Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-09-03

completed by the beauty Of the young
girl, who was the only occupant OF
the room Her thick auburn hair gilt
tered like FURNISHED copper in the
light Of the flames. Her face, not SO
perfect in outline as to be devoid OF
character, as yet of rare lovell-
ness. 1t was a strong, noble face, OF
a type not often found among the
women Of the present day. 1t belonged
| to sterner times when women were
called upon to do great deeds for Coo
| or their country, when they died as
martyrs at the stake, or faced death
amid the blazing ruins of their
| homes
Yet there was wealth of tender
ness in the eyes Of Laura Vane as
she gazed into the freight ana
thought OF the man to whom she mad
! given her heart. She had no fear Tor
the future. He was man worthy OF
a great love, clean-minded, honor
1 able gentleman, as yet almost boy
! in comparison to her own developed
i character and intellect, but boy
/ with all the promise of strength 70
fight the battle Of life. Many men,
in all ranks of life, had sought the
A hand Of Laura Vane, but morally and
mentally John Shil lowered head and
4 shoulders above them all. She thank
ed God that her love had been be-
slowed on one who was worthy OF the
love of any woman; for love, like
Samson, is both strong and blind, and
often recks the temple of its own hap
!, piness.
Laura Vane had been born in hum
BILE circumstan she was daugh-
ter of the soil, and her childhood had
differed in no wise from that of other
) children In a similar position. But as
she grew older, her father, recogniz
ing the fact that her young beauty
was already attracting attention, and
, that she was probably destined to
+ marriage above her station, resolved
, to spare no expense on her education
From the national school at LAYER
stone she was sent to ladies col
> lege" at Cheltenham, and three years
at this desirable establishment
l worked a great change in externa
graces and accomplishments, But, a.
! heart. Laura Vane was unchanged
: and it says much for her strength o
: character that she returned to LAYER
5 stone with genuine pleasure and en-
tered into the details Of her home
4 life with heartfelt enthusiasm. Sht
n worked from early morning until dusi
e the daughter of simple farmer
Then she changed her clothes =
dressed for dinner as her fathe
called it and Sam Vane, rough olt
z farmer, found his reward for the day
J. work in gazing at his daughter
d beauty and listening to the sound
l. his daughters, voice.
n Such was the girl who had promis
!. ed to become the wife Of John Shil I
woman who would have graced an
e beautified any position Of life to Wh1c
\ she might have been called; strong
q beautiful, tender-hearted woman, littl
dreaming, as she gaZed, into the fire
and thought of her lover, that sh
e would need all her strength and q
IL her love to support her In the day
! to come.
" Her reveries were broken by lou
q knocking at the hall door, and fe'
"a moments later there was a sound
II footsteps on the stone flags outside
u and the ring Of voice that quickene
e the beating Of her heart She rose t
le her feet and moved forward a pace G
le two as John Shil entered the room.
- He closed the door behind him an
le came unsteadily towards her. A mer
glance at his face was sufficient t
If tell her that something unusual ha
r. occurred. 1t was pale and stern, an
!, there was a look in the eyes this
- frightened her They were the eyes {
le man who had sinned, and who
IT afraid Of the consequences of his sil
,e Her greeting died away on her lip
m and she held out her hand in siienc
Ill TO her surprise, he stopped, locke
le at her hand for second or two, an
re then shook his head. AS a rule /
III greeted her with a kiss and an affe
st tionate embrace. Now he stood s.
lg feet away from her. and for momel
,g it seemed as though the whole wor
s. lay between them.
ia mo Laura, MOI" he cried sudden
n and fiercely. mot even your hand :
is till have told YOU Is your father In
az "No, Jack" she replied calmly; y
ne has gone to Brandersham to buy son
lie farm implements. He will not be bat
s, until eleven o'clock. What has ha
ke pened? Come and sit here by the fl
is and tell me-" She spoke quietly, :
IT. most soothingly, as mother mig
speak to child. He came forwa
IS, SLOWLY, ana ola not LOOK dI IeT, dS
en- flung his great body into an armcha
For a few seconds she looked dov
20 at him, half in pity and half In fee
an But whatever her feelings We're. s.
- left no trace of them to be seen
~ the man who might need her he
Cd and sympathy. She sat down on t
opposite side of the fireplace. Jol
Shils face was buried in his hant
ne and for a few moments neither
j them spoke. The woman was the fl
'at to break the silence.
Try We'll, Jack" she said quiet
lh what have you to tell me?" A met
as er woman would have asked him W
mn he refused to take her hand, a
aa might even have spoken in tone
annoyance. But Laura Vane KIN
well enough that her lover had
tended no discourtesy and that
are act was inspired by high code
,ar, honor rather than desire to won
pht her feelings.
He did not reply to her questi
tho but remained motionless as stat
IL