Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-07-27

under his breath ne cursed him. She
hardly heard the last words. Jim low
ed Diana@-her resolve was formed.
She must see Jim.
Henry, try to control yourself and
return to our guests. Let no one leave
this afternoon under the impression
that you are in trouble"
Why" he began to eXpostulate-
but she had already left the prayer
closet and was pulling the faded bell
rope in the library. A servant quickly
answered.
Tell Captain Wynnegate that l wish
to speak to him here Quietly she
commanded Henry, Leave this to me-"
At first he was inclined to refuse;
then touched by her supreme devotion
and partly because ne dreaded an in
terview with Jim, he agreed to return
to the garden.
You've pulled me out of many a
scrape, mother he said, as he drew
her close to him. "God-if you gain
time for me in this'-with the words,
hope began to revive.
60" she only answered as she
pointed to his duty.
Furtively, from behind the curtains,
she watched him join the Bishop She
dreaded to lose sight of him; the awful
vision was ever before ner. Her mind
swung chaotically from her fear of the
previous night to the salvation that
must be gained for Henry. Could Jim
help? What If all that remained Of the
estate were to be sold, and Jim were
willing to give what he could-wnat If
the years that followed were bereft of
all save honor! Why should she not
attempt this? But even as she rea-
soned she knew it was useless; all
save the entailed portions of Henry's
Inheritance were involved. She heard
Jim's step ringing along the corridor.
Bates says you want me, Aunt"
AS Jim stood before her HIS face,
with the purple shadows under his
eyes and it's grim resoluteness, told
her much Yes-he loved Diana. Her
keen eyes, that took in every phase
OF the boys nature and every express
sion Of his face. could easily see the
desrerste marks which the struggle Of
the night had left upon him.
",Jim, Henry tells me that you have
quarrelled but for the moment we
must forget all personal differences
We are face to face with crisis
which affects us all; you alone can
help us to save the family from dis
honor"
"Ah. so Henry has been gambling
again." Jim vaguely answered. Did
this mean further anxiety for Diana?
He was conscious of curious light
headedness that made all of the days
this possible unhappiness
for his aunt and Diana-seem faint
and blurred. The dead-level Of his
tone made Lady Elizabeth answer
sharply:
"Wlorse-infnitely worse than a
card debt. Henry ha dborrowed an
enormous sum Of money which 1t is
absolutely impossible for him to re-
pay"
Borrowed? had no idea Henry's
credit was so good"
Elizabeth Kerhill saw that his mind
was only half grasping what she was
trying to tell him-that he thought
1t only another Of Henry's peccadil-
loes. She laid her hand on his shout
der.
Henry used the Fund to try to
cover the loss of his last possession,
which he has sunk in huge specula..
ton"
Jim quickly looked up.
"The Fund-what Fund? Not the"
Eyes, the Relief Fund"
"Why, that's embezzle-"
But his aunt's feverish hand stopped
The word. She chung to Jim as she
said, Henry intended to ca.
place it,
Poor Diana! Poor Diana!" The
e,h L. 3
he looked at the terrible eyes full of
this bitter knowledge he quickly
threw his arms protectingly about his
aunt Poor Aunt! poor Aunt"
eyes, we women must bear our sins
alone, and you men make us bear
yours. too
"You have had your share, Aunt"
be answered, as he caressed her hand
He found 1t difficult to say more; ne
was so tired, yet he must struggle to
grasp what it all meant.
1t will ruin your prospects, too, Jim
I'm afraid. It will be impossible for
GU to remain here after this" She
began to understand why she had sent
FOR Jim. Like him, her mental condi-
ton was at its lowest ebb-she. too,
was exhausted. What were Jim's-
thoughts? Why didn't he speak
There had been a new resolve on his
face when he first came in response
to her summons.
ooh, it doesn't matter about me-"
Jim reused himself to say. IT don't
represent anything. Besides" he
hesitated. He was leaving England
why not tell the truth? The tragedy
that the night had wrought was far
more difficult for him to face than
this crime of Henry's. Then, into his
tired brain came the knowledge of
what all this would mean to the wo-
man he loved. "But Diana"-he con
Is a proud woman; her
father is a proud mamie is in deli
cate health. 1t will kill him. You took
from Diana her own proud name to
give her ours. God-this scandal will
ring from one end of the empire tol
The other. Di, T." he could think
only Of her now. "she's city set on
a hill-she'll be the object of pity and
the tattle Of every back stair in Eng
land. It's monstrous-it's mon
strous!" Suddenly in the midst of his
,ol,o q e.,