Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-07-06
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@M MYSTERY ~,
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SEM Wells HASTINGS M9t9
O. BRIAN HOOKER -
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- DRIAN HOOKER


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at last, and my heart stopped for the
answer.
why, yes" she answered, IN the
same disinterested tone, as II she were
telling dry facts in distant history
miriam married Walter when he
came back from studying abroad. She
only lived about q year. They had q
little girl, you know, that lived not
more than about an hour. / think II
she had lived, Miriam would have liv-
ed too. But it was too much for her
to bear. She died three days after her
baby died."
The unshed tears were falling now,
falling quietly in the mere physical re-
l.ef Of tender sorrow. Every rigid
line of tragedy and pain had disap-
peared, and her trouble came upon her
naturally, like sleep, relaxation and
rest after hot-eyed days. l did not
even feel any sorrow for her. so full
was Of the new certainty that we
were free. Very reverently / came
closer to her, and like child she
turned to me and hid her face against
my shoulder. So we rested for q
space do not think that either OF
us had any definite thought-only that
peace wrapped us like garment and
that the tension of the past few
weeks had somehow vanished away.
At last Lady drew herself quietly from
me, half smiling as she brushed aFay
her tears.
II have been very silly" she whisp-
cred, "but it's all over now. 1t was
good of you to let me cry" and she
reached her hand toward me with a
gesture so intimately grateful that my
love fairly broke it's bounds, and l
caught it almost fiercely in my own.
Lady, Lady, dearest" cried.
cant you see what 1t all means
Oh, my dear, you must see. I love
you. That Is all l know In the world,
and nothing else matters or can mat
ter
mo, no-you must not" she drew
back from me frightened. you must
not tell me that. You have no right
and you are spelling it all"
Don't you love me?" persisted.
Lady raised her eyes sadly. There
can be no such thing for you and me.
have told you why"
What have you told me?"
'I've told you that even II did
care for you-that l could not let my
self care-that can only see you
even, when you treat me as friend,
and only as a friend"
"You told me once, remember, that
there was some one else. think now
that you were mistaken. There Meth
er Is nor can be any one else"
"But there is" The words were
scarcely audible, and her eyes were
turned away from me.
II know perhaps what you mean.
didn't know at the time-but think
I do now. Do you mean that the
some one else, the person who stands
Fbetween you and me, is your mother?"
Lady looked past me blankly. my
mother?" she questioned.
"You must see that have to know
the real truth now said. You
can surely trust me; and / am trying
for something that means more than
life. Lady, you must answer me fair
ly. Is it not because of your mother
that you say these things?"
what do you know of my mother p
81 know" answered as gently az
| could, that you all believe she 10
temporarily unbalanced; that Doctor
Emmanuel Paulus has declared her in
sane"
Lady had gone very white again.
Yes. that is the reason she said.
But" cried, that is no reason at
all! II you feared that my intimacy
would betray this trouble you all
guard as secret-why, you see Il
know that now; and surely you. can
not doubt in your heart that | would
guard any secret of yours more ga.
credly than anything in the world.
Why has 1t anything to do with u.s."
| was speaking eagerly. with that
foolish burst Of argumentative logic
which lover fondly imagines potent.
hurting breathless words against the
impregnability Of conviction.
NO. said Lady softly. you are
wrong. because you still do not know.
There is no faint of insanity in the
family: we are not afraid Of that.
Mother was taken out of herself by a
great shock. not by inheritance"
yes I said, ''by the shock Of your
sisters death. know that"
Then you know almost everything
said Lady, except perhaps--except
the reason that mother gives for my
sisters death-her marriage"
We we're both Of us for long time
silent
"You see it is no question Of the
truth" She went on at; last. in that
terribly distant and even voice. 1T Is
true to her-and very dreadful-so
that 1t is dangerous for her even to
remember. That Is why she shrinks
from Walter: that is why keep her
wedding-ring." She touched the chain
that hung about her neck, land that
is why-do you understand now?"
nodded wordlessly. for the world
seemed coming to an end. Then,
thank God, looked into the eyes OF
my love: and behind their despair l
read appeal, the ageless call of q
woman's heart to the one man of her
faith. And then had taken her In
my arms. held her close and the
fragrance of her hair was in my nos
trils, and soft arms had crept around
my neck, bending my head to meet the
upturned face.
"oh, Laurie, you will be kind to
me-" she said at last. II can never. do
It all alone You must help-oh, my