Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-02-22

was 10 take Betty and BABY down 10
Mrs. Brenton's delightful country
house by an early afternoon train.
1t seemed to the girl that Dennis
was in great state Of excitement
about something Also it was evident
that the gloom which had appeared to
settle so definitely on the little house
the day before had been lifted.
When they were ready to go, the
children crept into their mothers
room to say Goodbye but Rather
inc remained outside.
| Betty brought out message.
Mother says we are to be as good
as we know how, and to do every
thing we are telled.''
It was very delightful to be vel
coined by Mrs. Brenton so cordially.
Betty had dilated with enthusiasm
on the joys which awaited them at
Yelverton, and Katherine quickly real
ised that the child had exaggerated
nothing.
! The little people we're installed in
a wing of the house where there were
any number Of empty rooms and long
passages just made to be danced in
and to echo with happy voices-a YER
table playground: and Agnes Bren-
ton who had studied the art Of MAX
ing people comfortable all her life,
took the children's governess into her
first consideration.
There were no guests when they ar
rived, though plenty were expected
for Christmas.
The mere thought of having her
house full, and of arranging all sorts
of treats for the children, made Mrs.
Brenton quite happy
u am going to keep you tremendu-
ously busy, she said to Katherine;
I'VE must furnish up this old house.
This is the first year that Camilla has
let me have the children with me for
Christmas. But | intend to make a
bargain with her now. l shall insist
that she send them here as much as
possible. l know Rupert Haverford
will join forces with me in this.
suppose they will be married very
soon"
Miss Granger looked so surprised
that Mrs. Brenton laughed.
DO you mean to tell me you have
not heard the great news? 1t is
known now to everybody" she said,
therefore I am not betraying conf
deIces. am SO delighted about it,
for | confess have been hoping for
this for long time past. You know
how near Camilla is to me, and like
him immensely. Don't you?" Then
Mrs. Brenton laughed. "Oh. forgot
you don't know him! 1t is funny that
you never came across him when you
were with his mother."
He used to go very seldom to see
Mrs. Baynhurst, Katherine answer
ed. She spoke slowly, as if her
thoughts We're occupied.
The engagement between Mrs. Ian
cling and Rupert Haverford was OF
course largely discussed at Yelver
ton, and was the favorite item of Cos
; sip elsewhere for the moment. AS
Camilla had prophesied, the worli
gave nearly all its congratulations tc
Faverford's tetrothed. Mrs. Lancine
! was very delightful. very pretty!
ever. way most charming woman
hut the~r are any amount Of charm
ing ard delightful and pretty womer
in the world, and rich men (rich. a
least. in the great way that Have:'
ford was) are so scarce.
Katherine was sharply startled
when she heard that Mrs. Lancin:
I was pledged to marry Rupert Haver
ford.
There was suggestion of anxiet!
in the way her thoughts worked
about the other woman.
Camilla had ceased utterly to be
stranger to her If there had beer
nothing else to bind them together
that scene in the silence of the nigh
would have put them into very clos
touch with one another. Moreover, /
was natural that the girl should 81
, ard weave stories to herself out o
the material that lay to her hands.
There was everything about Camilla
Lancing to excite the imagination, t,
stimulate the appetite for romance
Agnes Brenton rejoiced frankl,
over the enormous material satisfac
ton this engagement signifed, AM
Katherine Joined with her in this
but she was unlike Mrs. Brenton il
one respect, for whereas the olde
lwonan saw nothing but certainty o