Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-08-10

ed, deeply disappointed; she is still a
young and beautiful woman"
If there was temptation in The
words. Jim did not betray it. Quite
simply he said. "She must be-"
with many admirers, 1t Is only
natural that she should marry again
And Jim answered, fully aware of
the torturlng methods used by the
man who wished to conquer him. s'It
is inevitable"
This time Petrie's quiet voice rose
In an almost impatient intolerance as
he questioned, "And yet you feel"
But Jim stopped him. There wes
agony in his voice. "Petrie, don't
tempt me. cannot go. My decision
is made and nothing on earth can
change It. He walked towards the
house as he felt the sudden need Of
comfort, He wanted to feel his boys
arms about him; that would be his
solace. At the window he saw Hal
and nod brought the child to him
AS he watched him. Petrie said
more to himself than to Jim, "The sen
timental man occasions more misery
in this world than your downright
brutally selfish one" To Jim he put
the direct question, "Your decision is
| final?"
Final"
s'Too bad. Too bad. You are con
demning yourself to living death
ooh no; have my boy. Thank
God, have my boy"
| And in those words Petrie knew
that the child meant more than all
the rest of life to Jim. He knew the
type-a type that prevails more
especially among Englishmen, per-
haps, in whom the need of fatherhond
is strongly dominant, Almost prophe-
tically the lawyer laid his hand on
the head Of the boy, who was standing
on the bench playing with his fathers
, kerchief. "The future Earl of Ker
hill"
Jim answered. defiantly "My boy is
my boy"
If Jim persisted in refusing to &C
cept the position as the head of his
house, then this child was the stake
to play for, Petrie decided.
well, think of him-of his future.
He has the right to the education of q
gentleman, to the surroundings Of
culture and refinement"
AS Petrie spoke, his glances took in
the shabby little chaps, the feet ii
their worn moccasins. the coarse fan
mel shirt; and Jim saw the look and
understood. He almost hurt the boy
so tight was his grasp as he lifted
him down and held him in his arms.
4 Zone moment, Mr. Petrie. SEE
your drift" he savagely answered
But you sha'n't do it, sir. Yot
sha'n't I won't listen"
1 But Petrie now knew that he hat
touched Jim's vulnerable point, ant
that he was capable Of making the
sacrifice for the boy.
81 speak as the trusted friend O
your family, as the advocate of you
} child" He told himself he was jus
, titled in asking what he did.
Before you came" Jim said, 81 was
!, a ruined man-stone broke. as W.
say out here. had to begin my life
J all over again. But had Hal, hi
love and his life to live in day by day
and now you want that, too. Lean
do it. know it's selfish, but lif,
owes me something, and that's all
| ask. can't let him go. 1 can't
. can't"
But Malcolm Petrie persisted. "Yo,
are responsible for that childs future
You don't want him to grow up t,
blame you-to look back to his you'll
and his father with bitterness, per
haps hate"
!, Jim, as he held the boy from him
and studied the tiny face, cried
J you'll never do that, will you, Ha
: my boy?"
What, daddy?"
Think badly Of your father"
mo, daddy, no." and the child
, arms were thrown about Jim's shak
], ing body.
Petrie touched Jim's arm quietly
} You're robbing your child of hi
J manifest, destiny"
What do you want?"
Send the little man home witt
. me-
i With eyes almost blinded with emo
! ton, Jim looked into Petrie's face
"Have you any children, Petrie?"
The solicitor shook his head, and I
!, Jim's words, Il knew tt knew II.
. he understood what he meant.
0 Like a father who sympathizes, ye
. he must be firm in his efforts to cor
vince his son of his wisdom, Petri
/ spoke.
, II am thinking Of Hais future, a
! the friend and adviser of your family
| am thinking coldly perhaps, but, be
!. lieve me, kindly"
: Jim could not doubt his sincereit,
2 He buried his head against the chile
I you don't know what lonely lif
o I led until Hal was born. and no,
n lonely I'll be when he is gone
y Gone! Could he agree to this sep
ration? The word frightened hin
Gone! Oh. my God. mol" He coul
not.
Then Petrte appealed to Jim's cor
, science. you know the trite old sa
: ing, England expects that every ma
this day shall do his duty So sin
= Fly, so seriously did Petrie quote tn
well-worn phrase, that its shaft wen
8 home.
= Duty! Duty! All, one might squa,
der control Of ones own destiny, BIZ
for another. for the child whom til
parent has brought into life-ho
4 answer that? 1t was the duty of tn