Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-03-21

of his dress, alike removed from
slovenliness and foppery.
mo-" she said at last, her eyes
gazing in abstraction in front Of her.
II don't suppose dad is in any way
blind He generally is too wide-awake.
have to make all sorts of excuses to
get out-dressmakers painting-lessons
buying evening gloves, broken watch
and all sorts of things like that. The
fact is she declared. laughing sweet
ly and glancing again at him. Il have
almost exhausted all the subterfuges."
"Ah, dearest, woman can always
find some excuse he remarked, join
ing in her laughter.
Yes but that's all very well; you
haven't father" she protested, so
you don't know"
She had only left school at Brighton
two years before, therefore her clan
destine meetings with Charlie Rolfe
were adventures which she dearly
loved. And, moreover, they both of
them We're devoted to each other.
Charlie absolutely adored her Hither-
to women had never attracted him,
but from the day of their Introduction
on the graveled walk in front of the
Villa des Fleurs at AK, his whole life
had changed He was hers-hers ut
terly and entirely.
For three months he had existed in
constant uncertainty, until one warm
| evening at Scarborough-where she
and her father were staying at the
Grand--while they were alone to-
gether in the sloping garden of the
Spa he summoned courage to tell her
the secret of his heart, and to his
Overwhelming Joy found that his pas
sion was reciprocated Thus had they
become lovers.
AS Max rightly guessed, he had fear
ed for the present to tell Dr. Petro-
and parting be the result. His position
was not what he wished it to be. AS
secretary to the eccentric old financier,
/ his salary was an adequate one but
not sufficient to provide Maud with a
home such as her own. He therefore
intended in little while to tell old
Statham the truth, and to ask for
more And until he had done so, he
hesitated to demand of the Doctor his
daughters hand.
1 Together they strolled slowly on
chatting as lovers will At the bottom
Of Fopstone Road they continued
round the crescent of Philbeach Gar
dens, along Warwick Road, and cross
ing Old Brompton Road, entered that
maze of quiet, eminently respectable
streets in the neighbourhood of Red
cliffe Square, strolling slowly on in the
falling gloom.
do you know, darling" he exclaim
ed at last. 81 wanted to see you very
particularly this evening, because
am leaving London tonight for Servia.
For Servia!' she cried, hating anc
fixing her great eyes upon his il
quick surprise.
Eyes"
Her countenance fell
''Then you-you are leaving me?"
cit is imperative, my darling" he
said, in low, tender voice, taking he
hand in his. He wished to kiss he
sweet lips, but there in the open stree
such action was impossible. Court
ship in our grimy, matter-of-fact Lon
, don has many drawbacks, even though
every house contains it's life-romanc'
and every street holds it's man o
, woman with broken heart.
But you never told me-" she com
planned. you've left it until the las
, minute. Do you start from Charin'
Cross tonight?"
, Yes. | would leave tomorrow a
nine, and catch the Orient expires
from Calais for Belgrade, but l hav
| business to do in Paris tomorrow"
"Ah! Belgrade" sighed the girl
wonder if 1 shall ever see it again
Long ago I used to be fond of it, an,
boI frin c
Dear old dad is so popular. Why, whel
we drove out the people in their brow
home-spun clothes used to run afte
the carriage and cheer 'Petrovitch tn
Patriot as they call dad
"Of course you will return soon,
Charlie said mo doubt your fathe
will be induced to enter the ney
Pashitch Cabinet"
The girl shook her head obviously
81 know the King has several time
asked him to return to Servia, but TO
some mysterious reason he has Away
declined
But he is the most popular man II
the country and he cannot rema1,
away much longer. 1t is his duty I,
return and assist the Government"
Eyes. But my mother died in Bel
grade, you know, and | think that ma,
be the reason he does not care to re
turn replied the girl. why are yo1
going there?" she asked.
con mission for Statham-regard
ing mining concession" he answers
You know we have lot of interest
out there. Perhaps l shall be ava
only a week or two-perhaps 81
months"
six months!" she called in a blanl
voice. 1T is such long, long tim
to look forward to-
81 have no desire to leave you, m
own darling" he declared, lookin
straight into her beautiful face. "Bu
the mission is confidential, and flo
that reason l have received orders t
CO."
your train leaves at nine" sh
said land it is already nearly seve
only two hours! And those two re
naming hours | cannot spend wit
you, for | must be in to dinner a
seven. l must leave you in moment,
she added, and the faint flush in he
face died away.
Her voice ceased. He looked dow