Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1901-08-29

And to satisfy public opinion" add.
ed Edge.
There was pause. Neeld broke in
by saying timidly:
sAnd-er--there is, of course the
the lady. The lady who now holds the
title and estates"
''Of course" agreed Edge with
nod that apologized for forgetful-
ness.
OF course there was! Harry smiled.
He had been wondering how long they
would take to think of the lady who
now held the title and estates. Well.
they had come to her at last-after
for the requirements of the
house of lords and the demands of
public opinion-after satisfying the
girl in the restaurant, in fact.
Yes, of course; there was the lady,
too.
At glance from Edge Neeld rose to
go.
Pray, wait--wait minute or two"
begged Harry. Il want to think for a
minute"
Neeld sat down again. 1t is very
likely they were as surprised at him
as he was childishly vexed at them.
For he exhibited perfect calm. Yet
perhaps Colonel Edge-who had
given so colorless an account of the
comtesse's win appeal to him-was
well suited.
I'm going down to Ivers tomor-
row." said old Neeld. tucking the
extracts from the Journal into his
pocket.
"To Iver's?" After moments ST.
lence Harry fairly laughed. Edge
was surprised, not understanding
what difference the comtesse's ma.
neuver had made there, too. He
could not be expected to know all the
difference it had made to Harrys life,
even to the man himself. Two ire
sponsible ladies-say Addie and
well, Nine. Valfier-may indeed make
a difference.
Eyes, to Fairholme," continued old
Neeld. We've may see you there
now?"
Edge looked up with an interesting
| glance. 1t had occurred to him that he
was turning somebody out as we'll as
somebody in.
You'll have, of course, to communi-,
cate what have said too
30, We'll say Lady Tristram still,'
Harry interrupted.
Edge gave a little bow. 81 shall be
ready to meet her or her advisers at
any time" he remarked. "She will,
hope, recognize that no other course
| was open to me. She must not
think that there is any room for
| doubt"
Harry's brain was at work now; he
saw himself going to Blent, going to
tell Cecily.
Possibly" Mr.. Neeld suggested.
| it would be better to intrust a third
person with the task of giving her
| this news? One of her own sex per-
haps q He seemed to contemplate a
possible fainting fit, and, remember
ing his novels, the necessity of cut
ting stay laces, task better left to
woman.
| you're thinking of Nina? OF Nina
zabriska?" asked Harry. Laughing.
There, again-what a loss! Why had
not Nina heard it at first hand? She
would have known how to treat the
thing.
i "She's always taken a great inter-
est in the matter and-and I under
stands very friendly with Miss
Gainsborough,' said Neeld.
I'VE shall make up our minds
what to call ourselves soon," sighed
Harry.
| There can be no doubt at ALL"
Edge put in: land if I may ven.
| ture to suggest, l should say that
the sooner the necessity is faced the
| better"
Certainly, certainly" Harry assent
| ed absently.
/ "The whole thing makes me look
| rather an ass, think" he added.
/ mo doubt you acted impulsively,"
Edge allowed. 1t was fully equivalent
| to an assent"
i Good heavens, I'd been brought up
to it, He made no pretenses about
/ the matter now. 1T never occurred
to me to think of any mistake. That
certificate" II lay on the table still
was the sword of Damocles." He
laughed as he spoke the hackneyed
old phrase. And Damocles knew the
lsword was there. or there'd have been
no point in it,
The two had rather lost track of his
mood They looked at one another
J. again.
4 you've lot to think of. Well
leave you" said the colonel.
!, "But-but what am l to do?" Old
; Neeld's voice was almost a bleat in
his despair. Gam to tell people at
, Blentmouth?"
1.-THE communication should come
from an authoritative quarter" Edge
advised.
Its bound to be blow to her.
said NeelG. Suddenly lifted up,
suddenly thrown down! Poor
: grill"
Justice is the first thing" declared
Wilmot Edge Now he might have
been on court-martial.
j They knew moth; ng whatever of the
truth OF the true position.
1--WE may rely on-on Lord iris
tram-to treat the matter with every
, delicacy, Edge"
I 'fPm sure of it, Neeld. I'm sure of
it,
: They sat silent then. watching him
, for few moments. He stood leaning
: his arm on the mantlepiece, his
brows knit. but smile lingering on
his lips. He was seeing the scene
again, the scene in which he was to
tell Cecily. He knew what the end of