Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-08-09
little brother Of this Constantine you


youngster."
"Ah!" Marsh's ejaculation was
sharp What was the matter with it?'
Measles
did 1t get well?"
1T was getting along all right
when left"
The other fell silent. while Miss
Wayland inquired, curiously: Wnat
is this mysterious woman like?
"she Is young, refined--thoroughly
nice in every way"
Good looking also, dare say!'
Very"
She was about to pursue her In
quiries further, but the dinner was
finished and Mr.. Wayland had asked
for his favorite cigars, SO she rose ana
Boyd accompanied her, leaving the
others to smoke. But, strangely
enough, Marsh remained in such a
state of preoccupation, even after
their departure, that Mr.. Wayland's at
tempts at conversation elicted only
the vaguest and shortest Of answers.
In the music room Mildred turned
upon Boyd. "Why didn't you tell me
about this woman before?"
=
"And yet she Is young, beautiful, re-.
fined, lives romantic sort OF exls-
tence, and entertained you" she
tossed her head.
"Are you JEALOUSY" he inquired with
a smile.
"of such person? Certainly not"
Il wish you were," he confessed
truthfully. IF you would only get
really jealous. should be delighted:
I should begin to feel little sure OF
YOU"
She seated herself at the piano and
struck few idle notes, inquiring cas-
uaIly: "Kalvik Is the name OF the
place where you are going, isn't II?
1T is."
81 suppose you will see a great deal
of this-Cherry Malotte?"
'Undoubtedly, inasmuch as we are
partners"
''Partners!" Mildred ceased playing
and swung about. What do you
mean?"
"She is interested in this enterprise;
the cannery site is hers
IL see!" After moment, Does this
new affair Of fathers have any par
/,
Eyes and no." he answered, feelng
again the weight Of this last compll-
cation, forgotten for the moment.
what do you wish me to do?"
Nothing; only for the present
please don't mention my scheme
either to him or to Mr.. Marsh.I am
bit uncertain as to my course. You see,
it means So much to me that cant
bear to give it up, and yet 1t may lead
to great-unpleasantness."
She nodded, comprehendingly.
The others joined them, and Boyd
made his adieus; but in leaving he
bore with him a weight of doubt and
uneasiness in strange contrast with
the buoyancy he had felt upon his ar
rival. 3,a 1e5 t,s4 ri.
Willis Marsh, on the contrary, lost
no time in emerging from his tact
turn mood upon Boyd's departure. and
seemed filled with even more than his
accustomed optimism. Whatever had
been the cause of his transitory de-
preston, he could not fail to reflect
that his fortunes had been singularly
fair of late; and now that the other
man was out of the way, Miss Way
land, for the first time in his acquaint.
ance, began to display lively interest
in his affairs, which made his salts
faction complete. She questioned him
closely regarding his work and habits
in the North, letting down her reserve
to such an unparalleled extent that
when Mr. Wayland at last excused
himself and retired to the library,
Marsh felt that the psychological mo-
ment had arrived.
"This has been a day of triumphs
for me-" he stated, "and am anxious
to crown it with even greater good
fortune"
Don't be greedy" the girl eau.
toned.
"That is mans nature"
She laughed lightly. Having used
my poor, yielding parent for your own
needs, you now wish to employ his in.
nocent child in the same manner. Is
there no limit to your ambition?"
There is, and can reach 1t with
your help"
please don't count on me; am the
most. disappointing Of creatures"
But he disregerded her words. II
hope not; at any rate. must know !"
81 warn you," she said.
Nevertheless, I insist; and yeti
don't quite know how to begin It isn't
new story to you, perhaps |
an trying to say-but it is to me, |
can assure you-and 1t means every
thing to me- don't even have to tell
YOU what it is--you must have seen it
in my eyes. IL have never cared
much for women-I am a mans man,
but"
"Please don't" she interrupted,
quietly. But he continued, unheeding:
"You must know that I love you.
Every man must love you, but no man
could love you more than l do. IL
could make lot of romantic avowals,
Miss Mildred, but am not an adept
at such things. You can make me very
happy il"
II am sorry"
II know What have said is trite,
but my whole heart is in it. Your IA
ther approves. I am quite sure, and so
1t all rests with you"
For the first time the girl realized
the deadly earnestness of the man and