Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1901-02-07
She came to him All once.

Sne came TO MN at once.
"Why did you Gomez" she asked,
look of embarrassment on her face.
81 am so sul% rised. / really Go not
understand how"
He drew her TO the side of the room
away from several persons who were
listening curiously.
81 have no excuse for spying on
you" he said. lamely; none, except
that I was afraid you were in danger,
and l came toto protect YOU"
81 don't understand" she said. "I
really do not"
For moment he was reduced to
saying:
Pardon my foolishness, dear; do
pardon mel"
"Oh, don't think I am finding fault"
she said, quickly. 81 am glad you are
here now, but"
81 may as well tell you that I have
enemies, darling little girl, enemies
who would entrap you-take your life,
anything to take revenge on me.
When first l saw that letter I did not
like its appearance, and when you
would not tell me about it my fears
got the best of me"
at was from Mar, there-the old
er of the two girls" replied Blanche.
II knew her and her mother when"
Blanche flushed a little-''when / used
to visit this quarter when / was in
school. Ever since then she and I have
been friends, and have tried to help
her family. They are SO poor. 1
ought to have told you that was en-
gagged in this sort of work, at least
after we were married; but, knowing
that your other wife was opposed to
such things, I thought you might
think was parading my deeds, SO I
could not tell you about it,"
"0h, darling, you are an angel, and
/ am not worthy to touch the hem of
your garments! God have mercy on
me-you don't really know the man
you have married If you did you
would turn from me as you would
from leper."
Her face shrank sensitively before
the force of his strong sentences.
you are the noblest, most abused
man in the world, and L love you too
dearly to believe anything against
you," she exclaimed, with startled ten
derness. But you'd better leave me
now. am perfectly safe. l have
been here often before. / know al
most every family in the building. l
shall be very busy all day. This death
is awfully hard on these poor girls.
You and I, who have so much to be
thankful for, ought not to stand talk
ing of imaginary troubles in the pres
e,sse of such reality as this"
when shall you come home?" he
asked. l
ION the five o'clock train, think.
Good-by, till then"
That afternoon while making some
purchases in one of the big shops on
Sixth avenue Blanche met Lottie
Dean.
"Oh, you dear thing!' cried the lat.
ter, giving Blanche little impulsive
hug. Il am so glad to see you, but
haven't moment to spare. Papa is in
the carriage at the door, and is as
crusty and impatient as bear. You
have been saying nice things about
me-"
81 always do that, dear, answered
Blanche.
you have been talking to Mr.. Tai
ley about me; he has told me of q
number of nice things that only yor
could have said"
"Have you seen him lately?" Blanche
inquired.
Have I seen him? Well, I like
that" cried Miss Dean, with pretty
affectation of resentment.
"He has been to see you, Lottie?"
''Twice-three times in one week,
announced Miss Dean. "Oh, he is SC
good and charming"
"Ah, l begin to see," answered
Blanche. "He is a good man, Lottie
My GUARDIAN mean my husband
trusts him implicitly. He and mum
Der of other business men are abou
to start bank and they are going
to ask Mr.. Talley to be cashier"
ooh, I am so glad" cried Miss Dean
excitedly. st introduced him to pap;
the other night. / was awfully afraic
papa would not want him to continu,
his visits, but he seemed to like hin
very much. Blanche, I shan't forge
that met him at your house-that is
if-if-"
Don't say if when it is alread,
three times a week." broke in Blanche
| with a lauGh. and the two girl
parted.
HSSTts
CHAPTER XVI.
Major Goddard's most intimat
friend in New York was Father Sur
tees, priest, who lived in a comfort