Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-01-28
THE FORBIDDEN ROAD
BY MARIA ALBANESI
Copyright 1so7 by Maria AbsnesI. All Rights Reserved.
By MARIA ALBANESI
Copyright 1907 by Maria AIbsnesI.
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
CHAPTER / CONTINUED.

OH struggling and ngntlng IN THIS
weary way. l was never meant to
struggle and fight, and is it my fault
that make mistakes? How can l be
different? was brought up to be
what l am. When other children
were given twopence a week to put
into money-box, was given a five
pound note to spend on dolls or make
into kites. OF course l am extrava-
CAN'T OF course l get into holes!
should be a living wonder if didn't"
She pushed the thick hair back from
her brows, and, slipping from the
chair, punched herself on the hearth
rug, holding her hands before her face
to shield it from the blaze.
II won't believe he doesn't care"
she said to herself. her thoughts re-
verting to Haverford again "He
does care, only he won't speak. And
he makes me SO nervous. I feel as If
he were looking at me through mic
roscope. l am sure Agnes thinks he
cares!" She sighed, and shut her
eyes for moment; then her mind
worked into an easier groove. II do
believe Sammy was glad to see mel"
was her next thought. "He wasn't a
bit changed. Perhaps I am worrying
myself for nothing. Perhaps, after all,
he never knew about it. He is so
careless, 1t would be so easy and even
natural for things to have been pass.
ed over. Anyhow, am quite sure,
whatever happens in the future, he
can't know anything now. Sammy
isn't the sort to keep things to him.
self" Her face lightened; the lips,
the eyes, grew eager. AS was newt
way slowly but surely before the in
evitable with her despair, began to
give way slowly but surely before the
inevitable optimism of her nature.
able with her, despair began to give
She pinned up her hair, and sat gaz-
Ing into the fire, humming to herself
softly while her mind pieced together
dozen different possibilities, and
carried her gradually but surely away
from doubt and definite fear When
the clock chimed eight she sprang to
her feet.
My black gown, Dennis" she said
She had convinced herself that Rupert
Haverford would like his wife to wear
black and sober colors. In the same
way she assured herself that he would
read family prayers every morning. II
she determined that she would al
ways breakfast in her room
A little packet was lying on the
dressing table, and she opened it
with a smile on her lips and pleasure
in her eyes.
Look, Dennis, what Haverford
bought for the children This is for
Betty, and this for baby! Is it too
late to send them tonight? =
Won't they be pleased? No." she de-
cided, II don't think I will send them
Darling hearts, they will expect me
to bring them something when / go
back tomorrow Can't you see them
waiting for me, Dennis?'
They'll be in rare state of ex-
citement, expect" said the maid,
with smile.
Camilla Lancing fingered the trim
kets as she sat and had her hair
dressed
He is really kind" she said to her
self.
Contrasted with the other man, he
had a new and great charm for her
tcnight-a value he had not bad be-
fore.
"And though he is dull, he is GER
tsinly not vulgar" she unused on;
1T is extraordinary that he should be
as he is, and that Sammy should be
such vulgarian, and yet the one is o
professedly middle-class man. and the
other is connected with any amount
Of big people. wish I understood
him a little better! But he puzzles
me, and he worries me- she sighed
here fretfully. "Of course l must
marry him if he is asks me- yet the
mere thought of living all day long in
such starchy atmosphere takes the
life out of me! I thought he would
have been SO easy to manage when
we first met! And instead of accept
ing our views he imposes his own No
wonder he is not popular! only
wish" said Camilla, signing again as
she got up, and looked at her pretty
head critically in the mirror, II only
wish he were twenty years older, and
then I would put all my troubles be.
fore him, and ask him to help me. He
would help me now. know that per-
fectly well, but I should lose him if
told him the truth. And don't
want to lose him. can't lose him."
she said, little feverishly, especial
ly now, especially now" she wits
pered
\ Mrs. Lanclng was one OF the last
down that evening-in fact, she kent
the rest of the party waiting for din
ner, but when she did come she was
SO charming and SO apologize. and
looked for fascinating. that every one
forgave her.
Sir Samuel Broxbourne took her in
to dinner, and she sat where she could
not see Haverford
She could hear little of the con-
versation. however, that passed at the
other end of the table, and she chang
Cd colour when she heard him tell
Mrs. Brenton that he was going to
town by the first train in the morn
ing.
She translated this to mean a sud
den retreat on his part For there
had been half arrangement that he
should take her back to London in
his mou,r, and as the chauffeur had
promised that the car would be at
Ielyerton either late that night OF
very early the next morning, there
Was no reason why this engagement
should be broken.
She ate the rest of her dinner in a