Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-08-19

with your firm?"
Connected with the firm! Guy
shivered and pressed one hand to his
throbbing temples.
There is no such person connect
ed with our firm, madame" returned
Mr.. Jarvis. 1--WE have an assistant
bookkeeper in our employ whose
name is Herbert"
Miss Betty there! Guy would have
given worlds to effect an escape. He
could not even get his coat for that
was in the closet beyond the private
office.
Il would like to see him moment,
please" said Miss Betty, after a
pause.
HERBERT" called Jarvis in the
arrogant tone that is part and par
eel of the money-lender. "This way,
Herbert!"
Guy was wearing clothes which he
had discarded in his better days. He
was in his shirt-sleeves and had alb
sently picked up the pen with his
ink-stained fingers and placed it be-
hind his ear. In passing the office
mirror he halted for peep at his
tumbled hair and careless appear
ance.
Herbert, I say!" came from Jar
Wis, impatiently.
The next moment Guy was in the
senior partners private room.
what is it, Mr.. ;Jarvis?" he asked.
-
answer.
The young man turned to Miss
Betty. Patrician she was from the
toe of her daintily shod foot to the
feather that crowned her hat.
She gave start and an amazed
look overspread her face. Guy
bowed What did those blue ewes
hold besides surprise? Pity? He
would have none of that. In an in
slant he became ridiculously
naughty.
"At last" murmured Miss Betty
Fastening toward him. cat last the
lost is found!" She extended a
gloved hand which he accepted in a
perfunctory way. ''Why did you fold
your tent and steal away in such
nomadic fashion, Mr.. Herbert?" she
asked.
81 did not know that any one
would care" he said, la1nely.
you did not care anyway, that is
certain. am very persistent per-
son, however, as you must know by
this time. / found that Mr.. Petit
bone had heard from you and I have
come to see you on very important
business. I am staying with my
friend, Mr.. James Mortimer Will
you come to see me there, this even
ing"
81 shall be most happy"
She gave him quick, penetrating
glance and then turned hastily with
a little bow and left the office.
"Who is that lady, Herbert?" in
quired Jarvis.
"Miss Elizabeth Vlandingham," re-
piled Guy.
What! Wilbur vlandingham's
daughter?"
Eyes, sir"
ga fine girl and she will come into
a property one of these days that
will foot up six figures"
These words echoed and reechoed
through Guys brain for the remain
der of the afternoon. He felt
Inundated. In the midst of his
brave thoughts, the son of Mr.. Mont
fort Herbert had been discovered as
he was-abject, fortuneless, waiter
upon the grace of the arrogant Jar
Wis. What could any fine girl with
fortune that footed up six figures do
but pity him? Perhaps ask him to
Mr.. Mortimer's to offer few hun
dred as salve for his poverty?
Guys cheeks were in fame.
When he had prepared, himself that
evening for his call at the Mortimer
home-one of the finest homes in
Jamestown-he had no cause to be
ashamed of his appearance. The son
of Montfort Herbert, even in his
palmiest days, had never looked bet
ter.
Once in the drawing-room and
Miss Betty came to him quickly. She
was clad in a dress of some light.
diaphanous material and her Titan
hair was golden glory under the
soft light. He wanted to get down
on his knees and ask her not to pity
him, not to offer him money, not to
tender any mistaken kindness which,
at her hands, could only abase him
in his own estimation. She seated
herself close to him, so close that he
could look into her blue eyes and
note the faintest lights and shadows
that played there. A woman's eyes
do all the mischief here below. They
invite or they flash disdain, reveal
nothing of the heart or everything,
are angelically kind or cruelty indif
ferent. A little idle chat and then
MISS Betty inquired:
You came to Jamestown directly
after leaving Concord in such a pre-
cipitate manner, did you, Mr.. Her
hertz"
Directly" he answered.
And united your fortunes with
those of the Jarvis Loan g. Invest.
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