Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1907-12-26

mentS were ungraceful and her voice
had an unpleasant sharpness. Kill
ross felt his already faint hopes fall
him entirely as he realized the gen
eral hardness Of her aspect. He
pinned his case upon what he believed
he recognized in her countenance, IN
spite Of it's coldness-an uprightness or
character that perhaps justified, some
what, her pride Of blood.
ut is good to see you again, DR..
Kinross," she began as they sat down
together. ut is always a pleasure to
me to meet old friends. Did you know,
she continued volubly, II had call
from your brother one day last winter,
when he had run on to Washington
from New York-it was on one OF my
at home days and OF course he met
lot of his old friends-and he remarked
as he was leaving how pleasant 1t had
been to meet them. l told him he
would never meet any but old &C.
ouaintarces at my house. In our circle
we don't meet the new people, for
tunately."
This was good beginning, certainly.
"But what tragic deprivation to the
new people!' he remarked, with per-
functory smile intended to take the
edge of his sarcasm.
II am aware" she said stifHy. that
you do not share my strong feelings
about such things"
NO" he said, I'D associate with the
~ lr<n ~
"Such bohemian views are unworthy
of your blood" she said with grave
Representatives,. II hope you don't
20 SO far as to be willing to marry out
Of your rank?"
mo, draw the line there. I'm not
willing to marry out of my rank-nor
yet In 1t. I'm quite unwilling to marry
at ALL"
"You haven't been an easy prey" she
admitted. How have you managed to
escape falling in love all these yearsY
"But love hasn't anything to do with
rank-lf you'll pardon my platitudes. I"
mo one man or woman, need per-
nit himself to fall In love outside OF
his own station in life," she said dog
matically, "or If he is SO weak let him
conquer himself"
Kinross smiled and was silent He
would not argue.
Miss Wo!cott abruptly changed the
subject.
"Well, Peter, what is this important
business matter which gives me the
pleasure Of call from you? Your tel
egraml has made me very curious. l
didn't know how to wait until you
got here"
"But you must really wait few mo-
ments longer. I must not be precipi-
tate. That's the one thing I've been
telling myself all the way here-not to
be precipitate, but to break 1t to you
gently, to lead up to 1t automatically.
rhetorically, If possible. Unfortunate
" my style was ever la cookbook
direct and to the point"
Dear me! Well, do adhere to your
customary style and spare me the
rhetoric. I prefer to hear your news
or whatever it is in your most Saxon
FORM"
"The shock might be too great"
This was not at all as he had meant
to steer his communication, for no one
could have felt more earnestly the
gravity Of what he had come to COM
municate, and his chatting was far
from expressing his true mood, but
he felt that his case was lost already,
that rhetoric could not save it, and his
tongue ran away with him.
cts something shocking then p in
quired Miss Wolcott.
'"Ihat depends on how you look at
it."
'yVell? Do hurry, please"
"Miss Wolcott," he said solemnly,
''In1 afraid what have to tell you
will not be welcome news"
She looked surprised at his sudden
seriousness and waited, with what pa
thence she could command, for him to
go on.
He rose and walked the length of
the piazza, then came back and stood
before her.
81 am very stupid. l don't know
how to begin It,"
"Gracious. Peter, you're not thinking
of proposing to me, are you?"
at would require less daring than
what have to tell you"
IF you don't say it soon, 1 shall have
Mysteries"
He cleared his throat. and his voice
was not quite firm as he plunged in.
"Let me begin with a question. Tell
me, were you perfectly convinced at
the time of your brothers death that
his little daughter was with him and
died with him? Did you ever have any
doubts about it 2"
Her eyes opened wide in amaZement.
"Of course not!''
did you see the dead child who was
identified as your niece?"
mo. was in Florida at the time
Of the accident and did not get back in
time for the funeral"
The woman had turned white and
was looking dazed.
1.-The child was not with her father,
Miss Wolcott."
Miss Wolcott sat upright, her hands
clutching the sides Of her chair.
"Weli?" she half gasped.
''That child is living
-Impossible"' she exclaimed sharply.
"She is alive" repeated Kinross.
"Alive. My brothers child! But it
can't be truev'