Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-11-06

of the window of papa's Office and saw
Mr.. Ardmore sitting on a bench In
the state house yard looking ever so
sad and detected, and sent the priv
ate secretary out to get him; and now
we are, think, the best of friends
and Mr.. Ardmore Is, as have already
told you, the governor of North Caro-
lima to all intents and purposes"
May I call you Jerry? Thank you,
dear. Let me tell you that am thirty
two and you are-?''
Seventeen" supplied Jerry.
And this Is the most amusing, in
teresting and exciting thing have
heard in all my life. 1t might be diff
ficult ordinarily for me to forgive the
wink, but your explanation lifts it out
of the realm of social improperly in
to the sphere of generous benevolence.
And if, after Colonel Gillingwater has
gone to his reward, you should marry
my brother, shall do all in my power
to make your life in our family happy
IN every way"
Your brother does not seem par
ticularly proud of his family connec-
ton" said Jerry. He spoke of you
in the most beautiful way, but he
seems distressed by the actions OF
some of the Others"
Mrs. Atchison sighed.
Tommy is right about us. We are
sad lot"
But he Is very hard on the duke.
Since came to Ardsley his Grace has
treated me with the greatest courtesy,
hn hac rs oJk
complimentary terms. He is beyond
question a man of kind heart, for he
has promised me his mothers pearl
necklace, which had been in her fam
lily for four hundred years."
II should not hesitate to take the
necklace, Jerry, If he really produces
it, for my sister, his wife, has never
had the slightest glimpse of it, and it
is, believe, in the hands Of certain
English trustees for the benefit of the
dukes creditors. dislike to spoil one
of his Grace's pretty illusions, but un-
less Mr.. Billings softens his heart a
great deal toward the duke I fear
that you will not get the pearls this
summer"
Il must tell you as my chaperon,
Mrs. Atchison, that the duke has al
ready offered to elope with me. He
told me last night as we were having
our coffee on the terrace, that he
would gladly give UP his wife, mean
ing, | suppose, your sister, and the
Ardmore millions for me; but while l
think him fascinating l want you to
feel quite safe, for | promise you /
shall elope with no one while I am
your guest
Mrs. Atchison's face had grown a
little white and she compressed her
lips in lines that were the least bit
grim.
''The scoundrel!" she exclaimed half
under her breath. ''To think that he
would insult a child like you! He is
hanging about us here in the hope of
getting more money, while my poor
sister, his wife. is in an English san
atorium half crazed by his brutality. II
Tommy knew this he would undoubted-
ly kill him!"
That would be very unnecessary. A
duke, after all, is something, and |
should hate to have the poor man
killed on my account. And besides,
Mrs. Atchison, am perfectly able to
take care Of myself"
~ believe you are, Jerry. But it's
a terrible thing to have that beast
about, and shall tell him tonight that
he must leave this place and the
country"
But first" said Jerry, 81 have an
engagement to ride with him after din.
~
tunity of seeing moon with a duke OF
ancient family, here on the sacred soil
of North Carolina, Is something that
can not lightly put aside"
"You can not-you must not go!"
Leave it to me- said Jerry, smil
| ing; land promise you that the duke
will never again insult an American
girl And now I think | must dress
for dinner
She rose and turned her eyes
dreamily to the tower above, where
the North Carolina state flag tapped
idly in the breeze. This silken emblem
with it's single star Miss Geraldine
Dangerfield carried with her in he
trunk wherever she travelled; and hav
ing noted Ardmores unadorned flag
staff, she had, with her own hands, I'm
furled it, highly resolved that it Should
remain until the rightful governor re
turned to his own.
A few minutes later, as Mrs. Atch
ison was reading the late mail in he
sitting room. she took up New Yorl
newspaper of the day before and raj
over the headlines. Lost: A Cover
nor was a caption that held her eye
and she read special despatch date
Raleigh with deepest interest. Cover
nor Dangerfield, the item limited, hat
not yet returned from New Orlean
where he had gone to attend the Cot
ton Planters convention, and where
moreover. he had quarreled with tn
governor Of South Carolina. TIL
cowardly conduct of both governors i
) dealing with the Appleweight band G
outlaws was recited at length; and
was also intimated that Governor Oar
gerfield was deliberately absentin
himself from his Office to avoid NEE
ing squarely the Appleweight issue.
/ Mrs. Atchison smiled to herself
: then she laughed merrily as she ran
for her maid