-
mouth. He felt that he must tell
somebody and borrow some conclus-
ions. He was not equal to making
any of his own. He must carry the
news.
He deceived himself, and did gross
injustice to the neighborhood. Fill
lingford is but ~ miles from Blent-
mouth, and there are three hours be-
tween s and II. He was making for
Fairholme. While yet half a mile off
he overlook Miss Swinkerton, heading
in the same direction, ostentatiously
laden with savings bank books. With
much decision she requested lift,
got in and told him all about how
Harry had escorted Cecily and Nina
Zabriska from Fillingford that morn
ing. The milkman had told the butch
er, the butcher had told the postman
the postman had told her, and WELL
she mentioned it to Mrs. Trumbler
Mrs. Trumbler was at Fairholme now
"Mr. Tristram had been staying
with you, of course? How nice to
think there was, no feeling of sore
ness" observed Miss S.
In Gainsborough, at least, there was
no feeling save of <bewilderment.
Staying with us? No, haven't
so much as seen him. he stammered
out.
Immediately Miss S. was upon him,
and had, by the time they reached
Fairholme left him with no more than
few rags of untold details. Then,
with unrivalled effrontery, she de-
clared that she had forgotten to call
at the grocers, and marched off In
an hour the new and complete version
of the affair was all over town.
and Nina Zabriska, my dear"
Gossip ragged, and old Mr. Neeld sat
in the middle of the confiagration.
How his record of evasion, nay, of
downright falsehood mounted up!
ed from his lips. There was pathos
in the valor with which he main
tanned his position. He was hard
pressed, but he did not fail. There
was joy, too in the fight. For he
alone of all Blentmouth knew the
great secret, and guessed that what
was happening had to do with the Sc
cret. Harry had asked silence for a
week; before two days of it were
gone came this news
IF they do mean to be married.
said jamie, why couldn't they do it
decently?" She meant with the re-
spectacle deliberation of her own al
lance.
"Tristram's queer fellow" pom.
dered Bob Broadley.
81 only hope he isn't rushing her
into ton purpose. What do you
think, MI. Neeld?"
My dear JAMIE
He may not want to give her time
to think. It's not good match for
her, now is it?"
Il can't think Harry Tristram
would"
well, Neeld," said liver, judicially.
I'm not so sure. Master Harry can
play deep game when he likes. |
know that very well-and to my cost,
too"
What jamie limited and liver did not
discard was view which found some
supporters; and where it was enter
tanned poor Nina Zabliska's charac,
ter was gone. Miss s. herself was all
Tbut caught by the idea and went so
far as to say that she never thought
highly of Nine. Zabriska, while the
major was known to be impecunious.
There was a righteousness about the
-'~'' ''oe7-h9eioL eiiul picSGu WHY at
tractive in Blentmouth.
Late in the day came fresh tidings,
now fuel for the flames MI. Gains
borough had driven again into Blent-
mouth and taken the train for Lon
don. Two portmanteaus and a wick
Ter crate, plausibly conjectured to
contain between them all his worldly
possessions, had accompanied him on
his journey. He was leaving Blent
then, If not forever, at least for long
while. He had evaded notice in his
usual fashion, and nearly driven over
Miss S. when she tried to get in the
way. Miss S. was partly consoled by
a bit of luck that followed She met
Minas cook, come down from Merri-
on to buy household stores; her mis-
tress was to return to her own house
on the morrow. There seemed no need
to search for inferences They leapt
to light. Either Blent was to be shut
up, or it was to receive a welded pair.
On this alternative the factions SILT,
and the battle was furious
The next morning Mr.. Neeld gained
the reward OF virtue, and became a
hero in spite of his discretion AT
lnsNs Il F,.f.f Il