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

have been living for so many years.
| ! was given to understand that she
was my guardian, but | suppose that
cannot be true, or she would not write
| to me as she has written now" she
broke off abruptly.
What are my mothers orders?'
asked Haverford very quietly.
She says ! am to go away at once,
as she has no further use for me. In
her letter she writes that as she in
tends to remain in Paris for some
| time. the house in Kensington is 10
be shut up Immediately. In fact, -
the girl gave a shrug of her thin
shoulders-"this is already done. |
! find that some one has been good
enough to pack my few things in q
box, and the only maid who remains
informed me that she, too, had heard
from Mrs. Baynhurst, and that by her
mistress orders | was to leave at
once = y
She looked at Rupert very steadily.
and there was something Of contempt
In the expression of her dark eyes.
"Your mother is proverbially careless
Mr. Haverford,' she said drily: "she
never troubles herself about those
small things which are called duties
by other people, so | suppose 1T has
not even dawned on her that by cut
ting me adrift in this way she puts me-
| In horribly awkward position And
yet | don't know why | should sup
pose her in ignorance Of this" Kath-
crime Granger added the next mo-
ment, for our life together has been
so miserably uncomfortable that
dare say she is glad to have such a
good opportunity of getting rid of M.
You see she smiled family, 81 can
not possibly annoy her when she Is
so far away. She knows, of course,
that I should have not merely requir-
ed, but demanded, an explanation If
she had dismissed me herself, but she
hopes, no doubt, that | shall accept
the inevitable If she remains out of
reach for some time: or" with a
shrug Of her shoulders, ''she may pos
sibly hope that some good chance,
such as restitution, may take me out
of her way altogether. | have not I
penny in the world" the girl said in
that same harsh, sharp way, land no
one to whom l can turn for advice or
help. Please understand that this is
my only excuse for coming to you
Then, before Mr.. Haverford had
time to speak, she went on with now
an eager note in her voice:
And then l want to know some.
thing about myself. Perhaps should
have gone on accepting everything a:
1t came, asking no. questions, if this
had not happened but tonight feel
SO = ~ so lost so bewildered to know
what to do; to understand y She
cleared her throat and looked plead
inCly at Rupert Hayerford. CAS- yor
belong to Mrs. Baynhurst please tel
me why did she take me away from
the school where | have lived ever
,, since | can remember Why was
told she had the right to take me
away?"
; Haverford had moved to the IRE
, place, and was standing there look
ing at her with contracted brows.
He listened with a sense of The
greatest discomfort, and even uneasi
, ness.
: .'Relieve me-" he said when ht
spoke, ''if I could answer these quas
tons | would do so most gladly bu
I am an absolute stranger to all .ha
passes in my mothers life. ! know
l you ware her secretary but she has
| had number of secretaries. and If
this, as in other things, she acts fo1
herself absolutely. She has never
spoken to me about you" Here h
paused. 'If it is true that she called
: herself your guardian this is Mute,
about which I know nothing. | an
| sorry,'' he finished abruptly ISL
down, he said all at once, you mus
| be tired
She had turned yecy wlite, am she
sat down in the cha". For all in
slant her eyes closed, and in tina
spell of silence he saw how young sht
was. scarcely more than child.
He was accustomed by this time tt
come in contact with all sorts o
,, trouble, with the sordid misery of tn,
|, very poor, the hopeless, patheti
endurance of those who hav'
to keep a brave front to the worls
whilst they are literally starving
+ Sorrow was a well worn study, an
there was no mistake about the stor,
, written on that young, white face.
She opened her eyes almost di
: rectly.
IL beg that you will not let NJ
!. detain YOU she said in that SHARP
t proud way; then more proudly still
f she added, 81 am sorry now that
came +"
: "On the contrary" said Ruper
t Haverford. 81 am glad that you cam
You did quite rightly Though hav
4 made 1t a principle never to mix Il
? my mothers affairs. this appears +
V me to be matter. which requires il
= vestigation. As you have just sal
g yourself, she acts with no convention
| al basis. doubtless she does not i
t the least grasp the meaning of you
d real position. You must permit m
s TO charge myself with the care Of 20
It till we have communicated with Mrs
IT Baynhurst."
o The girl did not answer him imme,
X lately; the gaze of her dark eyes ha,