Ottumwa tri-weekly courier., 1908-03-17
CHAPTER Xxx.

Rupert Haverford came back from
America about the beginning of Octo-
Der. He went down Immediately to
Yelverton.
The children were still with Mrs.
Brenton-that is to say, they had
gone for a brief while to stay with
their mother; but the visit had not
been a success, and Camilla herself
proposed that she should make some
arrangement to let the little folk stay
for few months longer under Mrs.
Brenton's care.
""You see, we haven't got house
yet" she said nothing would induce
Cuthbert to live in the house his
mother left him. We must get that
off our hands before we settle our
selves in another, and then think we
shall go to the Riviera this winter
He has several portraits that he wants
to paint there"
Once, with a laugh, she had said:
81 have two minds to ask Rupert
to lend us that big house of his. 1t is
simply ridiculous that 1t should be
shut up for months at time when
we are homeless.
1t was, therefore as much on the
children's account as anything else
that Haverford went to Yelverton
Nevertheless, he found travelling
down to Mrs Brenton's comfortable
house with sense Of eagerness that
was half pleasure.
The reason for his visit to the
states had not been wrongly reported
chance had brought to his knowledge
the fact that there were some connec-
tions of Matthew Woolgar settled in
America struggling people
to whom money would be a godsend.
He spent at least couple of
months before he came across a trace
of these people, and then, to his dis
appointment, found that the family
had dwindled to two old people, who
were quite unfit to take the voyage
to England, and for whom little was
possible except placing them in COM
Portable circumstances.
So he said to Agnes Brenton when
he told her Of all this:
You see, can't get rid of my
money"
1T seems to me,'' said Mrs. Bren-
ton, you have made a very good at
tempt at it, Then, with a little color
in her face, she added, 81 go back to
my old theory about you. want to
see you well married. should like
you to take prominent part in the
life Of the day.
He made no remark for little
while, then he said:
Yes, l shall marry; hope soon.''
To herself Mrs. Brenton confessed a
great disappointment.
AN American woman!" she said to
herself II did hope he would have
married somebody over here
The welcome the children gave him
was royal one; but Katherine barely
touched his hand, and expressed no
pleasure at seeing him again. 1t
seemed, however. that he had some
thing to say to her.
II want to talk to you about the
out into the garden?"
II thought everything was settled
for the time being" the girl said, ris-
ing with evident reluctance.
"There are various things | should
like to discuss with you"
She stole little glance at him as
they walked into the well-remembered
path, where now the rose-bushes were
barren of bloom and the ground was
carpeted with faded leaves.
He was looking wonderfully WELL
with that bronzed look in his skin
which made his teeth so white, and
his eyes so delightful. She noticed
that he seemed altogether brisker, and
his first speech touched on this
"Do you know that my trip to Amer
ica has done me lot of good? II
has shaken me up-hustled me out
of my old groove The Americans
are a wonderful nation. There are nc
rich idle men there, they have given
me enough hints to keep me employ
ed for the rest of my existence
He looked at her with half smile
Il am glad said Katherine
Are you? Well, say it little more
as II you meant it."
Against herself she laughed.
Then he stretched out his hand.
''You don't bear me any grudge?"
why should T."
She did not take his hand, and will
quick frown he let it drop to hi.
side
"Well, you know you have not writ
ten me single line since l have beer
away"
She looked at him with open eye
at this.
did you expect me to write?"
"Of course" he said with a smile
ut would have been the proper thinl
for ward to do. And chat bring
me to the question I put to you jus
now. Are you still angry with me be
cause tried to enforce my authorit
when last I saw your
NO she said, 81 am not angry
Then look more pleasant"
Again she had to laugh, but it wa
a very transitory laugh.
81 thought you wanted to talk abou
the children
ARCTNPEA Farlnfants and chHd,an