Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1901-06-27

which would pay me best"
"That certainly is a very import
ant question" remarked jamie, with
wealth of sarcasm.
We'll, it gives me lot of trouble,
Miss JAMIE"
Does it? And it doesn't interest
me in the very Yes, it does, Bob,
very much. I'm sorry. OF course, it
does. Only"
Anything the matter with your"
Bob inquired with friendly solicit
tude.
"No-not just now There never
is, somehow, when Pm with you. And
let's talk about the black horse-it'l
be soothing. Is the price of oats a
factor?"
/ Bob laughed a little, but did not
/ proceed with the discussion. They
sauntered on in silence for a few
minutes, Bob taking out his tobacco.
Worried, aren't you?" he asked,
lighting his pipe.
yes" she answered, shortly.
! "Was that what you wanted to say
to me?"
mo, of course not. AS If should
talk to you about it,"
! Don't suppose you would, no. Still,
I were friends, aren't We!
do you feel friendly to me?"
Friendly. Well" he laughed
What do you think about it your
self" he asked Look here, don't
bother you; but I'm here when you
want me-
when want you?"
II mean, if l can do anything for
you, or-or advise you. don't think
I'm a fool, you know"
I'm really glad to hear you've got
as far as that" she remarked rather
tartly. "Your fault, Bob, is not think
ing nearly enough of yourself"
you'll soon change that if you say
much more" His pleasure in her
implied praise was obvious, but he
did not read single word more into
her speech than the words she ut
tered
"And you are friendly to me-
still?"
1 st doesn't make any difference to
me whether I see you or not"
WHAT" she cried. The next mo.
ment she was laughing. Thanks
. Bob, but-but you've funny way OF
putting things sometimes" She laid
her hand on his arm for moment
signing Dear old Bob"
20, you know what l mean," he
said, putting away. His healthy skin
) had flushed trife. but that was his
!, only reply to her little caress.
Tiff came to you some day ant
;, said I'd been fool, or been made 6
) fool of, and was very unhappy, ant
and wanted comforting, would yol
still be nice to me?"
His answer came after puff and {
pause.
. We'll, if you ever get like that
9 should recommend you just to try m.
p for what I'm WORTH" he said. He
. eyes We're fixed on his face, but he diC
(. not look at her Some men woul'
9 have seen in her appeal an opportun
v ity of trying to win from her NOR
a than she was giving. The case di
not present itself in that light to Bo
G Broadley. He did not press his ow
:. advantage, he hardly believed it; an
h he had, besides, a vague idea that h
: would spoil for her the feeling sh
=. had if he greeted it with too niue
"a enthusiasm. What she wanted was
# friend-a solid, possibly rather stoli,
v friend; with what commodity he wa
q prepared to provide her. The hun
u blest Of men have moments of pride
.. it must be confessed that 30
n thought he was behaving not onl
8 with proper feeling, but also wit
: considerable tact-a fact that wa
10 based on knowledge of women.
IN Interviews such as these-and the
n were not infrequent-formed a rattle
A. homogeneous background, but also a
70 undeniable relief to the life Jam
is was leading at Fairholme. TIL;
III seemed to have little concern wit
Il. Bob Broadley and to be engrossed
II the struggle between Harry and D
"a play. Both men passed on. Harl
re- had not been scared away. Dupla
would win without using his seer
i, weapon, If he could. Each had h
81 manner, Harry's constrained, yet {
~ rect, the majors more florid, mo-
40 expressed in glances, compliment
- and attentions. But neither had y
~ risked the decisive word. jamie W;
~ playing for delay. The major SCENE
a inclined to grant it her. But Harl
tts grew impatient, was imperious in h
NC calls on her time, and might face h
~, with the demand for an answer al
=, day. She could not explain how
-. was, but somehow his conduct seel
cQ w 10 COuulllOleu NY LIE pTO6Te
of Lady Tristram's Illness.
~ About Harry Tristram, anyhow s.
- was right. He was using to its f,
To- value his rivals chivalrous desire
-. make no movement during La
he Tristram's lifetime: he reckoned
ne it and meant to profit by it. A To-
~ of brutality would be given to any 6
ton OF his while Lady Tristram i
r. dying; Harry hoped this aspect
- - his conduct would brighten him.
~ least, it was worth risking. The d.
~ tors talked of two months more; Hi
~ ry Tristram meant to be engaged |
~ fore one of them was out. Could
:, be married before the second ran
" course? Mrs. liver would have sec
ed at the idea, and jamie shrunk frc
ro it. But dying mothers appe
W would count with almost irresistil
- strength in such case, and Hal
90 was sure of being furnished with Il
eh aid.
e He came to Fairholme a day
he two after jamie had talked with B
~ Broadley. She was on the lawn, w
her Nina Zabriska and a small, ne