Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-03-19

waiting for her to invite him in. She
looked up and greeted him cordially,
yet 1t was hardly the kind of reception
he looked for or that he considered
he had right to expect He advan.
ced sulkily into the room.
Mother said she mad put every
thing right" he began. II guess she
was mistaken.
"Your mother does not understand
neither do you," she replied seriously.
Nothing can be put right until my
father Is restored to honour and POSI-
ton"
But why should you punish me be-
cause my father fails to regard the
matter as we do?" demanded Jefferson
. rebelliously
why should we punish those nearest
and dearest?" answered Shirley gent
ly "the victims of human injustice al
ways suffer where their loved ones
are tortured Why are things as they
are don't know know they are
that's ALL"
The young man strobe nervously up
and down the room while she gazed
/ listlessly out Of the window, looking
for the cab that was to carry her away
from this house Of disappointment. He
pleaded with her:
II have tried honourably and failed
Isn't the sting Of impotent failure
enough to meet without striving
against hopeless love? He approach
ca her and said softly: II love you
Shirley-don't drive me to despera.
ton. Must be punished because you
have failed? It's unfair. The sins of
the fathers should not be visited upon
; the children"
!; "But they are-it's the law" said
Shirley with resignation.
1.-THE law" he echoed.
Eyes, the law" insisted the girl;
, mans law, not Gods the same un
just law that Furnishes my father
mans law which is put into the hands
OF the powerful of the earth to strike
: at the weak"
She sank into chair and, covering
3 up her face, wept bitterly Between
: her sobs she cried brokenly:
II believed In the power Of love t
r soften your fathers heart, believed
: that with Gods help could bring hin
e to see the truth. I believed tina
Q Truth and Love would make him SCI
e the light, but it hasn't. l stayed u
Q and on, hoping against hope until tht
s time has gone by and it's too late IL
: save MIN, too late! What can IL
h now? My going to Washington is {
l. forlorn hope, last, miserable, for
Z. lorn hope and in this hour, the dark
s est of all, you ask me to think of my
r self-my love, your love, your happ!
e ness, your future, my future! Alb
l. wouldn't it be sublime selfishness 2"
r Jefferson kneeled down beside tn
# chair and taking her hand in his, trie,
= to reason with her and comfort ner:
S Listen, Shirley" he said, "do no
r do something you will surely regret
a You are Furnishing me not only be
q cause / have failed but because yo
e have failed too. 1t seems to me tina
n if you believe 1t possible to accou
e plish SO much, If you had so niue,
it faith-that you have lost your fait
" rather quickly. I believed in nothing
r. | had no faith and yet have not los
IS hope"
II She shook her head and gently with
d drew her hand.
e. ut is useless to insist, Jefferson
s until my father is cleared Of this stat
our lives your and mine must Ii
:, apart
:. Some one coughed and, startled, the
r both looked up. Mr.. Ryder had ente
" ed the room unobserved and stoo
n watching them. Shirley immediatel
q rose to her feet indignant resentin
N this intrusion on her privacy after sh
!" had declined to receive the financie
b. Yet, she reflected quickly. how coul
le she prevent it? He was at home. FIRE
e to come and go as he pleased, but sh
le was not compelled to remain in th
t. same room with him. She picked u
the few things that lay about and wit
contemptuous toss of her head, r
- treated into the inner apartment, lea
ing father and son alone together.
- Hum" grunted Ryder, Sr.
- - rather thought should find you her
but I didn't quite expect to find yo
s. on your knees dragging our pride
" the mud"
Il That's where our pride ought
lie be- retorted Jefferson savagely. H
e. felt in the humor to say somethin
ly no matter what the consequences.
he $50 she has refused you again, Ell
r. said Ryder, Sr. with a grin.
re yes" rejoined Jefferson with groN