Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-03-02


rage. This was Jefferson. He was
working in his studio when he read it
and five minutes later he was tearing
uptown to seek the author of 1t. He
understood its object, of course; they
wanted to force his hand. to shame
him into this marriage, to so entangle
him with the girl that no other alter.
native would be possible to an honour
able man. It was despicable trick
and ae had no doubt that his father
was fully made up. He would go away
life burden with this odious marriage
to him. He would close up his studio
would show his father once for all that
he was a man and expected to be treat
ed as one. -.
He wondered what Shirley was do
ing. Where had she gone, what was
this mysterious work Of which she had
spoken? He only realized now, when
she seemed entirely beyond his reach,
how much he loved her and how empty
his life would be without her. He
would know no happiness until she was
his wife. Her words on the porch did
not discourage him. Under the circunn,
stances he could not expect her to have
said anything else. She could not mar
ry into John Ryder's family with such
q charge hanging over her own faith
ier's head, but, later, wnen the trial was
over, no matter how 1t turned out, he
would go to her again and ask her to
be his wife.
On arriving home the first person he
saw was the ubiquitous Mr.. Bagley,
who stood at the top of the frst stair
case giving some letters to the butler.
Jefferson cornered him at once, hold
ing out the newspaper containing the
offending paragraph.
"say, Bagley," he cried. what does
this mean2 Is this any of your doing?"
The English secretary gave his en-
p1oyer's son a naughty stare, and then,
without deigning to reply or even to
glance at the newspaper. continued his
| instructions to the servant:
Here, Jorkins, get stamps for all
these letters and see they are mailed
at once. They are very important"
4 Every good, sir"
The man took the letters and disap-
peared, while Jefferson, impatient, re-
peated his question:
"My doing?" sneered Mr.. Bagley.
Really, Jefferson, you go too far! Do
you suppose for one instant that
would condescend to trouble myself
with your affairs?"
Jefferson was in no mood to put up
with insolence from anyone, especially
from man whom he heartily despised,
/ so advancing menacingly he thun-
/ dered:
II mean-were you, In the discharge
1 of your menial-like duties, instructed
4 by my father to send that paragraph
! to the newspapers regarding my alleg-
ed bethrothal to Miss Roberts? Yes
or MOI"
The man WINGED and made step
backward. There was a CLEAN in the
Ryder eye which he knew by expert
ence BODIED no good.
4 Really, Jefferson" he said in more
conciliatory tone, II know absolutely
nothing about the paragraph. This il
the first hear Of 1t. Why not ask
your fatker?"
i 81 WILL" replied Jefferson grizzly.
4 He was turning to go In the direction
Of the library when Bagley stopped
4 him.
4 "You cannot possibly see him now, "
i he said. 'Ssrgeant Ellison Of the secret
service is in there with him, and your
4 father told me not to disturb him on
any account. He has another appoint
ment at three o'clock with some wo
man who writes books"
4 Seeing that the follow was In earn
est, Jefferson did not insist. He could
see his father a little latter or send
4 him message through his mother
Proceeding upstairs he found Mrs
Ryder in her room and In few ener
getic words he explained the situation
to his mother. They had gone too fal
with this matchmaking business, hi
said, his father was trying to interfere
with his personal liberty and he was
going to put stop to 1t: He would
leave at orce for Europe. Mrs. Ryder
had already heard of the projected triI
abroad, so the news Of this sudden de
parture was not the shock 1t Nigh
, otherwise have been. In her heart sht
! did not blame her son on the contrar,
she admired his spirit, and II the tenn
q porary absence from home would make
him happier, she would not hold hin
Z back. Yet mother like, she wept ant
1 coaxed, but nothing would shake JET
J ferson IN his determination and hi
u begged his mother to make it yer!