Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-01-24
CHAPTER XVII. Continued J


"He has promised to forget the
past; in acknowledgment ought to
signify by an act that will touch hin,
that l pledge myself equally to forget,
as much as possible. II | concentra-
ted all my attention on you, it would
as remarked little while ago, open
the old wound again. Now, if l,
Douglass a bachelor, adopt youth
without family ties in the eyes of the
world, it would greatly mitigate the
fault of the past. give you my word
that this. act has touched him more
than can express to you: he was
moved to tears! l have shown good
policy in taking this step. would not
insult you by thinking that you would
), hurt by not inheriting all my money
at my death. You will always be the
first of my affections. This step that
IL have taken in order to hide my real
sentiments for you will deceive every
one. Addison Kingsley included
every WELL said the doctor re.
signedly, shut why @; why not
some. one else?'
"Why some one else more than
g.? have been cut offsfrom every
one for so long that seem to know
no one in the world. Here is an un-
fortunate youth whom have met here,
/ have made him my protege; his mind
lis weak, but he is not mad. You told
me yourself that he is not dangerous.
Besides, 1 am Kidding you of an incum-
brance, which sooner or later might
bring trouble upon you"
"That is true" he replied; "you are
quite right, but I had made certain
plans for the future. and now they
have all fallen through. l had hoped
lyme and me; in some respects she and
are placed in the same position-she
has no father; have one, but have
not the moral right 10 show my affec-
ton openly for him. You could have
been father to both of us; our home
would be your home. Evelvne and
would have done all we could to make
you happy. But you prefer to go, and
i must submit"
Williams emotion was communi.
cative. If he had continued much
longer in that time. l should have
broken down completely. i was sick
of the lies and scheming! How much
wanted to throw aside my hypocrisy
and tell him all. and be Barrabas, the
sculptor, again!
Fortunately, at this weak moment
he was called away on hurried visit
to, a patient, and had tine to recover
myself.
A great contrast to the doctors sor.
row was the delight of Evelyne and
Marcadian. Eve]yne did not try to hide
the contentment she felt that ! was
taking g. away with me. Z--- was
going across the sea! was taking him
with me and was going to protect
him.! Oh! how she and Marcadian
wished me good luck, and bon voyage!
The lawyer scarcely left my side dur.
ing the few days that remained He &C.
companied me to the different stores;
he told me the best houses to get what
required; he made them show me the
most up-to-date trunks; he examined
the grain Of the leather of the travel.
ing bags, and advised me on all my
purchases. If had not stopped him
he would have settled the bills. He be-
came enthusiastic at every moment.
"Ah, Mr.. Douglass he cried. show
happy you must be to 60 back to
America It has been the dream of my
life to visit that wonderful free coun-
try. where all is great, a country free
from our conventions and our preju.
dices! All, you are fortunate!!"
His laudatory speech was without a