Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1901-07-25

say he can't. In those proceedings
you would be compelled to speak I
must assume you would tell the truth
refuse to suppose you would commit
perjury"
81 should hold my tongue" said
Nina.
"Then you'd be sent to prison for
contempt of court
The bluff worked we'll. Nina knew
nothing at all of what Harry Trlstram
would do or might do or must do or
what the law would or might or
might not do, in the circumstances
supposed. And Iver spoke as though
he knew everything, with mighty
confidence, with an admirable air of
considered candor. She was no match
for him; she grew rather pale, her
lips twitched and her breath came
quick. Tears were no longer to be
treated merely as possible policy:
they threatened to occur of their own
accord.
What wonder that feeling of in
tolerable meanness attacked Mr. Jen-
kinson Neeld? He was on the wrong
side of the table, on the bench instead
of in the deck. He sat there judging;
his proper place was side by side
with the criminal, in charge of the
same policeman, wearing the hand
cuffs, too.
"In my opinion" he said nervously
but not without his usual precision,
er. Nine. Zabriska declines to speak.
I may say that I understand and re-
spect the motive which | believes in
spires her. She regrets her idle
words. She thinks that by repeating
them she would give them greater
Importance. She does not wish to as
sumo responsibility. She leaves the
matter in your hands, liver. 1t is not
her affair: she mad no reason to sup
pose it would be yours"
She's my friend. she's my daugh-
ter's friend. The question is whether
my daughter marries Lord Tristram
of Brent or an imposter (whether vol
untary or Involuntary, without q
name, an acre. or. so far as | know,
a shilling. She can help me- She
stands aside. You think her right,
Neeld?"
Eyes, I do" said the old gentle
man, with the promptness of despera-
ton.
Then you idea of friendship diff
fers Numerically from mine. I de-
sire no such friends as that
1t is to be hoped that the sting of
Iyer's remark was somewhat mitigat-
ed by Mina's covertly telegraphed
gratitude. Yet Neeld was no happier
after his effort than before it. A ST.
lence fell on them all Nina glanced
from her uncles face to Iver's. Both
men were stern and gloomy Her
sense of heroism barely supported
her; things were so very uncomfort-
able. If Harry could know what she
suffered for him, it would be some
thing. But Nina had an idea that
Harry was thinking very little about
her.
At this point-the deadlock demand
ed by the cannons of art having been
reached by the force of circum.
stances and the clash of wills-enter
the Deus ex Machina, in the shape of
pretty parloY maid in black gown
and white apron, with bow of pink
ribbon at the neck; instead of the card.
silver salver, and on it a single let
ter.
The Imp was in no mood for cere.
mony: one glance at the handwriting,
and she tore the envelope open eager
ly. liver was Whispering ito Duplay.
Neeld's eyes We're ON the ceiling. be-
cause he did not know where else
he could direct them with any sense
of safety.
Nina read. gasp of breath from
her brought Neeld's eyes down from
their refuge and stayed Iver and the
majors whispered talk. She gazed
from one to the other of them. She
had flushed red; her face was very
agitated and showed a great stress
of feeling. Duplay, with an exclama-
ton of surprise, put out his hand for
the letter. But Nina kept hers on it,
pinning it inmovably to the table.
For another minute she sat, there,
facing the three; then all composure
failed her; she burst into tears, and,
bowling her head to meet her arms
on the table, covered the letter with
her hair. she sobbed violently.
Il can't help it, | can't help it,"
sobs. "
Her apology did nothing to remove
their extreme discomfort. All three
felt brutal; even the majors face lost
its gloomy fierceneSs and relaxed in
to an embarrassed solicitude Ought
we to call the maid?" he whispered.
Poor child" murmured Neeld. The
sobs dominated these timid utter
ances. Was it they who had brought
her to this state or was it the letter?
Iver stirred uneasily in his chair,
his business manner and uncharitable
shrewdness suddenly seeming out
Of place. Give her time,'' he
said gently. Give her time, poor
girl"
Nina raised her head; tears ran
down her cheeks; she was woe person.
fled.
Times no use" she groaned. Its
all over now.
Neeld caught at the state of affairs
by an intuition to which his previous
helped him
Wont you show us the letter." he
asked gently.
30. yes. And I'll tell you anything
you like to know. 1t doesn't matter
now" She looked at Neeld, she
was loyal to the end. 81 was. the only
person who knew it she said to
Iver.
That was too much. Timid he might