Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-10-07

did he know OF it," she asked III
counter question
Floyd had kept the confidence given
him, then, although no formal re-
straint had been made. The express
sion that crossed Stanton's dark face
was warm and very gentle.
HE knew, yes. wish could have
met your brother years ago; | might
have been less hard a man, more TIT to
know him, and you, now
you. hard"
".Efas he not taught you that am
soo"
'In her earnestness she leaned for.
ward. her eyes fearlessly on his.
Never. Do not imagine he thinks
you that do not so wrong his memory
OF your kindness. A rough word-what
is 1t? The first gentleness cancels 1t;
what Is friend who does not under.
stand?",
Stanton bent his head, looking at
the fire.
II have not had much gentleness
shown me-" he said. "My mother died
when was born; when I was thir-
teen my father married again My
step-mother was good woman, whom
| loved as well as my father did. But
within the second year after the mar
rage the horses they were driving ran
away, dragging the carriage over an
emDankment, and my parents died
within few moments of each other
while being taken to the hospital.
Have said that my father was
wealthy? He was so. He had made his
Will, a year before, leaving everything
to his wife; we'll knowing that she in
her turn would pass all on to me. She
was much younger than he, almost
certain to outlive him, and entirely to
be trusted. But she never made will,
delayed by chance or forgetfulness, /
suppose. When he died five minutes
before her, all his fortune passed to
his wife; then, upon her death without
will, again legally passed on to her
relatives. was left with no share or
claim"
"Eut it was yours by every right!
Surely. surely. your step-mother's rel
atives did not take it?'
They took every penny and every
inch, Miss Floyd. And /, at fifteen,
was sent out into the world, a beg
CARED orphan. They had no interest in
me, and was old enough to support
myself One of them offered to get me
a position as office boy"
ooh! YOU
Lived" he grimly answered. II
asked them for nothing. What per-
sonal trinkets belonged to me, sold.
for the first needs; then set to work.
My father had wished me to be me-
chanical engineer, and meant to full
fill his plan. Perfect health did have
for six years I regularly worked
twenty hours out Of each twenty-four
until was graduated from college,
For six years was always tired, oc-
casionally hungry, and took just one
recreation: every night walked
through the avenue where my former
home stood. and looked at it. saw
people who had robbed me go hand
somey clad ana sleek. saw their car
riages and servants pass and repass
/ watched and concluded that there
was Just one. think in life worth
while"
The girl shivered slightly, her gaze
on his firm profile with it's lines of
relentless strength.
You meant to punish them she
faltered
Revenge? No: if was not worth
taking. will not deny Thought. of
that as boy: as man l was too
practical to waste my time. What I
decided to have was money found
in my aptitude for this automobile
racing my best and quickest way to
secure a starting capital. If killed
myself doing it. very good; that was
better than poverty. was poor for
six years; poor for a lifetime will
not be-"
"No. you will not be- she agreed,
her voice quite low and agitated. you
were born to bend circumstance, for
good or ILL.,"
Circumstance bent me. when it set
your brother in my PATH he cor
rected. 81 never before had friend,
patiently, turning fully to her. Bah,
what dead history am boring you
with! Forgive me; only meant to
say there might be some small excuse
for my sayagery. 1t is after four
o'clock and was promised tea
.Iessica rose to cross to the little tea
table but fingered for an instant.
".Ies once told me that he had been
gully OF the impert1nence OF saying
his driver had the best disposition and
the worst temper he had even seen.
think that if he were here, he would
apologize for the last part"
Perhaps he may retract the first, !"
he warned lightly, yet touched.
When she summoned him to take his
cup, Stanton looked at the brown bev-
erage. then in quzzical surprise at his
hostess.
"Yes,'' she laughed, coloring. with
three Jumps of sugar in 1t. Jes told me
that whenever he was out with you,
you drank chocolate, syrupy and
sweet. thought 1t was only girls who
like sweet, syrupy thinks"
"And do you always give people
what they like?" he asked, amused and
oddly pleased.
81 would like to- she retorted.
"Then l would like very much to
have you go to the theater with me,
tonight"
"As you like she conceded, her
heavy lashes sweeping her cheeks.
The first step was made. For the
next two weeks they saw each other
frequently. Twice Stanton brought one