Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-08-31
BY B Sill KIN G.
Copyrighted, 1906, by Harper& Brothers.

tinement lay in making as little dis.
play as possible. didn't it? None, in
fact, could know 1t better than them
selves. The responsibility Of wealth
involved so many considerations for
Others that ones self and ones legl-
Innate ones natural tastes were drty-
en- to the background.
She looked at them with such clear
gray eyes, was SO frank, SO naive, and
Gas they thought) 30 Western, that
Mrs. Van Rensselaer, Smith and Mrs
Stuyvesant Jones were nonplussed
rather than offended. They liked her
for her independence, and were GER
tainly amused. If she wanted to help
others with her money, goodness
knew there was room enough, they
said, when they went away. They
were the last people in the world to
object to 1t. Besides, when she had
helped few, she would have enough
OF such thankless task as that. She
had >snubbed them-that was plain
but they were SO unused to the pro-
cess that they almost enjoyed 1t. She
would have other ideas when she was
little older, and then they would
take her UP again.
| But the years were slipping by and
Laura was true to the principles with
which she started. The only display
she made was of the fact that she
made no display; her only ostenta-
ton was that of her lack of ostenta-
ton. She made no secret of the fact
that she looked upon wealth as a
heavy burden. "Mr. Trafford and I
har nln
away she sighed, not only in private
but in public. They did give away on
scale Of superb munihcence. BY
combining their gifts to what would
refine elevate, and educate the
masses at large, they took care not
to pauperize or encourage idleness.
Schools, colleges, libaries, and art
museums had the chief benefit of
their generosity. The grim want of
individuals did not appeal to them,
because" SO Mrs. Trafford said,
there were so few cases in which
the after-effects of charity were not
deleterious." She liked to feel that
her liberality had a sound, CONNER
cial basis.
You needn't be afraid to speak out
with me, Paula, dear" she said. en-.
couragfngly, when the girl had been a
long time silent. "As I've told you al.
ready, I've been through it all, and !
want to help you Before married
George I'd heard lots Of things about
Uncle Trafrord that--well. that rather
shocked me-
Again Paula lifted her head haunt.
lily, but Laura hurried on.
II had to reason everything out be-
fore 1 could see how right he was
If hadn't been able to come to that
conclusion I could never have accept
ed George. Now, here's a principle
which, George says, people IN our po
sition must never lose sight Of: you
can't go behind the law. II the law
y on your side, you must be right"
But can't the law be outwitted?'
Paula asked ponderingly. TT SENS
to me I've heard Of that
II believe it can, but George says
Uncle Trafford never tried to do it
That's where he's been 80 able"
/ did he-?" Tell me frankly, Laura
please, know he didn't, but must
ask you. Did he, in your opinion
lever do anything that wasn't honor
able?"
/ George says Mrs. Trafford an.
swered slowly, chat business is a
good deal like whist. Each player
holds his portion Of the cards, out OF
which he is permitted to win the game
Iby any means short Of cheating. It's
acknowledged beforehand that there's