Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-09-05

being loved 80 overbore the knowl-
edge that only sorrow could result 10
herself and Lestrange, that her eyes
shone wide and lustrous and her lips
curved softly.
Mr. French was almost in high
spirits.
The boy was merely DEVELOPING"
he stated, over his grapefruit. Il have
been unjust to Richard. For two
months Bailey has been talking OF his
interest in the business and attend
ance at the factory, but was incred-
ulous. Although fancied observed
change-have you observed a change
in him, Emily?'
YES" Emily confirmed. "a very
great change. He has grown up, az
last"
"Ah? can not express to you how
1t gratifies me to have q Ffrench
representing me in public; have you
seen the morning Journalist"
II have just come down stairs.
He picked up the newspaper beside
him and passed across the folded
page
"All in readiness for Beach con-
test" the headlines ran. Last big
driver to arrive, Lestrange Is in Mer-
curry camp with r. French, represen-
tative of company" a
And there was blurred picture OF g
speeding car with driver and mechan-
ician masked to goblinesque non-iden-
tity, with the legend underneath:
g Darling Lestrange, in his Mercury
on the Georgia course"
Next year shall make him part
owner. It was always my poor broth
er's desire to have the future name
still French and French. He was not
thinking of Richard then; he had hope
Of
Emily lifted her gaze from the
picture, recalled to attention by the
break.
"Of?" she echoed vaguely.
"Of one who is unworthy Of thought.
Richard has redeemed our family
from extinction, that Is at rest" He
paused for an instant "My dear child,
when you are married and established
I shall be content"
Her breathing quickened, her cour-
age rose to the call of the moment.
III Dick Is here. If he is instead OF
a substitute, she said, carefully quiet
in manner, would it matter, since
am only a girl, whom married. Uncle
Ethan?"
The recollection OF that evening
when Emily had given her promise OF
aid. stirred under Mr.. Ffrench's self
ABSORPTION. He looked across the table
at her colorless, eager face with per-
haps his first thought of what that
promise might have cost her.
mo-" he replied kindly. 1T Is part
Of my satisfaction that you are set
free to follow your own choice, with
out thought Of utility or fortune. VI
course, need not say provided the
man is of your own class and asso-
Citations. We will fear no more low
marriages"
She had known it before, but it was
hard to hear the sentence embodied in
words. Emily folded her hands over
the paper in her lap and the pleasant
breakfast-room darkened before her.
Mr.. French continued speaking or
Dick, unheard.
When the long meal was ended and
her uncle withdrew to meet Bailey in
the library, Emily escaped outdoors.
There was q quaint summer-house
part way down the park, an ancient
white pavilion standing beside the
brook that gurgled by on it's way to
the Hudson, where the young girl
often passed her hours. She went
there now. carrying her little work
basket and the newspaper containing
the picture Of Lestrange.
II will save It," was her thought.
perhaps I may find better ones-this
does not show his face but Will
have this now. It may be long time
before / see him"
But she sat with the embroidery
scissors in her hand, nevertheless,
without cutting the reprint. Lestrange
would return to the factory, she never
doubted, and all would continue as be-
fore, except that she must not see
him. He would understand that 1t
was not possible for anything else to
happen, at least for many years. Per-
haps, after Dick was married.
The green and gold beauty OF the
morning hurt her with the memory
of that other sunny morning, when he
had SO easily taken from her the task
she hated and strove to bear And he
had succeeded, how he had sue
ceeded. Who else in the world could
have so transformed Dick? Leaning
on the table, her round chin in her
palm as she gazed down at the paper
in her lap, her fancy slipped back to
that night on the Long Island road,
when she had first seen his serene
genius for setting things all right.
How like him that elimination Of Dick,
instead of romantic and impractic-
able attempt to escort her himself.
A bush cracked stiffly at some
ones passage; shadow fell across
her.
Caught" laughed Lestrange's
glad, exultant voice. "Since You look
at the portrait, how shall the original
fear to present himself? See, / can
match" He held out card burned at
the corners and streaked with dull
read. 1.-THE first time saw your writ
ing, and found my own name there"
Amazed, Emily sat up, and met in
his glowing face all incarnate joy of
life and youth.
"Oh!' she gasped piteously.
"You are surprised that am here?
My dear, my dear, after last night
did YOU think l could be anywhere