Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-02-15

me girls delicate brOWS met IN
frown. Even in this far-off way she
felt the arrogant familiarity of this
mans manner toward Mrs. Lancing,
and resented it, Just as she had re-
sented his attempt at impertinent ia
miliartty with herself She supposed
however. as Sir Samuel seemed to be |
so intimate, that he must be connec-
ton, probably near relative. Later
on. however, when Dennis came up
from her supper, and they went to-
gether through minute examination
of the children's belongings. Rather
inc learned casually. from the maids
chatter, that Sir Samuel Broxbourne
was not really relation-only a
friend; and she found herself won
dering little why so refined and dain-
ty woman as Camilla should care
for friendship with such a man.
This was not the only matter that
seemed strange and even inexplicable
where Mrs. Lancing was concerned.
Naturally Katherine was novice in
life as it, was lived in the world in
which the children's mother occupied
prominent place; she was, indeed,
to great extent ignorant Of the ways
and doings Of everyday people (since
at school she had known nothing Of
what passed beyond the school boun-
daries. and in Octavia Baynhurst's
house her outlook had been even
more circumscribed) so that it was'no
great matter for surprise if she found
! herself unable to understand all that
passed about and around her now Bat
what she lacked in actual experience
in definite knowledge, was filled in
by natural wit and sympathy and in
tuition. 1T needed no deep study to
grasp the best and sweetest traits of
so human being as Camilla, nor was
it necessary for worldly knowledge to
open her eyes to the glazing faults,
the amazing contrasts, in this wom-
ans character.
The first time she had heard Mrs.
Lancing tell a lie = quite pleasantly,
and without the slightest effort or
hesitation Katherine had winced
it had been such a trivial, such a pet
ty untruth; but what had given it i'm
portance in the girls eyes, accentuat-
ing the unworthiness of the act, had
been the fact that both the children
had been present. and that Betty had
laughed at her mothers cleverness as
at an excellent joke.
To doubt the woman's anxious,
deep-rooted love for her children was
to doubt the light of the sun itself;
but Katherine summed it up as love
without discrimin alton or any sense
of real responsibility
Camilla Lancing would have been
aghast if any one had told her this;
for there would have been no sacri-
flee too great of this the girl was
. convinced - for the mother to under
} take on behalf of her children, if cir
cumstances should demand it of her.
: Katherine, however. was Judging
her by her everyday attitude, when
J life was running on ordinary and not
J. heroic lines, and she drew her con
illusions from those unconscious
signs and uncounted actions that re
veal the personality far more truth
t fully than any deliberate or analyti
: cal study can ever do.
3 Dennis, who was a garrulous per
son. was fond of dilating on her mis-
9 tress' little ways; but she was loyal
t 1t was soon made evident that she
was very fond of Mrs. Lancing.
n "She never had no proper chance,
she said this night to Miss Granger
t as they made notes. and agreed to buy
s only what was absolutely necessary
Started out, she did, with everything
y that money can give. My sister was
IL a second housemaid in her old home
d That was before her father lost every
t thing and they come down to next t.
nothing. Miss Camilla was only bi
5. of child then, and if Sir Edmund
had done the proper think by her h,
/ would have let his sister take her
IS You see his wife died when Mis-
n Camilla was born. But he wouldn'
K part with her-and so they went wan
n dering about goodness knows where
n never staying more nor q month il
r any place. How I came to know s.
Is much was because took service witt
If Sir Edmund's sister. Lady Settlewood
W and hard place / had with her, too
u a little bit different to what I ge
a now! Her ladyship was foreve
sr with her, she'd no children of he
own. She declared as it was a ST
o and crime that the girl should groy
a. up anyhows, with no chance of schoo
T. ing but there, she just talked to dea
e, ears. For if even the father wou
e have given her up, Miss Camill
50 "Ouiuu nave lell MIN nelUnel
There's a picture of Sir Edmun
c. hanging beside Mrs. Lancings bed
ID said Dennis. "You look at it whe
you go in her room next time, an
f. you'll see what nice face he hat
e Many's the time he's given me
to sovereign when I know he'd none to
lg many to spare!"
to The young governess interpose
here little gently.
ly Perhaps Mrs Ian cling would rattle
lie not have these things talked abou
U Dennis?''
But Dennis who was folding I'D tn
r. clothes and putting them away, onl
: shrugged her shoulders.
h "She knows there'll be nothing toll
4 bad if it's told by me-" she said; Sd,
II SIDES added the woman. I'm tellin
n you this because you're the first pc
b son as has come into this house q
4 I'd care to see stay in, and that's tn
h truth. My dear" said the mait