Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1901-07-04

We'll, you generally do-for your
charities" The laugh was confined
to Nina herself But | know the
| manner you mean
With flash of surprise-really she
had not been thinking about herself
in spite of her little attempts to mys-
tify Miss S.-Mina caught that lady
INDUCING in very intent scrutiny of
her. which gave an obvious point to
her last words and paved the way (as
1t appeared in !momont) for direct
approach to the genuine object of
Miss SIS visit. That this object did
not come to the front till Miss S. was
on her feet to go was quite character
istic.
Il am really glad, my dear" she
observed, hanging her silk bag on her
arm, ito have had this talk with you.
| They do say such things. and now |
shall be able to contradict them on
the best authority"
What do they say?"
We'll, l never repeat things. Still
| think perhaps you've a right to
know. They do say that you're more
interested in Harry Tristram than a
mere neighbor would be, and-well,
really | don't know quite how to put
it,
20, l do" cried Nina, .delightedly,
hitting the mark "That uncle and |
are working together, suppose?"
81 don't listen to such gossip, but it
comes to my ears" Miss S. admitted.
What diplomatists we are!" said
the Imp Il didn't know we were so
clever. But why do l take jamie to
Mingnam?"
THEY'D say that Bob BroaGleys no
real danger, and if it should disgust
Harry Tristram-"
81 am clever! Dear Miss Swinker.
ton l never thought of anything nalf
so good myself. "Tll tell uncle about
it directly"
Miss S. looked at her suspiciously.
The innocence seemed very much ov-
erdone
II knew you'd laugh at it," she OBJ.
served
II should do that even if it was
true" said Nina, thoroughly enjoying
herself Miss S. took ner leave quite
undecided to announce on the best
authority that the idea was true, or
that 1t was quite unfounded. One
thing only was certain, whatever she
oSClNSu W say DIG Sl0uIu say vi UlS,
best authority: if it turned incorrect
in the end, Miss S. would take credit
for an imDenetrable discretion and
an answering loyalty to the friends
who had given her their confidence.
Nina was left very unquiet; Miss S.
chimed in with the major; the neigh
borhood, too. seemed in the same tune.
She could laugh at the ingenuities at
{,,;h ,{Nl 10 l~,, 81,
had given them birth found, as she
perceived more and more clearly, a
warrant in her feelings if not in her
conduct. Was she traitor to her
friend, jamie liver? Was that treach-
cry bringing her back, by a rounda-
bout way, to new alliance with her
uncle? Did it involve treason to Har-
Try himself? For certainly it was hard
to go on helping him toward mar
riage with jamie liver.
But l will, all the same, if he wants
it, she exclaimed, as she paced about
on the terrace, glancing now and then
down at Blent. IF only 1 could keep
out of things!" she murmured. "But
/ never can"
Blentmouth station fly; he had met
\ ZIG dOSIOl I'll IuO lOius anu Iuc uSW :
was that in all probability Lady Iris
tram would not live out the night.
'Then we shall see. He'll assume
of mine And then he'll go to Fair.
ly, almost threateningly upon. her
can't make you, Iver will He paus
| nl 1o,, p,,f oh
fast enough when you find yourself
in the lawyers Office"
Nina refused to be frightened by
the threatened terror of the law.
who's going to take me to law
yer's Officer" she demanded.
"Why, liver will, of course" He
showed contemptuous surprise. 80
you've gone too far to think you car
get out of it now"
She studied him attentively for g
assuring. His clustering manner hid
she believed, a sinking heart
"You can't brighten me, uncle. I've
made up my mind what to do, and
shall do it,"
i She was not afraid of him now. She
was wondering how she had come tt
De Uullleu lutO IelllllS uSI SCClCI q
all, looking back with surprise tt
that scene in the library when, witt
sullen obedience and childish fear
she had obeyed his command tt
I speak Why was it all different now
4 How dared she devote herself to Har
ry Tristram? He had asked nothing
of her. No, but he had imposed some
thing on her. She had volunteered
for his service. 1t was indeed "wo
mans nonsense" when she spoke t.
him as that boy"
Duplay turned away from her, dis
4 heartened and disguised. Things
looked well for the enemy. He was
alone with her unsupported story o
a conversation which Nina would no
repeat, with his empty purse, which
could not supply means of proving
what he said. He ran the risk of los
ing what chance he had of jamie "
ers favor. and he was in sore peri
Of coming off second best in his wrest
ling bout with Harry Tristram. In
deed, the man in possession wa
strong. The perils that had seemed
so threatening We're passing away
Nina was devoted; Neeld would b,
silent Who would there be who coul(