Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-08-31

81 simply had to come to you, dear,
before you had chance to go OUT.
rye been so distressed about the con-
versation Of last night. I've told
George that he shouldn't hurl things
at you like that
what things?" Paula demanded,
holding herself erect, and flushing.
about your father, dear You
might easily misunderstand-"
shall never misunderstood to- the
extent of thinking he had done
wrong" the girl said, hauntily.
sNo, of course not But know
exactly how you feel, because I've
had times of feeling that way myself
"You mean" Paula began, and
stopped abruptly. Her eyes clouded
and the tiny furrow marked itself be
tween her brows as she gazed
straight before her, trying to shape
her thoughts.
Mrs. Trafford leaned back In her
chair and waited. She was a pretty
woman. with the cold, clear-cut daint
mess of statuette in biscuit de
Sewers When George Trafford mar
ried her it was a surprise to every
one but herself. A Western girl, the
/ daughter of doctor in small coun-
try town, she had the Western ability
20 meet poverty just as, when it
Ycame she had the Western readiness
7 to accept wealth. She had not look
ed for wealth-certainly not such
wealth as George Trafford' s-but she
knew her capacity to fill any position
and she entered upon her new career
with plenty of selfconfidence.
The marriage was something of a
public event, especially in the West.
Even in New York there was some
curiosity over the advent of penni-
less country girl suddenly lifted to
such a giddy height Of fortune.
Laura knew that people expected her
head to be turned. They looked at
least to BIO amused by that wild
splashing in money supposed to be
characteristic of those who have been
hurriedly made rich, especially when
, their antecedents have lain beyond
the Mississippi. But they had reckon
ed without the personal knowledge Of
one who knew thoroughly her own
mind In coming to New York Laura
felt herself raised UP for the purpose
of illustrating the correct and con-
scientious use Of wealth.
By this time the social position q
4 the Traffords in New York had been
secured. After living in Cleveland,
st. Louis, Washington, and elsewhere
according to the needs of Mr.. Traf-
ford's growing empire, they had come
to New York as comparative strang-
ers. Their reception by the high
powers ruling there had been one of
mingled coldness and curiosity Little
by little, however, they had PASSED
through the nececSary stage of initia-
ton. SO that when Mrs. George Traf-
ford made her entry it was into an
uncontested place. In spite of the
Mississippi, there was no reason
why. as bride unusually pretty and
incomparably rich, she should not be-
come one Of that chosen obligarchy of
ladies whose golden sceptre sways
over the American metropolis.
And yet she had the courage to
snub-gently, courteously, but noae
the less decidedly to snub-those two
great poteatates. Mrs. Van Rensse-
laer Smith and Mrs. Stuyvesant
Jones, when, through sheer kindness,
they united their rival forces to come
and tell her so. She should have no
time for mere amusement she inform
ed them. The auties of her position
would tax her strength to the utmost
Besides, she shrank from ostentation,
from anything that made parade Of
the mere power to spend. True re-