Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-01-28

mas not insisted on finding me wife.
1t Is such an absurd idea il one stops
TO think about it,, he said, lightly;
'one chooses ones own servants, one
does not so running about to ones
friends to ask them If particular
man is likely to be good coachman
or butler or gardener; but in the
matter of wife everybody seems to
consider that he or she has a right
to choose for another person"
Mrs. Brenton smiled, but only
family
II believe am every bit as bad at
matchmaking as most people. You
must not endow me with unmerited
qualities"
They drifted into silence after this.
It was pleasant to Rupert Haver-
ford to sit and watch Mrs. Brenton's
comely hands busying themselves
with the knitting.
She wore few good rings, but for
the rest her gown was old-fashioned
not to say shabby, and she had no
other jewelry except an Insignificant
brooch or two.
He was quite in earnest when he
said that she was the one person out
of all his new acquaintanc whom
he liked the best
There was something so through
about her. He could quite believe
the stories Of her prowess as sports
woman and hard rider to hounds;
and yet she was very womanly. In
pain or in trouble, one would turn to
her instin ctively..
1t gave him an extraordinary sense
of pleasure tonight to realise that
Mrs. Brenton was Camilla Lancing's
friend, and that she had tender and
even an anxious interest in the wo-
man about whom he was struggling
with himself, the woman who at once
tempted and repealed him.
He smoked his cifar through, and
then after a little desultory CONVEX
sation he rose and said Goodnight"
"Pray tell Mrs. Lancing that my
motor is at her disposal If she cares
to use It tomorrow" he said. II
don't think she need fear another
breakdown"
"You won't use it yourself?" Mrs.
Brenton asked.
mo, it will take me too long to
get to town. must see my mother
before going into the city. 1 shall
not say Goodbye" Rupert added, as
he held her hand in his, "for you are
coming up to town almost directly,
are you not? An you have promised
to dine with me. you know
ri am longing to see your house."
Agnes Brenton said. 81 hear it is
full Of beautiful things. Camilla has
raved to me about it,"
ut is beautiful" he agreed, and
then he just smiled; you see. can
say that. because I have had very
little to do with putting 1t together
inherited nearly all my treasures"
He was gone before Mrs. Lancing,
in pause of the game, realised that
he was nowhere near She got up
from the card-table suddenly; there
was patch of hot colour on her
cheeks.
81 am simply dying for cigarette,
Agnes, and now that Mr.. Bogie has
gone, I can smoke in peace
"Mr 'Bogie,' as you call him." Mrs.
Brenton said evenly sis leaving us
very early tomorrow morning. But
he wants you to use his motor if you
care about doing So
Thanks. no.: said Mrs. Lancing;
81 think I have had about enough of
motor-car for a day or two. What
have you been talking about. you
two?" she asked suddenly, after a
little pause. She had lit the cigar
cite, but was merely playing with it;
smoking with her was only pre-
tence.
II don't know" said Agnes Brenton.
nothing in particular. He is the sort
Of man one need never try to make
conversation with. l mean to see as
much Of him as possibly can; I
like him very. very much''
Camilla made moue at her
'You are well matched-just two
dear, stodgy, preachy people together.
He ought to have been a schoolmast-
err. | know l shock him awfully,
don't -"
my dear child" said Mrs. Brenton,
"Mr Haverford has not confled in me,
but if must speak the truth, | don't
think he troubles himself about you
much one way or the other
Camilla Lancing was amazed. and
sharply hurt.
ooh, don't you?' she said. ooh;
that is quite new idea. AS matter
of fact, had sort OF notion he was
thinking about me great deal"
"You are vain little person. Mrs.
Brenton observed. in the same even
way; "but there trot olong; they are
calling for you. Sammy has finished
dealing"
Continued in next issue.)