Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-09-05

Out of the wreck of their pretty
things Marah had snatched few old
jewels, a few odds and ends of lace
not much, but enough to keep alive in
her mothers consciousness the CON
viction that she was still lady"
Marah was satisfied with that, as far
as hungry, unfed heart is ever sat
isfied. The days work was always
lighter If some one pointed to her
mother and whispered, Isn't she a
picture"
Paula did not say that, but she was
conscious .of an Overwhelming senti'
ment of pity. 1t was not only pity, it
was feeling of responsibility. Every
thing about her was to her eyes SO
rtystricken-while she was spend
ing the money which would have pro-
vided for this helplessness the setting
to which 1t was entitled. During the
second or two that had passed since
she entered the room, her mind had
worked faster than it had ever work
ed before Wild schemes rose con-
fusedly in her heart, and it was al
most eXultantly that she felt it in her
power to change all this, making
amends for cruel past by sudden
raining down of happiness. Notwith-
standing her sense Of the wrong that
had been done. she could not help
| feeling, as she stood in the vast, bare
room, little like fairy god-mother.
But when Marah Winship spoke.
Paula was recalled of necessity to the
circumstances of the moment.
Il think my brother is in; will go
and see May I ask what name l
I nupht RI eiyo him 2"
miss Trafford-Miss Paula Traf-
ford"
She spoke slowly and distinctly;
she meant also to speak reassuringly
She hoped the very sound of her
name would be the signal that. after
the long years the victors were com
ing to give back the spoils and hold
out the olivebranch of peace. She
was surprised to see Marah start and
grow pale, while her black eyes snap
ped with a sparkle like that of cleo
tricity
I'll don't think my brother can be
in" she returned, coldly.
81 want very much to see him.
Won't you make sure?"
Paula spoke in the gentle tone of
command that came from her sense
of power Marah Winship had suffer.
ed too many defeats at the hands OF
wealth to dare to disobey.
Mother she said, turning abrupt
ly to the figure in the throne-like
chair, "this is Miss Trafford-Miss
Paula Trafford. She has come to see
Roger; I'm going to look for him.
She sped away, leaving Paula alone
and face to face with Mrs. Winship.
There was moments silence, dur
ing which the blind woman's fingers
4 trembled violently over the raised let
tiers of the open page. The lips culver
ed as if unable to frame word.
"Trafford!" she murmured at last.
did my daughter say Trafford?'
"I'm Paul Trafford's daughter
Paula answered, firmly. She would
have no misunderstanding or mistake
81 know the name" Mrs. Winship
said, making an effort towards self
control. "but I haven't heard it tor
many years"
'I'm afraid it may be painful &c
you" Paula felt impelled to say:
"but-'
at used to be; it used to be. Bit
oh! my dear, when the race is DIS
nearly run as mine is. and the king
dom of heaven is opening before your
eyes, nothing is very painful any
more"
Paula was not expecting this. She
moved uneasily. The sound caught
Mrs Winship's ear.
Come nearer to me. dear she
. quavered, holding out delicate white
! hand. on which a diamond or two
! still twinkled. Come here; sit down
i let me see YOU
There was tall, straight-bacl
chair beside her. Paula drew 1t near
] er to the blind woman and sat down
, 81 was almost afraid to come" sh'
: began to murmur. but Mrs. Winshil
f interrupted her.
= sYou needn't be. No one can l1v'
] to my age without learning that i,
/, this world we can't afford to cherish
!, enmities-not against any one-no
t against any one Give me your hand
4 my dear" she added, cropping in tn
/ darkness.
r Paula stretched out both her hands
! She could not speak for fear of CRYING
: you're young, / see," Mrs. Win
}. ship went on, letting her touch wan
J, der lightly over Paula's gloves .
Q begin to be able to distinguish tn
young from the old by little signs
\ But Of course you're young. remer
I Der that Mr.. Trafford had little gir
:. at the time l used toto see him"
!, 81 knew nothing till short tim
) ago"
i "Ahout all our troubles" Mrs. Wiz
!, ship finished as Paula hesitated. 20
v course you didn't, dear. How shoul
: you? AS I look back, can see tina
: we knew very little ourselves. w
Q were like children, wrestling in tn
q, darkness, on the edge of precipict
" And it wasn't worth while-it wash
# worth while"
81 She sighed and Paula felt again tn
n desire to cry.
"a "My husband is gone Mrs. VIII
It ship quavered on. HE sees life
n this life-already from another poir
n of view. And I begin to see it, to-
r That's because I'm blind perhap
y, The spiritual vision becomes wonde
- f,llly clear when | fell as If cOul