Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-09-05
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wish. I wish he had never come to this

wish. i wish he had never come to this
place"
Maybe he will, too, before he gets
through with US. We're q nasty lot.
we Trenches: lot Of blue FLOODED
snobs without any red blood In us Are
you going to say goodbye to me?
won't be home until it's over"
She looked at him, across the odor-
GUS dusk slowly silvering as the moon
rose. 6.
You are going to be with him?'
Dick smoothed his leggings before
standing up. surveying his strict
motor costume with q gloomy pride
not to be concealed.
Eyes; I'm representing our COM
pany. Lestrange might want some
backing If any disputes turned up.
Uncle Ethan nearly had fit when
Bailey told him what was going to
do; he called me Richard for the first
time in my life. l guess I'll be some
good yet, If every one except Lee
strange did think was a chump.'
IT am very sure you will" she
answered gently. Good by, Dick; you
look very nice"
When he reached the foot of the
steps her voice recalled him, as she
stood leaning over the rail.
Dick. you could not make him give
1t UP, not race this timer
He stared UP at her white figure.
mo, l could not. Don't you suppose
I tried?"
81 suppose you did, she admitted,
and went back to her seat.
The June night was very quiet. Once
a sleepy bird stirred in the honey
suckle vines and chirped through the,
dark. Far below the throb of a motor
pascsed down the road, dying away
again to leave silence. Suddenly Emily
French hid her face on the arm of her
chair and the tears overlooked.
There was no consciousness of time
while that inarticulate passion OF
dread spent itself. But it was nearly
half an hour later when she started
up at the echo of light step on the
gravel path, dashing her handkerchief
across her eyes.
1t was incredible, but it was true:
Lestrange himself was standing be-
fore her at the foot of the low stairs,
the moonlight glinting across his un-
covered bronze head and bright, clear
face
Il beg pardon for trespass, Miss
French he said, "but your cousin
tells me he has been saying a great
deal Of nonsense to you about this
race, and that you were 80 very good
as to feel some concern regarding it.
Really, I had to run up and set that
I~sk % I,
noyed by Mr.. Ffrench's nerves. Will
you forgive me?"
Like sun through mist his blithe
voice cleaved through her distress.
Before the tranquil sanity Of his re-
gard, her painted terrors suddenly
showed as the artificial canvas scenes
of a stage, unreal, untrue
''It was like you to come" she an
swered. with shaking sigh that was
half sob. Il was frightened, yes
There is no cause. A dozen other
men take the same chance as Rupert
and I; the driver who alternates with
me. for instance This is our life"
"Your arm"
"Is we'll enough" He laughed q
little. "You will see many a bandaged
arm before the twenty -four hours are
up; few of us finish without scratch
or strain or blister. This Is mans
game, but It's not half so destructive
as football. You wished me good luck
for the Georgia race; will you repeat
the honor before I go back to
French -
II wish YOU" she said unsteadily,
every kind of success now and al
ways. You saved Dick today-of all
else you have done for him and for me
I have not words to speak. But it
made it harder to bear the thought of
your hurt and risk from the hurt,
when l knew that I had sent Dick
there, who caused it"
Lestranged hesitated, himself
troubled. Her soft loneliness in the del
icate light that left her eyes unread
able depths of shadow, her timidity
and anxiety for his safety, were from
their very Inconsistencies most dan
gerous. And while he grasped at self
control, she came still nearer to the
head of the steps and held out her
small fair hand. mistaking his silence
for leave-taking.
Goodnight: and I thank you for
coming. am not used to so much con-
sheraton
Her accents we're insure when she
would have made them most certain.
with her movement the handkerchief
fell from her girdle to his feet. Me
chanically Lestrange recovered the bit
Of linen, and felt 1t lie wet in his
fingers. Wet
Emily" he cried abruptly, and
sprang the brief step between them.
Her white, terrified face turned to
him in the moon light, but he saw her
eyes. And seeing, he kissed her.
The moment left no time for speech.
Some one was coming down the draw
ing-room toward the long windows.
Dicks impatient whistle sounded
shrilly from the park. Painting, quiz
ering, Emily drew from the embrace
and fled within,
She had no doubt OF Lestrange, no
question Of his serious meaning
had that force Of sincerity which made
his silence more convincing than the
protestations of others. But alone In
her room she had her cheek against
the hand his had touched.
"I wish l had died In the convent,
Oh ,r;ad - bap hoort "T wiSh had