Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-06-27
amt.

DIDN'T you uSeQ 10 I60l tAo SdAlc way
about Lady when she was little and
getting over the measles?"
The next instant I reallzed that
should hardly have used the nickname;
but Mrs. Tabor did not seem to have
noticed my slip. She was looking
fixedly out through the parted curtains
as though there were some one in the
hall, and instinctively glanced in the
same direction. When / looked back
again, she was still distract, and went
on; And anyway, It's splendid to see
you 50 well at last"
She smiled. II haven't really been
much laid up at all. I've only been a
little overtired. People worry about
me too much. Mr.. Crosby. / have a
poor heart, but I'm always pretty care
full Of myself; yet neither Mr.. Tabor
nor Lady can seem to let me out Of
their sight. don't like It,"
She brushed the hair from her fore
head with weary little gesture Of
Impotence. She looked very much as
"a pretty spoiled child might have. Yet
l felt rather disloyal to the rest Of
them in listening. OF course, Mrs.
Tabor meant nothing: she was merely
tired and fretful: but still. did not
like being made the confident OF these
family petulances, Lady, knew, loved
her mother devotedly, and 80 did Mr..
Tabor-at least, he had given every
evidence of affection.
How would you like it, Mr.. Crosby"
for even walk all alone? And Mr..
Tabor has been acting so strangely all
this while-as II he and Lady shared
some secret that they were anxious
to keep from me of all people"
l was by now frankly embarrassed,
and l must have shown 1t. II don't
quite see why" began.
Are you In the secret too?" she
asked suddenly.
My hair prickled. mo, Of course
not" stammered. and don't really
think that there can be any secret.
Mrs. Tabor, or anything they would
keep from YOU" Yet I began to won
der whether she were acting cleverly
in ignorance of how much really did
know, or were actually guarded from
all knowledge of the admitted mys-
terry. While scrambled after safe
word, I heard the crunch of wheels
upon the gravel
There they are now said.
Lady and her father came hurrying
into the room with all the air of hav-
ing come home merely to touch base,
as the children say; as II they but
wished to inform themselves OF devel-
opments before starting out upon
another quest. Lady saw her mother
first.
why. mother dear!" she cried.
We" she stopped.
Mr.. Tabor coughed Where Is
Walter" he asked.
Indeed, don't know" Mrs. Tabor
answered rather sharply. What on
earth do you want Of him."
Mr.. Tabor smiled slowly and OK
pansively. II don't want him at all,
my dear; but do very much want my
dinner. Do you think 1t Is nearly
ready? Lady, suppose you poke things
up in the kitchen little, II you can.
l am nearly famished."
WELL" said l, II had nearly for
gotten about supper, and l believe we
are to have waffles at the inn tonight,
and got to my feet.
"Mr. Crosby, waffles or no waffles,
you are not to co. said Mrs. Tabor.
Here we are just started upon nice
little visit, and these ravenous people
OF mine come bursting in from good
ness knows where or what and begin
clamoring for food. Since we must
eat. you are to eat with us"
I said something conventional, with
an apologetic glance at Mr.. Tabor He
was frowning at the ceiling as If he
had not heard.
It was hardly comfortable meal
I felt that / should not be there, and
that the others, though for no personal
fault of mine, were wishing me out OF
the way; while Mrs. Tabor confined
her conversation almost entirely to
me in way that made me obviously
bulwark against them. She was
bright and chatty enough, but l could
plainly feel the uneasiness under 1t;
and as the meal progressed she be-
came more uneasy still, now and then
turning suddenly in her chair or laying
down her fork with little abrupt de-
cisions that came to nothing, as II she
were hesitating on the brink OF q
plunge. Twice she stretched out q
hand for silence, listening over her
shoulder a moment, and then hurrying
back into the meaningless. and dis
rupted conversation.
AS we were eating dessert. Doctor
Reid came In for moment. Tnat ID,
he came as far as the door, and l
thought Mr.. Tabor made some sort of
gesture to him below the tabletop. At
any rate, he turned on his heel and
left. after nervous word or two. l
looked around to see Mrs. Tabor's face
set and stern, every little prettiness
OF expression fed. must have stared
for she smiled after q moment. and
nodded at me mysteriously as II l
alone shared the secret Of the dislike
she had voiced in the afternoon.
"Come mother DEAR" Lady said
softly. "Here are the rest Of us nearly
through, and you've hardly touched
your Ice"
Mrs. Tabor looked up, vaguely apofo-
getic. "Why, Miriam, I'm sure l beg
your pardon" she said. And very
meekly she took up her spoon.
OF course it was the most natural
slip In the world, and meant absolute
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