Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-09-01

5CBAPIIR AXlV tCOncluded.)
cts at first that we want friend
After the funeral, when | came back
to this room" She paused and in a
firmer voice continued: "Well, you
are here. and thank you for all your
kindness" She put out both her
hands, which he took and held. Then
she whispered softly: Il don't regret
that the end came SO swiftly. He
wished it so. Several times he spoke
of you.fHe's a good fellow, Frank lis
dale, capital fellow. should have
liked to have had son like Frank
Tisdale.' Can't you hear him saying
that?"
EYES,"
He held her hands tighter, looking
hungrily into her face.
81 had to tell you tnar. It meant a
great deal from him."
perhaps it meant more than you
think, joy
He had never called her by her
Christian name before.
t'Eh?"
You see your dear father was bit
of diplomat. And nc could handle
men and women as delicately as he
handled butterflies. I'm sure that he
knew that would give the world to
have the right to call myself his son.
Joy, let me take care of you! Com
and share my life!" His voice ,rem,
bled oddly. 'Ill be so good 10 you
And there'n be so much for you to do
You don't mind fight, do you? you
aren't afraid of work."
He drew her towards him, but she
resisted. With a sigh he released
her. Tears were in her eyes and in
her voice when she said: Il wish
could come to you, but can't, can't.
And now,"-her voice broke,-"I have
lost you, too"
mo, no. he whispered
She turned and went to the mantel-
piece, leaning her elbow upon it, show
Ing her fine, delicately cut profile.
After pause she said slowly in a
firm voice:
eff we are to remain friends must
tell you something. 1t will hurt you,
but it will make our friendship posi-
BILE in the future. Sit down and look
at mel"
He sat down.
II loved man who was not worthy
she murmured, SO low that he could
hardly catch the words. He is dead,
and, perhaps, it is well that it is so, for
now can think of him kindly, think
of the good that was in him, and not
of the evil Don't ask me any ques-
lions, please"
st isn't necessary" said Tisdale.
&"You are telling me what I know al
ready"
She gave a faint cry Of astonish-
ment.
"You-know?"
eyes"
She did not speak for a few mo,
ments, trying to rally her powers won
dering what he knew and how much.
Tisdale said nervously: "Now that
the ice is broken, can mention some
thing else. When Charteris,"-a his
name she turned her head entirely
was asked by you to come up to the
Rectory he wanted to tell you who he
was"
'Why didn't he?"
81 prevented him.
"You prevented him." She repeat
ed the phrase. Tisdale gave his reas.
ons, rather haltingly; then, as she said
nothing, he added with gesture of
depreciation: "You must remember
that he believed you were engaged to
Esme Burgess"
With her face hidden she asked an
other question.
"You and he have talked it over.
When?"
upon the night the Luna went
down.
"You saw him that night?"
EYES,"
Her face, white and piteous, flashed
upon him. He could see that she
scented mystery, that her instinct was
alert, ready to swoop upon every word
he uttered and tear the truth out of it.
did he tell you that he wrote to
me?"
"Yes-and he showed me your an.
swer. Because of that, because had
heard from his own lips there was no
chance for him. I thought, I ventured