Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-01-20

such thing in existence; it was a jest
OF Ryanne's to cover up something far
more serious.
She pressed her eyes with hand.
They ached duly, the dull pain Of be-
wilderment, which these days REQUIRED
with frequency. A sense of time was
lacking; for luncheon hour came and
passed without her being definitely
aware Of it. This in itself was a puz-
zle. A jaunt, such as she had taken
that morning, always keened the edge
Of her appetite; and vet, there was
no craving whatever.
Where was her. mother? II she
would only come now, the cumulative
doubts of all these months should be
put into speech. They had treated
her as one would treat child; 1t was
neither just nor reasonable. II not as
child. but as one they dared not
trust, then they were afraid of her.
But why? She pressed her hands to-
gether, impotently. Ryanne, clever as
he had sought to cover up with q jest.
Why should he confess himself to be
q rogue unless his tongue had got the
better Of his discretion? II. he was q
rogue, why should her mother and her
uncle make use of him, II not for
oguery's sake? They were fools, fools!
If they had but seen and understood
her as she was. she would have gone to
the bitter end with them, loyalty, with
sealed lips But no; they had chosen
not to see; and in this had morally be-
trayed her. All, it ranked, and the In
justice Of it grew from pain to fury.
At that moment, had she known any
thing, she certainly would have de-
nounced them. OF what use was 10y.
atty, since none Of them sought 1t in
her?
The major was wiser than he knew
when he spoke OF the hundredth dan
ger, the danger unforeseen. the danger
against which they could make no prep
aration. And he would have been first
to sense the irony Of 1t could he have
seen where his danger lay.
Why should they wish the pleasant
young man out Of the way? Why
should Ryanne wish to inveigle him
into the hands of this man Mahomed !?
Was it merely self-preservation. or
something deeper, more sinister?
L
something? 1t was only little plea
sure trip to Cairo, they had told her,
and when she had asked to go along,
they seemed willing enough. But they
had come to this hotel, when formerly
they had always put up at Shepheard's.
And here again the question, why?
Was it because Mr.. Jones was staying
here? She liked him, what little she
had seen of him. He was out of an
althogether different world then that to
which she was accustomed He was
neither insanely mad over cards nor a
social idler He was young man with
real interest in life, a worker. not
withstanding that he was reputed to
he independently rich. And her mother
had once borrowed money OF him,
never intending to pay it back. The
shame of it! And why should she ap-
proach him the very first day and re-
call the incident if not with the utter.
ior purpose of using him further? AS
a ball strikes a wall only to rebound
to the thrower, SO It was with all these
questions. There was never any an
swer.
Tired out, mentally and physically,
she laid her head upon the cool top
Of the stand And in this position her
mother, who had returned to dress for
tea, found her. Believing Fortune to
be asleep, Mrs. Chedsoye dropped a
hand upon her shoulder
Fortune raised her head.
"Why, child, what is the matter?"
the mother asked. The face she saw
was not tear.stained; it was az cold
and passionless as that by which
sculptors represent their interpreta-
lions Of Justice.
Natter" Fortune spoke, in a tone
that did not reassure the other. I'm
the first place have only one real
question to ask. It depends upon how
you answer it. Am l really your
daughter"
Really my daughter" Mrs. Ched-
soye stepped back, genuinely aston
ished. Really my daughter? The
child is mad!" as If addressing an
Imaginary third person. what makes
you ask such silly question:" She
was in hurry to change her dress,
but the new attitude Of this child OF
hers warranted some patience.
THAT Is no answer" said Fortune,
with the unmoved deliberation OF q
prosecuting attorney.
Certainly you are my daughter"
Good. II you had denied it, should
have held my peace; but since you ad-
NIT that am Of your flesh and blood,
/ am going to force you to recognize
that in such a capacity I have some
rights. I did not ask to come into
this world; but insomuch as am here,
l propose to become an individual, not
thing to be given bread and butter
upon sufference have been talking
with Horace. I met him in the baz-
aars this morning. He said some
things which you must answer"
Horace? And what has he said,
pray tell?" Her expression was dip.
pant, but certain inquietude pene.
trated her heart and accelerated its
beating. What had the love-lorn fool
said to the child?
"He said that he was not a good
man. and that you tolerated him be-
cause he ran errands for you. What
kind Of errands?"
Mrs. Chedsoye did not know whether
to laugh or take the child by the