Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-08-25

the, day, to be recalled thereafter by
Hugo, "and I'm booked for a big
speech, two hours job The Social
lists are making a bid for us, but 1
tell you, although it's not discreet to
say so in public, that we're not going
to trucllle to the washed or the un-
washed. Do you know that the Saxon
is selling like hot cakes We've dou-
bled and trebled our circulation in
the last month"
He poured out details, while Hugo
listened, divining that the young fell
low was obsessed by the sense of
power which had come to him. But at
the first reasonable pause he said
quietly: 81 came, Burgess, to say good
ble.''
Good bye?"
I'm leaving England shortly
"Alone?"
Very much alone unless you count
chauffeur who is an excellent me-
chanic and nothing more"
But now" Burgess hesitated,
raising his brows.
GO on said Hugo. glad that Bur-
CESS should open up the real object of
this visit. The young fellow, no cram
er at hard fences, jumped BODILY.
"You are free to ask Joy Vennable
to be your wife"
cam I?'
''Why not?"
"Why not?" he laughed derisively.
and you know her. Didn't tell you
that she looked at me, by Heavens! as
if I was unclean. And l was"
"fThrea D1nnthc
81 did you great service three
months ago He paused for a moment.
This was the real object of his visit;
to make confession without thought
of absolution.
"A service?" repeated Burgess won
deringly. He stared at Hugo's face,
which had assumed the hardness and
impassivity commented upon so unfa-
vorably by the reporters.
Il tried to take Joy by force. A sort
Of moral rape"
Really Charters, I'm in a Cog"
At that, Hugo described what had
passed. setting forth the facts without
excuse or comment, sensible that the
story was an ugly one. Burgess listen
ed attentively.
At the nd, Hugo said in the same
impersonal tone: so you see that I've
wrecked what chance I had. She
might have forgiven me what went be-
fore, when she heard that Tempest
and his wife had come together again,
had remained through thick and
thin, loyal to Mrs. Tempest"
II suppose somebody told Mrs.
Tempest. Mollie Mottisfont, eh?"
mo" This, perhaps, was the most
difficult part of the story He laughed
again. "The fact is, Burgess, Mrs.
Tempest didn't want me either
Il beg your pardon for asking an
impairment question"
"You have the right to ask any ques-
ton. I'm here on your account, not
mine. admit that put off coming as
long as I could. feel cheap, but
should feel cheaper if l bolted, leav-
ing you to think that time might
whitewash me in joys eyes. Time is
on the side of truth, not falsehood.
This has been rubbed into me till I'm
pretty sore. And now l see myself as
she sees me. One can't jaw about these
things. II I'd run off with that woman
openly, should hold my head higher"
she wouldn't CO.
Il was the stronger. First and last,
am responsible. McAllister made
that plain. Joy knows it. wallowed in
the mire for three years and | knew
it was mire. Enough of that! You
must try your luck again. Have you
seen herr"
NO"
"Written?"
NO
"She is-well?'
Perfectly well, I believe
The young fellows chin stuck out
rather aggressively, as if he resented
these questions. And his eyes, SO
bright when he had been talking of
his work, were now dull and irrespon-
sive. Was it possible that he had be-
come Indifferent?
You're not making things any too
easy for me Burgess"
''She will never care for me-" said
Burgess slowly, but with conviction.
Therefore, the less l see of her the
better for me and my work
'The work comes first now, does
it,"
Its hardly fair to put it that way.
suppose fellow clings to what is
his own. She was never mine, never:
She made that clear" He arose from
his chair, and began to speak excited
ly, using the familiar gestures, pacing
up and down. I'm obliged to you for
coming, Charters. 1t was a beastly
job, and you did it on my account"
And on hers"
Eyes, yes; but to put it brutally, you
spoiled my chance, if l ever had a
chance, and you spoiled hers. If she
won't take you, she'll die a maid.
That's my honest opinion. It's rather
a case of HumptyDumpty, who ought
to have been a girl. Men get over these
tumbles, but some women don't. She's
her fathers daughter He had stuff in
him to write another big book, but be-
cause the first was forestalled he
bought butterfly-net. And she's half
Mottisfont, and therefore obstinate.
Only idiots ignore these things. I've
=