Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1901-09-05

except me. l didn't use to- but now
know what strong character he
has
Unwontedly cynical thoughts rose in
old Mr.. Neeld. Had he come down to
Fairholme to listen to the platitudes
of virtuous love?
And it's such comfort to have a
man one can lean upon jamie pur-
sued, looking. however, admirably ca
pablo of standing without extraneous
support.
There it was again! She'd be call
ing him her master next-as the
| heroine does in the third act, to I'M
| failing applause. What was all this
to ears that listened for whisper of
Harry Tristram?
THE most delightful thing is"
jamie pursued, that our marriage is
to make no change at all in his way
of life. We're going to live at Ming
ham Just as he has lived all his life
a real country life on a farm" There
was no hint that other ideals of exist
ence had ever possessed an alluring
| charm the high life with Harry, the
broad and cosmopolitan life with the
major--where were they 1--WE insist
ed on it, the one thing I've had my
own way in"
Bob was being transmogrifed into
a man of iron. if not of blood
Vainly Mr.. Neeld consulted his mem
cries.
And Mingham's so bound up with
it all | used to go in there with Nina
zabriska." She smiled in retrospect:
| it would have been pardonable if
Neeld had smiled, too. Il haven't seen
her for ever so long" jamie added
but she'll be at Blent tonight" All
if he might give just the barest hint to
Nina now.
Bob isn't particularly fond of her
you see. so we don't meet much
now. He thinks she's rather spite
full"
Not at all" said Neeld, almost
sharply She's very intelligent
woman"
ooh, yes, intelligent" She said no
more. If people did not agree with
Bob-well. there it was.
| The evening came-Neeld had been
impatient for it-and they drove
over to Blent where Bob was to meet
them.
Its fine place for girl to have"
said liver, stirred to a sudden sense of
the beauty of the old house as it came
into view.
They were all silent for moment.
Such place to have, such place to
lose. Neeld heard Mrs. liver sigh
ing in her good-natured motherly
fashion. But still Harry was not men
toned
| And if they had a business man
with his head on his shoulders-to
manage the estate, it'd be worth half
as much again. This time it was
i liver who sighed; the idea of anything
not having all the money made out of
it that could be made offended his in.
stincts.
She'll have husband, DEAR" his
wife reminded him.
Il wonder if Bob'll get there before
We do" said jamie, with the air of
starting subject of real interest in
lieu of continuing idle talk
The evening was hot, and the hall
door of Blent stood open. Cecily was
sitting in the hall, and came out to
greet them. She seemed to Neeld to
complete the picture as she stood there
in her young fairness, graciously vel
coming her guests. She was pale, but
wore gay air, and did the honors with
natural dignity. No sign of strange.
ness to the place, and no embarrass.
ment were visible.
20, my dear. how you remind me
Of Lady Tristram." good Mrs. Ivel
broke out.
Neeld pressed the girls hand with
a grip that she noticed: she looked at
him in a sort of question, and for a
moment flushed little
Its very kind of you to come" she
said to him. softly.
How are you Mr. Neeld?" The
Imp had suddenly darted out from
somewhere and was offering her hand
I'm staying here you know And in
ia whisper she added THAT young
man of JAMES has been here quar-
ter of an hour. and Cecily wasn't
dressed, and I've had to talk to him.
o, dear" She had her hand on his
arm and drew him apart. ANY
news of Harry Thristram?" she wills.
pered
.'Er-no--none."
Her quick eye looked at him in sus-
picion; he had hesitated little.
You've seen him." she asked.
Just casually, Mms Zabriska."
She turned away with peevish Ii,
tie pout. "1'hen you're not very in
teresting, she seemed to say. But
Neeld forgave her; she had asked
him about Harry. He could forgive
more easily because he had deluded
4 her.
Addie Tristram's picture was at one
end of the dir .lg room now, and Ce-
cily's place Y as under it.
| My first dinner party, Although
it's small one" she said to liver as
she sat down.
THE first at Blent!"
The first anywhere-actually
she laughed. and then grew thought
ful for moment, glancing out into
the dark and listening to the flap of
a bats wings against the window.
You'll have plenty now" said he,
as he watched her admiringly. He
forgot, man that he was, that girls do
not find permanent happiness in din
ner parties.
1t was evident that Neeld ought
never to have come to Blent that ey-
ening For the talk was of futures,
and, out of Difference to the young
| hostess, even more of hers than of