Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1901-08-01

l..
fon as Tristramesque as Nina could
desire, for all that the harbinger of
it was frightened little; Mr.. Gains
borough was frightened more still.
He came UP the hill one evening
about 6, praying Mina's immediate
presence at Blent. Something had
happened he explained, as they
walked down. iCecily had had a let
ter-from somebody in London. No,
not Harry. She must see Nina at
once. That was all he, knew except
that his daughter was perturbed and
excited. His manner protested
against the whole thing with mild
despair.
Quick, quick" cried the Imp, al,
most making him run to keep up with
her impatient strides.
Cecily was in her room-the room
that had been Addie Tristram's.
You've moved in here" was Mina's
first exclamation.
Yes the houshekeeper said must
so did But" She glanced up for
a moment at Adde'S picture and
broke off. Then she held up letter
which she held in her hands. do
you know anything of Lord South.
end?" she asked.
I've heard Mr.. liver and Mr.. Neeld
speak of him, that's ALL
lie writes to say he knew Lady
Trislram and and Harry, and hopes
he'll know me SOON
That's very friendly, Nina thought
but did not add that it was rather
unimportant."
Eyes, but it's more than that Don't
you see? It's an opening" She
looked at her friend, impatient at her
want of comprehension. at makes
it possible to do something. can
begin now"
Begin WHAT" Nina was enjoying
her own bewilderment keenly. Gains,
borough had not come upstairs, and
the two young women We're alone in
the room.
How long did you think l could
stand it? I'm not made of-of-of
soap. You know Harry! You liked
him, didn't you? And you know Lady
Tristram! I've slept in this room
two nights and"
You haven't seen a ghost?"
Ghost! o, don't be silly. I've laid
here awake, looking at that picture.
And it's looked at meat least it
seemed to. What are you doing here?'
That's what it's been saying. What
are you doing here? No, I'm not mad
That's what | was saying myself. But
the picture seemed to say it.
Then | go into the Long gallery!
It's no better there!" Her hands were
flung out despairingly.
"You seemed to have settled down
so WE'LL said Nina.
Settled down! What was there to
do? 0, you know l hadn't! l can't
bear it. Nina. and I won't! Isn't it
hard? ! should have loved it all so
if it had been really mine, if it had
come to me properly. And now-its
worse than nothing." She sat back
lin her chair with her face set in a
desperate unhappiness.
ut is yours; it did come to you
properly Nina protested. Her sym
ipathy tended always toward the per
Isons she was with, her sensitive
mind responding to the immediate ap
peal. She thought more of Cecily
now than Of Harry, who was
somewhere-vaguely somewhere-ir
London
"You say that?" cried Cecily an
grily. ''You, Harry's friend! Yol
| who fought and lied-yes, lied for him
Why did you do all that if you thinl
it's properly mine? How can | face
that picture and say it's mine It's 6
detestabie injustice. All, and I did
did love it So
well, | don't see what you're tc
do. You can't give it back to Mr.
| Tristram. At least, | shouldn't like
to propose that to him, and I'm sure
he wouldn't take it. Why, he couldn't
Cecily"
Cecily rose and walked restlessly tc
the window.
mo, no, no." she said fretfully She
turned abruptly round to Nina LORD
Southend says he'll be glad to make
my aequaintace and have talk"
ASK him down here, then"
ASK him here? I'm not going to
ask people to stay here,"
II think that's rather absurd" Nina
had needed to summon up courage
for this remark.
And he says There, look at his
letter. He says he's seen Harry and
hopes to be able to do something fol-
him. What does he mean by that
She came back toward Nina. 'There
must be something possible if he says
that"
He can't mean anything about
| about Blent. He means"
II must find out what he means. /
must see him. The letter came when
| was just desperate. Father and
sitting down here together day after
day. AS fl. AS if" She paus
ed and struggled for self-control
There! I'm going to be calm ant
reasonable about it," she ended.
Nina had her doubts about that
and would have been sorry not to
have them. The interest that had
threatened to vanish from her life
with Addie Tristram's death and Har.
rvs departure was revived. She sat
looking at the agitated girl in pleas.
ant suspense. Cecily took up South,
ends, letter again and smoothed il
thoughtfully What should you
think Harry must feel about me?''
she asked with the nearer approach
to the calm which she had promised
but it seemed the quiet of despair.
Here Nina had her theory ready
and advanced it with confidence.
Il expect he hates y9l You see he
did what he did in a moment of exI.