Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-09-05
Obe Giant's 5trenatb
BY BASIL KING.
Copyrighted 1906, by Harper& Brothers.
B A SILL KIN G.
Copyrighted, 1906, by Harper& Brothers.
CHAPTER v1-tcontinued.)

SUule Wudl DtltSllS, We ohouiu oS..'>
down complacently to accept things
as they are"
Met quite that. But if we can't
accept things as they are, we mustn't
try to force them into being what
they can't become We can only
learn by degrees how to adjust what's
wrong"
But you can adjust anything with
money-that is if you have enough.
mot everything unhappily"
But l could adjust this
''You mean that you could give the
Winships money? Oh, no. You
couldn't"
y 81 don't mean that could give
them aims or do anything with con-
descension. But couldn't | give them
a great deal-as much as they ever
lost-more than that? l have a great
deal of money of my own don't
know how much-but it must be a
large sum-and I'd give it all to them.
You could help me. You know them,
and could do it through you, If you
only would"
SOFTLY, softly. You couldn't 10
anything of that sort They wouldn't
take it.. Things aren't managed so
directly as that in this complicated
world. They'd be offended, you know.
They wouldn't listen to me"
"Oh yes, they would. Everybody
listens when it's question of getting
money. You'd beg it as favor. You'd
put it that way. And they'd take It.
know they would. I've never seen
any one refuse money-if 1t was
enough oh Duke dol"
She ended abruptly. with quaver
in her voice, like a little vail. Wilt
shire sprang to his feet, and took two
Or three turns up and dowa the gravel
path. Returning, he resumed his seat
beside her.
"You mustn't do anything rash in
the matter" he said gently. you
mustn't have the air of seeming to
judge your father
e, II don't she answered, quickly
81 know he didn't do anything wrong,
should never admit otherwise
Only"
She did not finish the sentence, and
Wiltshire leaning towards her, laid
his hand on hers.
Dear Paula" he whispered,
couldn't we let it be, until you and
could manage it together?."
She did not withdraw her hand
from his touch, but the eyes she lift
ed towards him were full of the mute
appeal of AN animal begging to lie
let off.
you've never answered my qucs
{ tommy great question" he went on
.eaderly.
1--WE been trying to-" she managed
% say.
"And you don't find it easy?"
She shook her head. letting hel
eyes fall again.
But you've been making the
sffort?"
Yes she murmured, just audi
bly,.
And it's been a great effort?"
Eyes"
$50 great, in fact. that you don
feel the strength TO make it."
"Tm trying to, she said hurriedly
II want to-"
You want to? In what way?"
Again she lifted her appealing eye
Id him.
'I-I-want to please father" sh
stamlnered. land make you happ.
and-anG-' .
"And sacrifice yourself" he added.
cit wouldn't be sacrifice if coul
do those two things" she stammere
"That is" he corrected, mot s.
great sacrifice but that you coui
make it."
she nodded her assent. A few sec
onds passed in silence, when Wilt
shire slowly withdrew his hand an,
sat erect.
eve hurt YOU Paula cried. turn
ing sharply towards him. That ism
what l meant to say. You haven
understood me- I'm ready to be you
wife, if 1t will make you happy. Ir
deed, I'm ready. You don't know HOY
! honor you, how good l think you
how
ooh yes l do" he broke in, with
wan smile 81 only thought that pei
haps it might be possible, after al
for a woman to do little more tha
honor me, and think me-
81 sure it is" Paula insisted warn
ly. Let me try, let me"
ooh, you have tried. And sue
things as that don't come from trying
They come spontaneously, or not 8
all. I'm not hurt. | know you ia
too well to think you would hurt an!
thing that breathes-and still les
me. But I'll tell you somethins
We've always been good friend:
haven't we-that is, for three or fou
years past?"
Very
"And I've rather spoiled things b.
tween us by bringing up this subjec
which | might have known from tn
first, was impossible. Suppose we g
back to what we were before. SUI
pose. we blot all this out, as if it ha
never happened. Wouldn't that be
relief to your"
Yes she said, in an INSTEAD
voice
"Then well do it. l won't unde
take to give up hoping. No on
could do whom you hadn't ahsolut
ly said no. But l shant bother yo
with my hopes and if, in the end,
have to bury them-why. then, We
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