Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-02-04

~eSN "a
.'1'zssszn. .Ssas,
gone beyond him and was resting On
the blaze OF the fire
II don't want to be trouble to any
body she said, Il am really very in
dependent, and very strong. | would
not have come to you tonight" she
added, "if had been able to go to
the school where | lived for so many
years; but this is lost to me now.
That is where l have been today The
black fog choked me, and as | knew
was not wanted, that there was moth
Ing for me, to do, determined to have
little holiday | borrowed few
shillings from the parlour maid, and
went down into the country There
was no fog there. 1t was cold but =
was fresh and beautiful. I walked
ever so far, 1t was silly, but l lost
my way. | did not expect to be very
warmly welcomed, for | believe was
kept out of charity for great num-
Der of years, but | thought perhaps
somebody might be glad to see me.
However, when | got to the old IA
miliar house it was empty. There
was board saying that it was to let,
1t looked SO desolate. She
sighed family. at took me a long
time to get back to Kensington, and
when did arrive it was to find my
box packed In the hall. and nothing
before me but the doorstep"
Come nearer the re-" said Haver-
| ford. Il am going to send you in
some dinner. really must leave you
for little while, but will come back
again. Won't you make yourself com
Portable? You had better take off
your coat and hat
She got up at once and he helped
her to remove the coat. She was pain
fully thin. When her hat was off he
saw that she had masses of dark hair.
But he scarcely realised what her APP
pearance was, her story had surprised
and troubled him sharply. He push
ed cosy chair near the fire, and gave
her some papers to look at, and then
hurried away
His guests were scattered about the
house.
On his way to join them Mr.. Haver<
ford paused to give Harper orders to
take in some food at once to Miss
Granger.
| oCC Illdl Sle udS even lulllS
she wants." he said.
BY his tone the manservant under
stood that the girl who had come SO
unexpectedly was to be treated with
the utmost courtesy.
This done Haverford made his way
up the stairs,
Mrs. Brenton was waiting for him
almost impatiently.
Il shall come here every day willis
am in town." she declared, "anc
even then am sure l shall always
find something fresh to admire!
congratulate you. Mr.. Haverford
you have beautiful home!"
My house is beautiful he correct
ed; Il sometimes feel have no home
All my tastes are for small and simple
things. This is SO large, so much toe
splendid for me. 1t always feels Sc
empty :"
"Oh! but you are going to change
all that Agnes Brenton said with &
little laugh
He took her to look at the portrait
of Matthew Woolgar, the work of one
of the greatest Of modern painters, {
chef d'aeuvre in its way
ITS a living portrait" Haverfort
said. Just fancy. Mrs. Brenton,
: knew that man all my life, and | dom
: think he ever said kind word to me
There was not the slightest sign o
any sort to let me feel that hi
troubled himself about me one way o.
i other" He was speaking with an eff
fort for all the time his thoughts were
busy with the girl whom he had lief
in the study below Naturally it wa:
} not great establishment to him t.
hear that his mother should be care
less and Indifferent to the welfare O
, others. The woman who could turf
her back as she mad done on her owl
, little child, could not be blessed will
/ too much sympathy or womanl,
thought; still, if this girls story was
, true-and he saw no reason to doub
J this mother was now guilty of
definitely cruel act for which he fail
ed in this momtnt to find any possible
| explanation.
Have you a portrait of you
father?' Mrs. Brenton asked, after
little while. as they wandered round
yes, but not here" answered Ru
pert Harverford Il have few oil
. photographs, but those are in my bed
! room, and there is sketch of him il
watercolors in my study-that is
room downstairs" he added.
May | see that room?" Mrs. Brer
, ton asked.
, He paused imperceptibly and the
} he said in his frank way:
: 81 will show it to you another time
| | have some one in it now
Then all at once there flashed acros
1 him a suggestion that here was
r woman who could possibly help hi1
> out of the difficulty of the moment
i That Miss Granger should renal
y in his house was; of course, impo
sible; but 1t was equally Impossible
: that this young creature could be turl
ed outside to find some lodging &c
herself at this late hour of the nigh
He knew Mrs. Brenton to be a pract
a Nf