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


stroll. She came to the road, crossed
it after a momentary hesitation, and
stood by the gate of the little foot
bridge, which, in days before enmity
arose, Harry Tristram told her was
never locked. Nina advanced to the
middle of the bridge, and leaned on
the parapet, her eyes set on Blent
hall. There. were lights in the lower
windows; one window on the upper
floor was lighted too. There, doubt
less, Lady Tristram lay slowly dying;
somewhere else in the house Harry
was keeping his guard, and perfecting
his defenses. The absolute peace
and rest of the outward view, the
sleepless vigilance and unceasing bat
! tie within, battle that death made
keener and could not lull to rest
this contrast came upon Nina with
| strange painfullness; her eyes filled
with tears as she stood looking.
A man came out into the garden,
and 1T cigar, she knew it was Har-
ry, and did not move. He sauntered
toward the bridge; she held her
| ground: though he should strike her,
she would have speech with him to-
night He was by the bridge, and
had his hand on the gate at the Blent
end of it before he saw her. He stood
still moment, then came to her side
and leant as she was leaning, over
! the parapet. He was barehoaled, she
saw his thick hair and his peaked
| forehead; he smoked steadily; he
showed no surprise at seeing her; and
he did not speak to her for long
time. AT last, still without looking at
her, he begun. She could just make
! out his smile or thought she could,
at any rate she was sure it was there.
well, Nina de Kries," said he. She
started little. 20, don't believe in
the late zabriska. don't believe
you're grown up, l think you're about
15-a beastly age" He put his cigar
back in his mouth.
you see that window" he resumed
in moment. and you know what's
ing there. Well, how's the major?
Has he got that little trick in better
happening behind it?,My mothers dy-
order YETI"
/ She found her tonguewith difficulty.
J Does Lady Tristram know about
about me?" she stammered.
Il sometimes lie to my mother,
; said Harry, Ticking his ash into the
river. why do you lie to your uncle
thought"
me-" 0'0A 'e' i'D NM" NlNn
He shrugged his shoulders YEARLY
) and relapsed into silence. Silence
there was till a minute or two later
it was broken by little sob from
Nina Zabriska. He turned his head
toward her; then he took hold Of hel
arm, and made her face round to him
The tears were running down hel
cheeks.
I'm so, so sorry" she murmured
81 didn't mean to, and l did it! AND
now-now | can't stop it. You needn'
. believe me if you don't like, but I'm
.. I'm miserable, and-and frightened
. He flung his cigar in the water ant
!, put his hands in his pockets. So HI
!. stood watching her, his body swayinl
: a little to and fro; his eyes were sus
picious of her, yet they seemed
amused also, and they were not cruel
;. it was not such look as he had givel
!, her when they parted by the pool.
!, IF it were true?" she asked.
:. mean, couldn't Lady Tristram some
y how"
r IF what were tue? o, the nor
W sense you told Duplay?' He laughed
IF it was true. Ishould be a nobod
T md nobody's son. suppose tina
i. would amuse you very much wouldn
r it? You wouldn't have to come t
It Merton for nothing then But
isn't true, what's the use of talking
# He won no belief from her whe
!. he said that it was not true. She dre'
n her cloak around her and shiveret
ell Cold" he asked.
mo. Wretched, wretched."
E. Would you like to see my mott
l. err"
p You wouldn't let her see me?"
n 'She's asleep, and the nurse is {
supper-not tlat she'd matter. Com
k along"
st He turned and began to walk quicl
ly toward the house; Nina followe
him as though in a dream. They e,
0. tered large hail. 1t was dark say
for one candle, and she could Sc
k. nothing of it's furniture. He led ht
straight up broad oak staircase thi
d, rose from the middle of it, and the
e along a corridor. The polished GA
,; cleaned here and there as they pas
lie ed a candle in brackets on the wa
as and was slippery under her unaccu
toned feet. The whole house W,
ID very still-still, cool, and very peac
Dr. full
~ Cautiously he opened a door al
at beckoned ner to follow him, Ligh
to were burning in the room. Lao
is Tristram lay sleeping; her hair, st
ly fair and golden, spread over the p
OF low; her face was calm and unlinet
d. she seemed a young, beautiful 81
#, wasted by fever. But the fever w
n. the fever of life as well as of diseas
x Thus Nina saw again the lady she h;
at seen at Heidelberg.
ii, "She won't wake; she had h
SIS sleeping draught," he said, and Mil
ce took it to mean that she might ling
~ a moment more. Over the fireplat
as facing the bed, was fulllength pt
d. trait of girl. She was dressed ;
"a. in red; the glory of her white nee
to her brilliant hair and blue eyes 70
#. out of the scarlet setting. This W
m. Addie Tristram in her prime, as S
to was when she fled with Randol
ID Edge, as she was when she cried
at the little room at Heidelberg. "Thi
he of the difference it makes, the en'
he nous difference!"