Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-08-29

| Astonished, she looked from her an
Gle to the other man. And perhaps
It was the real anxiety and suspense
of Bailey's expression that drew her
quick reply.
"Let us. uncle. Since we need him,
let us have him"
Every WE'LL" said Mr.. French. you
hear, Bailey"
! There was long silence after the
junior partners withdrawal.
Come where can see you, Emily,
her uncle finally demanded. liked
your decided answer few moments
ago; you can reason. How long have
you been daughter In my houseg
"Six years." she responded, obedi-
emily moving low chair opposite.
ct was fifteen when you took me from
the convent-to make me very,very
happy. dear"
II sent for you when I sent for
Dick, and for the same, reason.
have tried three times to rear one OF
my name to fitness to bear 1t, ana
each one has failed except you.
wish you were man, Emily; there 1s
work for q rfrench to do"
| when you say that. l wish We're
! But-Tm not, I'm not" She hung
out her slender, round arms IN ges-
ture of helpless resignation. I'm not
even strong minded woman VINO
| might do instead. Uncle Ethan, may
I ask-it was Mr.. Bailey who made
me think-my cousin whom never
saw, will he never come nome"
Her voice faltered on the last
| words. frightened at her own daring.
| But her uncle answered evenly, II
coldly:
Never"
"He offended you so?"
His whole life was an offsense.
School college, at home, in each he
| went wrong At twenty-one he left
me and married a woman from the
vaudeville stage. 1t is not Of him you
are to think, Emily, but of substi-
tute for him. For that l designed
| Dick: once I hoped you would marry
| him and sober his idleness.'
"Please, no." she refused gently. Il
am fond of Dick, but please, no"
| ~ am not asking it of you. He Is
we'll enough, a good boy. not over
| wise, but not what Is needed here
Failed, again; am not fortunate.
There is left only you
"Me?"
| Her startled dark eyes and his de-
termined gray ones met, and so re-
manned.
"You, and your husband. Are you
| going to marry man who can take
nv place in this business, in the fac
tory and the model village my brother
and I built around 1t: man whose
name will be fit to join with ours and
40 in a fashion preserve 1t here?
Will you wait until such one Is
found and will you aid me to find him?
Or will you too follow selfish, idle
fancies of your own
| "Nois she answered, quite pale.
"I would not do that! will try to
help"
"You will take up the work the men
of YOUR name refuse, you will provide
substitute for them?"
| Her earnestness sprang to meet MS
strength of will, she leaned nearer IN
her enthusiasm of self-abnegat1on,
scarcely understood.
"I will find q substitute or accept
yours. I, indeed will try not to fall :.
It was characteristic that he offered
neither praise nor caress. s.
"You have relieved my mind, said
Ethan French, and turned his face
| once more to the fire.
| CHAPTER III.
! It was October when the consulta-
ton was held In the library Of the old
Ffrench house on the Hudson; De-
cember was very near on the sunny
mrrring that Emily drove out to the
fac and sought Bailey in his Of
| fee
| II wanted to talk with you," she ex-
planned, as that gentleman rose to re-
ceiye her, 1--WE have known each
other for long time, Mr.. Bailey; ever
since I came from the Sacred Heart
to live with Uncle Ethan. That is a
very long time" :,
'It's a matter Of five or six years,
agreed the charmed Bailey, contem-
plating with affectionate pride her
prettiness and grace. "You used to
drive out here with your pony and
spent many an hour looking on and
asking questions. You'll excuse me,
Miss Emily, but there was many
man passed the whisper that you'd
have made fine master OF the
works.
She shook her head, folding her
small gloved hands upon the edge OF
the desk at the opposite sides OF
which they we're seated.
"At least would have tried. am
quite sure would have tried. But
am only girl. came to ask you
something regarding that" she lifted
her candid eyes to his, her soft color
rising. do you Know-have YOU ever
met any men who cared and under
stood about such factories as this?
Men who could take charge Of the
business, the manufacturing and rae
ing and selling, like my uncle? Ihave
reason for asking"
"Sure thing said Bailey, unexpect-
eddy prompt. eve met one man who
knows how to handle this factory bet
ter than 1 do, and I've been at it
twelve years. And there he is" he
turned in his revolving chair and roll
ed up the shade covering the glass
set door into the next room, my man
ager, Lestrange.'
The scene thus suddenly opened to
the startled Emily was sufficiently
matter-of-fact, yet not lacking In a
certain sober animation of its own.
Around drafting table central in the