Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-08-04

49,
and many others long forgotten; but
manned invisible.
Had she ceased to be a woman
Why did he perceive SO clearly that
diamond and opal necklace which
she had bought with young Tressil-
ian's loot Tressilian! The boy came
at his call, gallant figure. He, too.
had given all and received nothing
except a Boer bullet. They said he
had deliberately exposed himself,
again and again. life thrown away
for the sake of woman who liked
things better than persons, who real
~ and truly said her prayers to a
cabinet with panels painted by Angel
lea Kaufman.
Burgess entered the sitting room a
few minutes later. At once Hugo d.
vined that something had happened.
He thought for the moment that the
young fellow had encountered re-
buff from Joy. His face was pale,
and his eyes, usually sparkling with
animation, had a brooding, sombre
expression. He crossed to the fire,
leaned his elbow upon the mantel-
piece and said in very quiet voice:
'niphtheria has broken out in
Hernshaw Parva."
"Where?"
cat Mowlands Joy is distracted.
A month ago she implored Sir Giles
to put things right, and all that, but
he refused. Now it's likely to go
through the village"
''Mowland hasn't got it,"
mo; that jolly little kid with the
mop of curly, yellow hair. And an.
other seems to be sickening. BY Jove!
it's an odd thing"
Whats odd?"
''You were saying only the other
day that you would like to see Joy
Vennable face to face with big
God forbid" said Hugo almost
to himself.
CHAPTER XII.
Next day, just after breakfast, Mrs
Owbridge ushered Joy into the room
where Hugo was sitting. He rose,
rather stiff1y, exhibiting a slight con
fusion. 81 know that he's writing up
stairs. Don't disturb him. In fact, l.
l want to speak to you"
In silence he offered her chair,
looking at her troubled face, which
seemed to have lost it's Clytie-like
expression of happiness and serenity
and to have gained instead an inter.
est almost greater because so poign
ant. Characteristically, she wasted
no words.
"Mr. Burgess has told you about
the diphtheria?"
Yes
I've just seen Frank Tisdale, the
doctor. He is usually too cheerful and
! optimistic, but today she twisted
her fingers nervously, well, corner
ed him; made him speak the truth.
AS she paused for an instant Hugo
said carelessly: That's a way you
have, isn't it,"
Her tone was easier and faint
smile showed as she nodded. Then
she seemed to pull herself together
to deliver the doctors fiat.
He says it's epidemic, and very
very virulent."
Her blue eyes seemed to court at
tention with peculiar appealing in
terrogation. She laid slight stress
upon the second very
I'm SO sorry said Hugo gravely.
Children, and young T n and WON
en- who are not very robust, will be
most liable to get it."
Undoubtedly
That she was driving at something
he OWNED. Her hesitation, so alier
to her, the trouble which obscureC
her clear eyes, her fidgeting fingers
indicated extreme mental distress
Hugo was asking himself If she was
afraid, when she startled him b,
putting into words the actual ques
tion:
"You are not afraid2" Without wait
Ing for his answer she went on: "And
nor am !. We are not entitled to take
any credit for that, are WEI"
She spoke almost defiantly.
THAT sort of thing is constitution
al. Mr.. Burgess told me that you hac
some experience of Asiatic cholera
II have been in cholera camps"
is it true that people die of sheer
fear?'
81 have heard OF such cases. Feal
makes a man susceptible to cholera
or, for the matter of that to any con
tagious disease. At Panama, wheI
men fell down in the streets will
Yellow Jack, the funkers were the
first to be attacked. And the first t.
die Some didn't have the courage tt
fight for their lives, poor devils!"
Joy looked at him steadily. Her All
of constraint and uneasiness had van
ished
"You saw that? Couldn't you ge
away escape?"
Hugo laughed.
every able bodied man was want
ed. There were hardly enough of u
to bury the dead"
How awful"
Eyes. | mentioned that on purpose
It makes it easier to face this. Her
you have everything, and there"
He spoke cheerily, emphatically
At his words, and all they conveyed
she lost her nervousness. With differ
ent manner she said briskly:
I'm ashamed of myself for feelin
so blue. Of course, you're wonderin
what I've come for?" She examine
his face, which had reassumed it's in
passive expression. Il suppose 20
know that you have great influenc