Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-02-15
THE FORBIDDEN ROAD
By MARIA ALBANESI
Copyright by Maria AIbsnesi. Rights Reserved
By MARIA ALBANESl
Copyright 1907 by Maria Albsnesi.
All Rights Reserved.

<
>>SA>>~~>~@>>~~~AS
know from other sources than Den
Miss confidence that trouble stalked
side by side with the gaiety; long
enough to have grasped with that in
tuition which was one of her strongest
gifts that this charming, childlike,
happy-go-lucky mistress of the house
would always buy her sunshine very
dearly, with heavy shadow threaten
ed it.
Camilla heaved sigh of relief.
II breathe again. she said; ''sit
down and let me look at you. Well,
you are better, l think; you have a
nice bit Of color. but you must get
much, much fatter. Are the chickies
asleep? Dear child, must congratu-
late you! You are a marvellous per-
son. We have never had such peace
in the house as we have had since you
have been here-have we, Dennis?
And you are such a child yourself!
How is this sort Of thing done? l SUP
pose it comes naturally to YOU
81 am so glad you are satisfied with
me-" Katherine Granger said. She sat
down and looked about her curiously,
and yet with pleasure. The dainty ap-
pointments, the rosebud chintz, the
lace-covered bed, upon which was
spread the gown Mrs. Lancing was
going to wear, the crystaltopped toilet
table with its burden of brushes. and
jars. and scentbottles, and knick-
nacks, the cosy chairs, the soft carpet,
all made a picture of prettiness,
luxury, and comfort such as had not
even visioned itself in her magma
ton, busy as that had been at times.
Portraits of the children ,abounded,
and in the middle of the mantelshelf
Katherine noticed a large cabinet
photograph Of Edward Lancing. The
children had smaller one like it in
the nursery
Betty kissed it every night after she
had said her prayers, and baby, OF
course, always clamored for daddy's
picture to do the same thing. AL
though, as Betty said frequently, "You
never knowed him, so he isn't proper
ly your daddy"
Katherine brought her wandering at
tention to order sharply.
81 have come to bother you," she
said.
Dennis had begun to comb out the
brown curls and arrange them In a
loose and graceful manner, fastening
them here and there with sparkling
pin.
Il have brought list of the things
that the children want"
4 do they want anything? They had
new coats and hats the day you
came" said Mrs. Lancing.
She took the paper handed to her
and read 1t aloud.
J Stockings, nightgowns, aannels
Shoes Dear child! Of course they
shall have these things. But are they
SO badly OFF,"
Katherine nodded her head.
YES; have not put everything to
: gether for you to see" she said. 81
have only written down what is abso
lutely necessary"
=, Now, isn't that shocking, Dennis? 2
said Mrs. Lancing, with a note Of des
peration In her voice. Doesn't i
make you want to shake nurse?
!. What did she do with the things? She
!. must have eaten them"
5 1--WE gone carefully through ever.
drawer and every box" said Kath
r crime, land l cannot find any goot
clothes put away"
!, LET me think" Mrs Lancing sa
r and puckered her brows. Dennis hat
1 put on an expression that said a
plainly as words that these thing
: would have been set right a lon,
t time ago If only she had been givel
! the authority to attend to them
S you had better go to :. Mo-
said Camilla, checking herself withou
9 mentioning the name, you can't g
, there. owe them quite lot already
: and that other shop in Regent street
! they, too, are rather nasty about thei
bill I'll tell you what, will give yo
some ready money, and then you ha
better go and buy just what Is actual
required What do you suppose thes
will come to? Dennis, you are goo
at this sort of thing, you might hel
Miss Granger. Dear sweethearts
fancy not having a stocking, or de
cent petticoat" She caught her breat
with sigh. 81 am afraid I am not
very good mother"
"I'm sure you pay enough, ma'am,
said Dennis. why, the money ha
just been poured out for the nurser
this last year"
well, money is not everything, W
\ all know that her mistress said, a
.. she took up her hand-glass and lool
9 ed at the back of her head critically.
Katherine for herself proposed
second time that Mrs. Lancing shoul
see how matters stood, but Mrs. Lal
cling refused.
j, mo, nc" she said; Il don't want t
8 see for myself Do you think | dout
r you? I know only too well you hav
not exaggerated single thing"
> Here the sound of cab stoppin
. reached her ears.
I "Oh my goodness" said Camill
that must be Sammy, and of cours
SIS am late! Dennis, get me into II
d. gown quickly uuicklyi"