Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-09-29
CHAPTER XVIII.

Ience. and the actress looked at the
name.
"You must not see him. she ex
claimed. HE has no right to come
here Of course you will not see NM
She spoke hurriedly and there was
trace of fear in her voice. An inter
view between John Shil and Laura
might prove too much for the latter
courage. She might break her word
might repudiate her oath; women
will do almost anything in the name
of love-
mo. I cannot see him." Laura re-
piled, in a trembling voice, and then'
turning to Mrs. Burton, VINO was
vainly trying to understand the sltua-
tion, she added, "Piease tell the gen
tleman that cannot see nm.
Mrs. Burton left the room ana
creaked heavily down the stairs.
"You must never see MN again,
said Leonore. Remember that Laura,
whatever happens. 1t would be cruel
for him. cruel for both Of you. He has
passed out of your life
"Everything has passed out Of my
life" Laura murmured piteously, my
father, my girlhoed, my happiness, my
friends have lost everything. she
walked slowly towards the bed, and
Esittins down on the edge of 1t, laid
her hand softly on the coverlet, close
to the face of her little child.
"Only you remain to me, my dar-
ling" she whispered, "only you, if
God will spare you to me-
There was again the sound of creak-
ing stairs, and Mrs. Burton re-entered
the room, very red in the face.
"'E SEE e won't CO." she said,
gasping for breath. "E's a sittm'
there in the parlor, for all the bloom
I'm world as if e owned it, and when
y called lis attention to the view, than
which, tho SEE it as shouldn't, there
amt no finer view in Widely street,
he used words as no gentleman d use
in the presence of lydy. And tell
you strife, Mrs. Dandy, If it's yer us
band as as come for yer, yer'd better
tclear off with i'm, afore l have yer
both"
"That'll do said Leonore sharply.
t"I'll go and see the gentleman my
lself. I suppose Mrs. Dandy owes you
rent, or you wouldn't dare to speak
to her in this way Well. she has mon
ey now to buy your civility.'
IAN 'ouse is an 'ouse,' cried Mrs.
Blurton, and this is my 'ouse. and 1
won't ave it used by men and VIM
min as if it was public, and you can
all Of you clear out"
Her voice had risen to a shrek, ana
the child began to vail It's tiny voice
had more effect on the irate Mrs. Blur
ton than Leonore's words of contempt.
80, OF hnI
though someone had risen from the
grave to rebuke her.
ooh, the pore blessed Infant" she
muttered. 81 didn't ought to ave
spoke so loud I'm an ill-tempered old
woman, Mrs. Dandy, I don't mean all
says and I'm that worried but
yer ave the money now, dearie, amt
yer? and we'll all be as 'appy as little
birds in nest"
Leonore brushed past her and des.
cended the stairs She needed no
guide to conduct her to the parlor, for
the house had only two rooms on the
ground floor, and one of them was
the kitchen. She entered the room
and closed the door behind her. John
Shil rose and faced her defiantly.
$50 you have followed me-" she
said contemporary. 81 should have
thought of that. But I did not think
I had to deal with such a clever de-
tective."
eyes, l have followed you," he re-
piled bluntly; at was the natural
thing for me to do"
Hardly the thing for an honorable
man to do. But you have put yourself
to a lot of trouble, and you will gain
nothing by 1t. Laura absolutely de-
sclines to see you"
| ct shall wait here till she does see
me-" he replied doggedly
"Then we shall have to send for the
police and have you turned out
eff I am turned out | shall hang
about the place TIL I see her. Now
that have found her. do not intend
to lose sight of her again"
"You are mad" cried Leonore pas
sionately. do you realize that she is
the wife Of another man."
J 81 realize that he has deserted her"
he said looking out of the window at
the wilderness Of broken crockery and
empty tins. 81 am willing to bet that
William Tankerlane is not living in
Widely street."
"Well, she refuses to see you. She
Is i'll, worn out, and the mere sight of
you might destroy the little strength
she has left. She is not fit for an in
terview with a man who loves her,
and no man who loves her would ask
IT,"
ri must see her" he replied ~ was
fool to come here while you were
with her. 1t is you who refuse to let
me see her; if you were not here"
Listen to me-" said Leonore calm
". Laura is upstairs in the room
overhead She is worn out with grief
and pain. She Is watching by the bed
side of her child who is very i'll,
perhaps dying
"Her child" cried the man hoarsely,
-"her child! Oh God, let ne think, let
me understand"
Leonore was silent, and watched the
look on his face She realized what
the birth Of child would mean to
him. It would stand between him and
his hopes forever. He might try TO rob
husband of his wife, but he could
not rob mother of her child
sI ,aura has son ;" she said after