Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-07-25
By Julie Opp Faversham.
Adapted from the play by Edwin Milton Royle.


isn't a jol.e," Di interrupted, pray
what is it?"
81 don't belong to the social fabric.
I'm an outsider"
Again she feIerishly interrupted.
"Oh. you can't escape. You are up
on the block. Look your best, and
try to bring fancy price. We have
always sold our women, and now we
have taken to selling our men,"
For moment he wondered IL she,
too approved Of the fortune hunt.
Are you In the Chichester Jones
conspiracy, too?" he asked.
Certainly" the answer came. but,
with it look that plainly contradict,
ed the words. She was In wild spir-
Its, he could see; he let her ruin on.
you are monster Of selfish obstsn-
aoy, Jim. Your inability to grasp your
own best interests and ours-is a proof
of a feeble intellect-and a wicked
heart"
Gayly he entered into her mood.
"Well, DIANA" he said, "I'm an anpia-
BILE brute. If you insist upon it, per-
haps-"
Good" she cut in quickly as she
jumped up on the seat and citing to an
overhanging bough. Let me be the
auctioneer; I'll get you good price .
Blithely assuming the voice and man
ner Of professional auctioneer, she
began "Step up, ladies-step up,
ladies. Please examine this ffrst-class
specimen of the British aristocracy.
He is kind and gentle, sound In mind
and limb; will travel we'll In double
harness-has blue ribbons and medals,
and pedigree longer than your purse.
He's for sale; how much am bid
Jim, who laughingly followed her
words, interrupted In mock serious
ness:
"One moment before you knock me
down. Have you considered the exist
ence of the American Peril? These
Yankees are driving the English girls
out of the home market. I believe IN
protection for the home product by an
ad valorem tax on the raw material
and exclusion for the finished product
I'm the shape of WIDOWS. Pm pa
troit. God bless our English commerce
+ homes, I mean.
u Jim's burst of nonsense was finish
ed by Hear, hear from; Diana
Then their laughter rang out merrily.
Diana chung to- the swaying branch;
Jim, below her, like Henry, noticed
the ethereal quality Of her beauty that
night. She put out her hands to him
Please" she said, and he helped
her down. Their light-heartedness
seemed to desert them. Mechanically
he Aept her hand in his, help spell.
d bound by her gracious charm. Diana
! withdrew her hand as she said, Jim
you're boy and you'll never grow up
; Then, because she wished him to reas
sure her of his distaste for, the pro
posed marriage, she said, Sadie Jones
is the chance Of lifetime and you'll
miss it,"
; Jim only half heard her words FIe
was conscious of strange dread Of
, remaining longer with her.
i How do you know wil1?" he said
u ALI her tender faith and belief in
him was in her answer: "Oh, Jim
1 know you
Did she though? Did he know him
self? What was this wild new feeling
of fear, of sweet, elusive pain? His
words gave no sign Of the tumult Of
his thoughts.
"Do you? Well, you couldn't do me
a greater service than to make me
know myself Fire at win
Diana, too, was conscious Of q
strange undercurrent to their Lighter
talk. She was aware Of Jim's search
, ing glances. but like him, she gave
no. sign of the vague uneasiness tha,
would not be stilled
Shall l, really?" she questioned
Jim nodded.
Remember, you've brought 1t OF
7 yourself" She seated herself Close
to the sundial, and half leaned agains
1t. Jim was facing her. well, K
! begin with. you will never wholly sue
: coed in life" $500. y.
Dear me, meant, surgery. no.
3 butchery, Dir
. She paid no heed to the interrup
/, ton "You are not spiritual enough
: to create your own world, and you arr
J too idealistic to be happy in thi!
+ frankly material world. You have TEN
) perature and sentiment; they are fata
in practical age" She paused; there
was no denial from Jim. AS she wait
!. ed for him to speak, her eyes restat
! on the decorations glittering on hi
coat. Your breast is covered will
: medals for personal courage, but 20,
could never be a great general"
. He almost stopped her with re
hinder of the days on the Northwest
4 ern Hills, but certain truth In a
r that she said kept him silent Hi
/ memory went back to the hours II
). which he had fought-even at the sal
rifice Of himself-to save his men
: He heard her say:
Q you could never sink your poin
!, of view to the demands of necessar,
: horrors. Confronted with the alter
$ native of suffering, or causing suffe;
d ing you would suffer" She rose, and
e as though peering into the future
said. "You are marked for the sacri
n fee"
. Her face shone as though illumine,
p by clairpoyant power Of spiritual in
e sight. She seemed to have forgotte1
the present and stared straight ahead
trying to see into the heavy mists tina
enveloped the coming years. jim
made an effort to relax the nervou
v tension of the moment.
What rosy, alluring picture! 4
e failure at everything touch, eh