Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-03-12
CHAPTER XIV (continu AZ

Ayuer. ST., out good zeal OIL his Wire,
to whom she soon became much at
tached She found her an amiable,
good-natured woman entirely free
from that offensive arrogance and pat
ronizing condescension which usually
marks the parvenue as distinct from
the thoroughbred Mrs Ryder had no
claims to distinguished lineage; on the
contrary, she was the daughter of a
country grocer when the then rising
OIL man married her, and of educational
advantages she had had little more.
It was purely by accident that she was
the wife of the richest man in the
world. and while she enjoyed the pres
tige her husbands prominence gave
her, she never allowed 1t to turn her
head. She gave large sums for chart
table purposes and, strange to say,
when The gifts came direct from her.
the money was never returned on the
plea that 1t was tainted" She shared
her husbands dislike for entertain
ing, and led practically the life of a
recluse. The advent of Shirley, there
fore, into her quiet and uneventful ex-
istence was as welcome as sunshine
when 1t breaks through the clouds
after days Of gloom. Quite friend.
Ship sprang up between the two won.
en-, and when tired of writing, Shirley
would go into Mrs. Ryder's room and
chat until the financier's wife began
to look forward to these little impromp-
tn visits. SO much she enjoyed them.
Nothing more had been said concern
ing Jefferson and Miss Roberts. The
young man had not yet seen his father.
but his mother knew he was only wait
ing an opportunity to demand an ex-
PLANTATION Of the engagement announce
ments. Her husband, on the other
hand, desired the match more than
ever, owing to the continued impor
TUNES Of Senator Roberts. AS usual,
Mrs. Ryder confided these little do
nestle troubles to Shirley
Jefferson" she said, lis very angry.
and when he and his father do meet
therell be another scene"
What objection has. your son to
Miss 1Roberts?" inquired Shirley limo
Gently. ssg
"oh, the usual reason sighed the
mother, 'and I've no doubt he knows
best He's in love with another girl
a Miss RCssmore.",
"Oh. yes" answered Shirley simply.
@Mr. Ryder spoke of her"
Mrs. Ryder was silent, and presently
she eft the girl alone with her work.
The next afternoon Shirley was in
her room busy writing when there
came tap at5her door. Thinking it
YVES another visit from Mrs. Ryder,
she did not look up, but cried out
pleasantly:
Come in"
John Ryder entered. He smiled cor
daily and, as if apologizing for the in.
trusion, said amiably:
II thought I'd run UP to see how you
were getting along
His coming was so unexpected that
for q moment Shirley was startled,
but she quickly regained her compo-
sure and asked him to take a seat. He
seemed pleased to find her making
such good progress, and he stopped to
answer a number of questions she put
to him. Shirley tried to be cordial,
but when she looked we'll at him and
noted the keen, hawl-like eyes. the
cruel, vindictive lines about the mouth,
the square-set, relentless jaw-Wall
Street had gone wrong with the Colos-
sus that day and he was still wearing
his war paint-sfe recalled the wrong
this man had done her father and she
felt how bitterly she hated him. The
more her mind dwelt upon 1t, the more
exasperated she was to think she
should be there, a guest, under his roof
and it was only with the greatest diff
ficulty that she remained civil.
What is the moral Of your life?" she
demanded bluntly.
He was quick to note the contemp-
tuous tone in her voice and he gave
her a keen, searching look as If he
we're trying to read her thoughts and
fathOm the reason for her very evident
hostility towards him.
What Go you mean?" he asked.
81 mean, what can you show as your
life work! Most men whose lives are
big enough to call for biographies have
done something useful-they have
been famous statesmen. eminent sci
entisos. celebrated authors, great in
ventors. What have you done?'
The question appeared to stagger
him. The audacity of any one putting
such question to man IN his own
house was incredible. He squared his
jaws and his clenched fist descended
heavily on the table.
what have / done?' he cried. q
have built up the greatest fortune ever
accumulated by one man. My fabulous
wealth has caused my name to spread
+ to the four corners of the earth. Is
that not an achievement to relate to
future generations?
Shirley gave a little shrug Of hel
shoulders.
Future generations will take no in
terest In you or your millions" she
said calmly. "Our civilization viii
have made such progress by that tins
that people will merely wonder why
we, n our day, tolerated men OF YOU
class SO long. Now tits different Iht
world is Inoney-mad. You are q person
Of importance in the eyes OF the un
thinking multitude, but it only envie'
YOU your fortune: 1t does not admire
you personally. When you die people
will count sc 4 millions, not your goot
deeds"
He laughed cynically and drew up
chair near her desk AS a genera