Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-10-21

y
of course you couldn't have been
awake at two o'clock in the morning."
The secretary was SO anxious to ac-
quit him of any knowledge of the situa-
ton at Kildare that it seemed kindest
to tell him nothing. The secretary's
face lost its anxiety for a moment, and
he smiled.
THE governor has an old friend and
admirer up there who always puts
jug of fresh buttermilk on board when
he passes through. The governor was
expected home this morning, and
thought maybe"
you're positive it's always butter
milk, are you?" asked Ardmore with
a grin.
Certainly" replied the secretary
with dignity. Governor Dangerf1eld's
sentiments as to the liquor traffic are
we'll known"
"Of course, all the world knows that.
But I'm afraid all jugs look alike to
me; but then, the fact is I'm in the
jug business myself. Good morning"
The governors mansion was easily
found, and having walked about the
neighborhood until his watch marked
eleven Ardmore entered the grounds
and rang the bell at the front door.
Once within, the air of domestic
peace, the pictures on the walls, a
whip and felt hat with blue band,
on the hall table, and book on a
chair in the drawing room, turned
down to mark the absent readers
place, rebuked him for his impudence.
If he had known just how to escape
he would have done so; but the maid
who admitted him had said that Miss
Dangerfield was at home, and had
gone in search for her with Ardmore's
card. He deserved to be sent to jail
for entering gentleman's house In
this way. He realized now, when it
was too late, that he ought to have
and. been introduced to the Danger
fields by some gentleman Of standing,
If he wished to know them. The very
portraits on the walls, the photographs
on the mantel and table frowned cold
ly upon him. The foundations of his
character were set in sand; he knew
that, because he had found it so easy
to lie, and he had been told in his
youth that one sin paved the way for
another. He would take the earliest
train for Ardsley and bury himself
there for the remainder Of his days.
He had hardly formed this resolution
when light step sounded in the hall,
and Miss Geraldine Dangerfeld stood
at the threshold. His good resolutions
went down like a house of cards.
Miss Dangerfield," he began, 81 had
the pleasure of meeting your father in
New Orleans the other day, and as
was passing through town unexpected
ly, thought l should give myself the
pleasure of calling on him. He said
that in case / found him absent
might call upon you. In fact, he wrote
a line on card for me to present, but
l stupidity left it at my hotel"
They faced each other in the dim,
cool room for what seemed to him
endless centuries. She was much
younger than he had imagined; but
| her eyes were blue, just as he remem.
bered them, and her abundant light
hair curled away from her forehead
| in pretty waves, and was tied today
| with a large bow Of blue ribbon. For
/ an instant she seemed puzzled or
mystified, but her blue eyes regarded
him steadily. The very helplessness
|
blue linen gown, the girlish ribbon in
her hair, proclaimed him blackguard.
Wont you please sit down, Mr..
Ardmore?"
And when they were seated there
was another pause, during which the
blue eyes continued to take account
of him, and he fingered his tie, feeling
sure that there was something wrong
with it.
| It's warm, isn't it?"
Il suppose it is. It's way summer
has, of being mostly warm"
He was quite sure that she was
laughing at him; there was tinge of
irony in the very way in which she
pronounced "wa'm," lingeringly. as
though to prolong her contempt for
his stupidity in not finding anything
better to say.
| She had taken the largest chair in
the room, and it seemed to hide her
away in it's shadows, so that she could
examine him at her leisure as he sat
under a window in the full glare of it's
light.
81 enjoyed meeting your father SO
much, Miss Dangerfield. think we are
always likely to be afraid of great
men, but your father made me feel at
home at once. And he tells such CAPT
tai stories-I've been laughing over
them ever since left New Orleans
Father has quite reputation for
his stories. When did you leave New
4 Orleans, Mr.. Ardmore?"
/ Sunday night. l stopped in Atlanta
a few hours and came on through
What fine old town Atlanta is; don't
you think so?'
4 II certainly do not, Mr.. Ardmore
It's so dreadfully northernized."
When she said ''no'thenized" her in
donation gave the word cutting edge
81 suppose, Mr.. Ardmore, that yor
saw papa at the luncheon at the Pha
ros Club in New Orleans?"
"Why, yes, Miss Dangerfield. 1t was
there l met the governor"
"Are you quite sure it was there
Mr.. Ardmore?"
! why, think that was the place.
don't know my New Orleans as
should but"