Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1901-06-13
the other side of the parapet AS he

etioSu LILO AietS ilSi auiSh SSch
him in, as it were, in complete pic
ture-the thin, yet we'll made body,
the slight stoop in the shoulders, the
high forehead bordered with thick,
dark hair, growing in such a shape
that the brow seemed to rise almost
to a peak, a long nose sensitive
mouth, pointed chin, dark eyes with
downward lips. The young man, she
would have guessed him at % or %
had complete composure of man'
ner. Somehow she felt herself in the
presence of the lord Of the soil, an
absurd enough thing to feel, she told
herself.
Madame Zabriska? Ny mother,
Lady Tristram, has sent me to bid you
welcome in her name-but not to dis
turb you by coming in so soon after
your journey. 1t is our tradition to
welcome guests at the moment of
their arrival.
He spoke rather slowly, in a pleas
ant voice, but with something in his
air that puzzled Nina. 1t seemed
like a sort of watchfulness-not a
slyness (that would have fitted so
badly with the rest of him) but per-
ltpS ouC HllSul say Wal
whether directed against her or him
self it was too soon for her even to
conjecture.
Still rather startled, she forgot to
express her thanks, and said simply:
you're Mr.. Fitzhubert Tristram?"
'Mr. Tristram.' he corrected her,
and she noticed now for the first
time the slow moving smile which
soon became his leading characteris-
tic in her thoughts; it took such a
time to spread, it seemed to feel it's
way; but it was success when it
came. 81 use my fathers name only
as Christian name now. Tristram
is my surname, that also, if may re-
peat myself, is one of our traditions"
what to change your names? The
men-l mean?" she asked, laughing
a little.
For anybody in the direct line to
take the name of Tristram-so that
the Tristrams of Blent should always
be Tristrams, you know, and not Fitz.
huberts. or Leighs, or Merrions-''
"Merrion?"
"My great-great-I forgot how
many greats-grandfathe was a Mer-
rion and"
Built this house?"
20, no-a house where this stands
The old house was burned down in
1895"
"As recently as that?" she ex.
claimed in surprise.
1885," he explained, "and this
house was run up then"
Nina felt that there was here a
touch of pride, with a more complete
mastery of idomatic English she
might have called it "swagger." Moth
ing counted that was less than a cen
fury old, it seemed, and he spoke OF
a house of a hundred years standing
as she might of wooden shanty. De
cidedly he was conscious of his posi-
ion-overconscious.
Pm glad it was run up in time fol
us to take it," she said, thinking she
would try the effect of little chaff
The effect was nothing. Harry
Trimtram took no notice of the re
mark.
81 see," he observed, from you
calling me Fitzhubert, that you've
been looking up our recent history?
20, just what there is in the peer
age" Her look was mtschievou
now, but she restrained herself from
any hint of special knowledge. 'I'l
tell you as much of ours some day.
She broke into laugh, and then
carried away by the beauty of thu
scene, the river and the stately, peace
full old house by it, she stretched GU
her hands toward Blent hall, eXclaim
ing:
But we haven't got anything lik
that in our history"
He turned to look at her and stoot
in silence for minute or two. Thel
he spoke softly:
Eyes, l love it," he said.
She glanced at him. His eyes wer'
tender Turning, he saw her glance
In moment he seemed to veil hi
eyes and to try to excuse the senti
mental tone of his remark by mat
ter-of-fact comment:
But, of course, a man comes tt
| like a place when he's been accustom
ed to think of it as his home for al
his life, past and to come
What would you do if you lost it?
| she asked.
"I've no intention of losing it, h
| Oils WGT0u, laughing, Dll lOOhlllS .dSdl
from her and toward his home. "We'y
had it 600 years. We shan't lose i
now, l think
mo, suppose not" He was hold
ing out his hand. "Goodby, Mr.. Iris
tram? May l come and thank you
mother?"
20. she'll come here. if she's wei
enough"
"I'll save her the journey up tn
hill"
He bowed in courteous acceptanc
of her offer as he shook hands.
you see the footbridge over tn
river there? There's gate at eacI
end, but the gates are never locked
so you can reach us from the roa
that way, if you're walking. If yo
want to drive, you must go quartz
! of a mile higher up. just below tn
pool. Goodby, Nine. Zabrlska.
Nina watched him all the way dow
the hill. He had made an impression
on her-an intellectual impression
not a sentimental one.
II WONDER" she thought, ''if h
knows anthing about Mrs. Fitzhuber
and l wonder If it would make an
difference to him!" Memory carrie
her back in an instant to the momen
when she, Mr. Choldertons imp, hear
| that healltiful woman cry "rhink q