Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-07-14
CHAPTER V.
sEsrIMENTA1. ExcHANer


M tossed and thought. Her face was
everywhere. Her voice filled his
ear with music never easing, but it
was not the lulling music that invites
drowsiness. He heard the clock strike
the hours from | to 8. when he arose,
thoroughly Disguised with himself. He
worshiped his mother. but in several
instances that morning he caught him
self just In time to prevent the utter
ance of some sharp rejoinder to her
pleasant, motherly queries. Twice she
was compelled to repeat questions, his
mind being SO far away that he heard
nothing save words that another wom-
an had uttered. say, twenty-fcur hours
before. His eyes were red, and there
was. heavy droop to the lids. His
tones were drawing and his voice
strangely without warmth. Els face
was white and tired
you are not well, Grenfall," his
mother said, peering anxiously into his
eyes. "rhe trip has done you up. Now,
you must take a good. long rest and re-
cover from your vacation
He smiled grimly.
"a man never needs rest so much
as he does at the end of his vacation.
ell, mother? Well, work will be rest
full. shall go to the office this morn.
ing and do three days work before
night. That will prove to you that /
am perfectly WELL"
True to his intention, he went to the
office early, yirtuously inclined to work.
His uncle greeted him warmly and
long conference over business affairs
followed. To Lorry's annoyance and
discontinue he found himself frequent
ly inattentive. Several important cases
We're pending, and in day or two they
were to go into court with damage
suit of more than ordinary conse-
quence. Lorry senior could not re-
press his qualification over the return
Of his clever, active nephew at such an
opportune time. He had felt himself
unable to handle the case alone. The en-
durance of young and vigorous mind
was required for the coming battle in
chancery.
They lunched together. the elder ca
ger and confidential, the other respect
full nd-absentminded. In the after
noon the junior went over the case and
renewed search for authorities and
opinions, fully determined to be con-
slant in spite of his inclination to be
tickle. Late in the day he petulantly
threw aside the books, CURLY Informed
his astonished uncle that he was not
feeling well, and left the office. Until
dinner time he played billiards afro
ciously at his club; at dinner his moth
er sharply reproved him for fragrant
inattentions; after dinner he smoked
and wondered despondently. Tomor-
row she was to sail! If he could but
see her once more!
At 1870 his mother found him in the
library searching diligently through
the volume OF the encyclopedia that
contained the G's. When she asked
what he was looking for, he laughed
idiotically and in confusion informed
her that he was trying to find the name
Of the most Important city in Indiana.
She was giancing at the books in the
case when she was startled by hearing
him utter an exclamation and then
leap to his feet.
s'Half past 7! l can make it,"
"What is the matter, Gren, dear?"
"Oh!' he CALCULATED, bringing himself
up with a start II forgot-er-yes,
mother, I'll just have time to catch the
train, you know. Will you kindly have
Mary clean up this muss Of books and
SO forth? I'm off, you see, to New
York--for day only, mother-back
tomorrow! Important business-just
remembered it, you know-ahem! Good
by, mother! Goodbye" He had kissed
her and was in the hall before she fair
ly understood what he was talking
about. Then she ran after him, gain
ing the hallway in time to see him pass
through the street door, his hat on the
side Of his head, his oyercoat fiuttering
fugiously as he showed his arms into
the sleeves. The door slammed, and
he was off to Nav YORK; !.