Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-09-26

grove of frs. 1T goes by the name
of the Pavilion de la Refine, because
| believe, the, first ,lilding on the
ground was sort of studio where
Marie Leczinska used to paint The
present house is quite modern. though
as you'll see; it's in the style of
Louis XIII. We thought at first of
one or two more historic places that
happened to be in the market. but
dear mamma said she wouldn't live
with anybody's ghosts, and so we took
| this"
In minute or two they came out
On the lowest of three wide terraces,
with gardens designed in the style
OF LIE Notre, leading up to the cheer
/ full red brick facade of house at
once disnified and home like Hedg Is
of box and privet were broken by
statues and sculptured urns, while
rows of conically slipped yews made
| quaint and stately contrast to the
majestic elms and chestnuts, where
the gardens merged into the park.
/ Down from the centre of the house
came a broad walk, straight as a rib.
bon, descending from terrace to ter
race by flights of marble steps. Each
terrace had it's pair of fountains of
which thes two on the middle plane
were playing. Not far behind the
chateau. the ground rose gently into
a wooded hill.
"Charming!" Wiltshire commented,
as they stood still for a minute to
! look up over the successive stages nf
| blossom and verdue. ut does recall
our garden at Kiimaurice, as Alice
said. Only this is the real thing, and
that's the imitation
I'm glad you like It," Paula re-
turned. Pm very fond of it. Papa
| bought the place only for week.endsy
and for entertaining passing Ameri-
cans who like to see a bit of the coun'
try but we've come to like it better
than any of our houses. All, there's
papa now. He's got back Papa. dear"
she called, here's an old friend whom
I'm sure you'll be glad to see"
! When Trafford turned from the idle
contemplation Of peacock spreading
his tail. his face took on slowly the
expression of admiring appreciation II
had sometimes shown to his ascot
ates when they had carried through
some unexpected successful IDEAL"
When he laughed and clapped his
hands, and called out Cad" in big
jovial voice. Wiltshire knew that his
own prompt action had met with an
prevail and that Paula would hear moth
ing of the lunch at Henry's in the
morning.
tits done him good to see you al
read" Paula murmured, as Trafford
came down to meet them, shouting
words of welcome. and" she added
quietly, cit does me good too. to see
him look pleased again"
/ 'Tf it only needs that" Wiltshire
began, but Trafford was upon them
and they could say no more.
At tea, in the English garden, on
the other side of the house, Paula
was conscious of the fact that they
had not been so cheerful since long
before her mother died The sense OF
constraint which had become perma
nent between her fathcr and herself
seemed to drop away III the presence
of this kindly man with his unofn
cious sympathy From her seat be
hind the tea table, in the shade Of q
trellised wall, hung with honeysuckle
clematis and roses, she watched the
two men. out in the sunlight on the
grass. She half listened, and half
followed her own thoughts, as Wilt
shire explained to her father the
exact situation between the Church
and the State in France. For the first
time in months the ashen hue hal
disappeared from Trafford's face
while the old light of power stole
back into his dulled eyes. Wiltshire
too. was changed. She had noticed
that from the beginning. but now she
had time to remark the fact moro
consciously. 1t was as if he had
acquired the dignity that comes from
mental or moral suffering. That re
Election brought a pang with 1t, and
the pity which had always entered
into her regard for him took on a new
degree of tenderness.
| 1t required but little urging to in
duce Wiltshire to stay and dine
i Again Paula had the sensation that
life had come into their atmosphere
once more. Her father htold his favor
lite stories with the relish he would
/ have had a year ago. and laughed
with his old-time iollity as he made
the familiar points. He absorbed
4 Wiltshire's attention with the curious
fascination be always had for men
and it both pleased and unused her tc
see that when she left them at ths
end of dinner, neither of them noticed
it. except to rise as she passed out.
1t was then, however, that Traf
ford's manner changed He told nc
more anecdotes and presently, as they
smoked, he went back to politics
From politics he passed to business
and from business to philanthropy
Then for a few minutes, conversation
tagged. Wiltshire felt that they has
been working up to something and
waited for the cue
Speaking of philanthropy, Traf
ford said, with sudden effort, "Pve
got lot of money l should like tc
give away"
That's easily done, as a rule,
Wiltshire laughed.
CAS- a rule-yes," Trafford went on
slowly. "Blt my case is little out
side the rule. wonder If | could
make you understand it? I've Otter
thought that if ever had the chance
should like to talk it out with you
confidentially."