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

uOlQ OF d Dlanh Cu6QuS Vi liluS, yOu
filled it in for nice large sum, and
signed my name, by Cad! as bold as
brass! | remember said Broxbourne
shaking the ash from his cigarette,
81 was is a tearing hurry when
answered your letter-it was the very
day l left for America, in fact l
just scrubbed the small cheque any
how, and never noticed that as tore
it out of my cheque-book l tore a
blank one with it. But you found that
out in double-quick time, didn't your
Camilla turned to him. The hard,
dry look had gone from her eyes; they
were dim with tears.
Sammy" she said brokenly. don't
rub it in so hard. | know i know
how horrible this thing is! When you
came back last November, | nearly
died when | saw you. | prepared my
self for everything, and when you were
so friendly, when you said nothing, |
began to hope, even 70 believe, you
OF know. Why did you not speak
then? Don't you see nov much worse
1t Is for me now?"
Sir Samuel smiled at her
"Of course it is" he said, cigar
cite between his teeth; II know that
:. Il tumbled to your little game with
this man the very moment came
back, and promised myself some fun.
1t tickled me to death to have you
running after me just as If you liked
me, pretending to want me, and i'm
agining you were throwing dust in my
eyes! | settled then I would wait
while. Worse for you! Well, do you
81 -. I want you to be merci-
full :. (. l am in your hands, | know
it-but you-you won't be cruel to me
Sammy" said Camilla, in that same
moved voice She caught her breath.
eff Rupert must be told | Will
tell him. She turned to BroX-
bourne abruptly. do you know why
1 have promised to marry him? 1t is
for my children's sake. Ned's father
suddenly stopped the money he had
been giving me, and demanded the
children. 1t is the truth I am telling
you, Sammy-the truth. The children
are more to me than life"
.Broxbourne answered her coldly; he
was unmoved by her broken voice and
stained face.
81 have only been back day or
two, but from what | can gather"
he said easily, Il believe you are now
a fairly wealthy woman. l must say
he has behaved extraordinarily we'll,
but of course that was little bit more
of you cleverness. Anyhow, as you
have just told me you only promised to
marry him because Of the children,
you see the man himself doesn't count.
You've got the money, and he can't
take that away from you'll don't
suppose he would if he could-so all
you've got to do is to slide out of
things as quickly as you can. I'll give
| you month to do it in BroXbourne
said magnanimously.
Camilla brushed her eyes with her
pocket-handerchief; she was utterly
unable to answer him, and at that
moment they heard the voice OF Bet
ty calling to them. The child was
evidently running back to join them
go on" said Camilla, hoarsely; "gc
on ;. r. and meet :. her r. Fol
Gods sake, go :. don't let her come
-. l will follow.
"I'll take her along with me to the
stables Broxbourne said, and he
limped with a smile as Camilla turn
ed, and half-wildly, half-blindly, walk
ed sharply away from the house.
CHAPTER XIII.
The year was speeding into spring
Easter had come and gone.
Down in the country, in the old
fashioned gardens that stretched a
the back of Yelverton, the sun wa
busy bringing out leaves, and even thu
blossoms, almost visibly.
The children had found a delightful
warm, sheltered spot, and there the
sat with Katherine basking in tn
sunshine, protected from the chillines
of the spring wind by the tall, sur
burnt wall on which spread pea
trees and peach trees, the pink flow
ers and the white flowers mingling tc
gether where the long arms of tn
branches met and touched.
Betty was supposed to- be having les
sons, but she was not very diligen
pupil; not that any one urged her t
learn.
Mrs. Brenton's theory was tina
children should run wild till they wer
seven or eight, provided they wer
properly influenced, and it was reall
ASHSS ID SutoH W uo SupCl
with Katherine the care of the chi
dren now.
Mrs. Lancing had gone back to tow
just before Easter rather hurried,
and she had not taken the childre
l with her.
Her plans had been changed. II
stead of staying in London she wer
to the south of England On a visi
From there she wrote, announcing the
she had felt impeled to postpone tn
marriage.
81 don't quite know what is wron
but my heart is playing me tricks, an
| really want to feel much better b
: fore | rush into my new repons
, bilities . have a sort of idea tt
, Deyonshire air will do me no end
good
The children rejoiced openly whe
they found they were not going ava
from Yelverton.
Rupert Haverford came frequent
down to see them all. His mannt
r with Katherine always amused he
He seemed to regard it as a duty tn;
g he should put her through sort
=.