Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-09-21
By B A Sill KIN G.
Copyrighted, 1906, BY Harper & Bro,asrs.

each other blankly.
'sWhat does this mean?" Marah de-
manded at last.
s'It means first of all that | have
asked Paula Trafford to marry me-"
"And them"
"That she's consented"
"And them
"That they've all consented"
"And then?"
"And then" he cried, springing up,
with a harsh laugh-"then 1t means
that the day has come to which we've
looked forward so long-when we can
say to each other. as Deborah said to
Barak, up! for the Lord hath deliver
ed him into your hands"
ri don't understand you. How has
He delivered him?"
Come and see"
very we'll. I'll CO."
No more was said; the subject was
difficult to speak Of but at three
o'clock they presented themselves at
the door of the great house.
Trafford himself met them at the
foot Of the grand stairway. Now that
this step was definitely decided on, he
felt the satisfaction by which he was
always thrilled in playing the benefac-
Tor or god from the machine. With a
large share Of the sentiment character.
lctic Of the American man of business
In his sober moods, he had distinct
enjoyment Of generosity especially
his own. He came forward with dig.
nifty cordiality, and held out his hand
Winship took 1t with a certain gray
ity. Marah stood in the background.
her eyes sparkling like tow electric
lamps.
you've very good to have come"
Traford said, in his kind tone. I'm
sure we shall all be glad to know one
another better. And you, too, Miss
Winship."'
He advanced towards Marah and
again held out his hand. She allowed
hers to rest Imply within his grasp,
but left to her brother the task Of
finding a reply.
The kindness of your letter made
our coming Imperative" Winship
murmured, politely.
It was all that could be said before
the two tall footmen and Trafrord
turned to lead the way upstairs. As
they followed both brother and sis
ter were impressed by the magnifi-
cence Of their surroundings. II was
beyond what they expected and recall
ed to the imagination bit of the
chateau Of Versailles In the days of
It's greatness. Maiah felt herself
dwarfed by so much splendor, and 1t
required mental effort even on Win
ships part to lift his personality
above 1t.
II want you to know my nephew
and neice. George and Laura" Traf.
ford said, when they had reached the
top OF the stairs. II think we shall
have our little talk, at first, without
the presence of my daughter"
Winship bowed and Trafford with q
wave of the hand, ushered the visi-
tors into the great salon, whose door
was standing open.
tally for Marah, VINO entered first.
nothing, In the vast apartment where
every object was a thing Of art. The
Louis Seize drawing-room at Eden
bridge was the abode Of gentry; but
this was the dwelling place of kings.
Once inside the door she stood timid-
~, waiting for the others to pass in
and take the lead, when she became
aware Of a small lady, in a long
black train, advancing, with out.
stretched hand, to meet her.
Il know this Is Miss Winship,"
Laura said, cheerily. Our friend,
Lady Alice Holroyd, has spoken Of
you SO often. And MIR. Winship," she
continued, In the same easy strain.
This is my husband, George Now
we all know each other, don't we?"
George shook hands with the Win
ships in turn, saying, How do you
do?" to each. To this they found it
relief to be able to reply with the
same non-committal formula.
"Oh, Mr.. Winship," Laura ratified
on, as the party moved a few PAGES
towards the centre Of the room, 81
can't tell you how much admire your
portrait of Paula. I've been to see it
twice. Everybody says that nothing
equal to 1t has appeared in the Salon
during the last ten years. Now do
tell me-" she pursued, eager to cover
up the first few trying minutes,
didn't you paint that malachite
table from the one in the Grand Tria-
non?"
No" Wdnship smiled, ats one /
had the chance to sketch in the OUR
inal Palace in Rome. You see have
knack with marble surfaces and SO,
when get an opportunity"
Shall we sit down." Trafford
asked, offering seat to Marah.
A Buhl table, with some gilded and
tapstried arm-chairs about It, seemed
to offer a rallying point, and pre-.
sently they were all seated 1t was
partly accident, partly instructive
grouping, that placed Winship and
Marah together on one side, with the
three Traffords facing them on the
other. Laura felt that her power of
taking the lead was not at an end.
There were few seconds of con-
straint before Trafford spoke. He
looked directly at Winship and Marah
though his tone was that of man
musing aloud.
Our meeting Of this afternoon is OF
a kind that must make any Thoughtful
person believe in the directing finger
of a higher Providence. The very
strongest of us must be subject to
His authority. In fact, ! don't sup
pose that with Him there are such