Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-07-06

Cspyrtghs. 1854, The d
(CHAPTEP XXII.-Continued.)
As she had done. once before, Sheila
opened the door for me. It was very
plain that she was glad of my coming
Sure It's Mr.. Crosby" she OK.
claimed softly. Whats the matter
sir? You look white and tired like
IT'S all the world seems upset lately
Il want to see Miss Tabor, Sheila
Will you tell her that I'm here?"
That's the very thing I'm not to
tell her, sir. She said most particular
that she was not to-, see any one to-
day; but" Sheila frowned at me for
biddingly, "you sit down an wait q
minute, sir, an I'll do me best I'm
servant-girl no longer-ordhers IL
nothing to me-"
"But, Sheila-" began nervously.
but nothin', Mr.. Crosby. You sit
down an wait" and she was gone be
fore ] could say another word. SAT
in the great room as II at the portals
of Judgment day, every fiber Of me
keenly alive, and yet my mind know
ing no particular focus of thought. The
future gaped before me like eternity
something too vaguely large for defini
ton or comprehension. l remember
that kept whispering dryly to mysel!
that man was master Of his fate
and feeling enthusiastically comforted
by the sophistry.
Lady stood looking into my eyes.
saw before she spoke that she knew
why had come.
81 was sure it was you," she said at
last. ".Sheila told me that a young
man was downstairs, and that she
could not get him to go away"
"She told me- said, that you did
not wish to see me. Was that true?'
Lady sank YEARLY into chair
"Sheila should not have let you in
she said. 81 was afraid that you might
come here; and you know that it was
wrong of you to come. You know that
as we'll as I do"
She spoke monotonously, with
pauses between the words, leaning
back along the deep chair. The last
few days must have been hard ones
for her. She was very pale, the little
blue veins in her temples distinct and
clearly lined. 1t tore me to see her 30;
and for the moment I wondered II
had done well to come, and felt a
wave of that uncomfortable reaction
which meets one on the threshold OF
test; for a moment only, then
knew that even though tired her the
more, it was a price that we must
pay for. her sake, as we'll as mine. Nc
good, ever comes of half understand
ings, =,
"No, I don't know that" said
slowly. You don't believe that I'm
altogether selfish, or that | would
come now, when know that many
things have distressed you. to give you
any further reason for distress"
She leaned forward, one white hand
raised. Please she said, II am not
sure-not really sure-why you have
come. But I am certain Of this, that
you have made a mistake in coming
There's nothing on earth that you can
do to help us just now-there's moth
ing anybody can do-there's nothing
anybody can do"
"Oh, things aren't 50 bad as that. >
I knew that l was only temporizing
and ragged inwardly at myself.
Lady's eyes dropped, and one hand
pldvSu u0IVOu5ly I'LL a Twp VI ShuAA
that hung about her neck.
ct don't believe you can understand
Just how bad they are. The worst OF
it isSthat can't tell you-oh, 1t wasn't
fair. OF you to come today"-her voice
broke ever so little. and her eyes
brimmed with unshed tears I'm
tired and disheartened, and want
advice and comfort-no, don't: come
near mel can't tell you anything
there's nothing can tell to anybody
in the world
I was standing before her. mo.
can't comfort you now" l said. I'm
here to ask you things. and perhaps
to hurt you very much. But you
mustn't think I've come carelessly.
came because I had to--because there
are things have to understand to GO
on living"
Her eyes were frightened. but she
settled herself back as If to meet
whatever, blow my questioning must
give. ri don't think that you are very
generous today she said: and her
voice grew harder than I had ever
heard it,, Neither shall I answer any
thing that I may not. But-but per
1aps you are right-perhaps there are
some things that you should know
Please say what you have to say and
have 1t done"
"You told ME. once" I began gently
"that your name was Margaret. Was
that true?"
''True?' she wrinkled her brow. cot
course it was true It was evidently
not a question that she had expected
"Then who is Miriam?"
ooh. told you the truth then. Do
YOU doubt It.? Why should you ask
these things AGAIN."
/ paused Certainly she was not to
hear that ugly story If it were not
true and could in any way prevent it
"It may seem very strange to you.
said l. "but some day I will tell you
all about It. have to know this now:
Do you mean that it is true you have
a sister, that her name is Miriam, and
that she is-that she was Doctor
Reds wife," The question was out
overlooked areas for thousand Of farm
homes" says w. l.. Park vice presi.
T. ~ H.