Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1906-08-21
CHAPTER XIV.
"a FINE HEROINE TOO.
Friday morning.

Friday morning.
Miss Annesley possessed more than
the ordinary amount of force and pow
er Of will. Though the knowledge Of it
was not patent to her, she was a phil
osopher She always submitted grace
fully to the inevitable She was re-
ligious, too, feeling assured that God
would provide. She did not go about
the house, moaning and weeping; she
simply studied all sides of the calam-
ity, and looked around to see what
could be saved. There were moments
when she was even cheerful There
were no new lines in her face; her
eyes were bright and eager All per-
sons of genuine talent look the world
confidently in the face; they know ex-
actly what they can accomplish. AS
Karloff had advised her, she did not
trouble herself about the future Her
violin would support her and her faith
er. perhaps in comfortable circum-
stances. The knowledge of this gave
her a silent happiness, that kind which
leaves upon the face a serene and beau
tiful calm.
At this moment she stood on the We
randa, her hand shading her eyes. She
was studying the sky. The afternoon
would be clear; the last ride should be
memorable one. The last ride! Tears
blurred her eyes and there was a
smoth ering sensation in her throat
The last ride! After to-day Jane
would have a new, strange mistress.
If only she might go to this possible
mistress and tell her how much she
loved the animal. to obtain from her
the promise that she would be kind
to it always. How mysteriously the
human heart spreads it's tendrils
around the object Of it's love! What
is there in the loving of dog or a
horse that, losing one or the other,
an emptiness is created? Perhaps it
Is because the heart goes out wholly
without distrust to the faithful, to tho
undeceiving, to the dumb but loving
beast, which, for all ats strength, is so
helpless.
She dropped her hand and spoke to
James, who was waiting near by for
her orders.
James, you will have Pierre fill a
saddle-hamper; two plates, two knives
and forks; and so forth. We shall ride
IN the north country this afternoon.
1t will be your last ride Tomorrow
the horses will be sold" How bravely
she said it!
Eyes, Miss Annesley" Whom,
were they going to meet in the north
country? cat what hour shall I bring
the horses around?"
Sat three
She entered the house and directed
her steps to the study. She found her
father arranging the mornings mail.
She drew UP chair beside him, and
ran through her own letters. An in
vitation to lunch with Mrs. Secretary
of-State; she tossed it into the waste
basket. A dinner-dance at the Country
Club, a ball at the Brazilian legation,
tea at the German embassy, a box
party at some coming play, an in
formal dinner at the executive man
sion; one by one they fluttered into
the basket. A bill for winter furs, a
bill from the dressmaker, one from the
milliner, one from the glover, and one
from the florist; these she laid aside,
reckoning their sum-total, and frown-
ing. How could she have been SO ex-
travagant? She CHANGED to look at her
father. He was staring, rather stupid
ly at slip Of paper which he held in
his trembling fingers.
What is it?" she asked, vaguely
troubled
81 do not understand" he said, ex-
tending the paper for her inspection.
Neither did she at first.
"Karloff has not done this" went on
her father, ''for it shows that he has
had 1t discounted at the bank. It is
Cancelled; 1t is paid I did not have
$40 1000 in the bank: did not have
even quarter of that amount to my
credit. There has been some mistake.
Our real estate agent expects to realize
on the home not earlier than Monday
morning In case it was not sold then,
he was to take up the note personally.
This is not his work, or should have
been notified" Then, with a burst of
grief: Betty. my poor Betty! How
can you forgive me? How can I for
give MYSELF"
Father, | am brave. Let us forget.
1t will be better So"
She kissed his hand and drew it
lovingly across her cheek. Then she
rose and moved toward the light She
studied the note carefully. There was
nothing on it save Karlnft's Writiua