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

rather dispirited him. He paused,
pair of trousers dangling from his
hand. Pshaw! Why not admit 1t
frankly and honestly? Wherever For
tune Chedsoye was or might be, there
was the delectable country. He hadn't
thought to ask her when she was to
leave, nor whittier she was to 60. The
abruptness with which she had left
him the night before puzzled rather
than disturbed him. oh, well; this
old planet was neither SO deep nor SO
round as it had once been. What
with steamships and railroads, the so.
called four ends were drawn closely
together. He would ask her casually
as if it did not particularly matter. In
Naples 1t would be an easy matter to
change his booking to New York. From
Naples to Mentone was only question
of few hours.
ut doesn't seem possible, George
old boy, does it? But it's true; and
there's no use trying to fool yourself
that it isn't. Fortune Chedsoye; 1t
will be a shame to add Jones to 1t;
but I'm going to try"
He pressed down the last book, the
last collar, the last pair of shoes. and
sat upon the lid of the trunk. He
growled a little. The lock was always
bothering him. It was wonderful how
Emany things a chap could take out OF
a trunk and how plagued few ne could
nut back, It did not seem to relieve
the pressure If he added steamer
trunk here or suitcase there; there
was always Just so much there wasn't
any room for. Truly, 1t needed
woman's hand to pack trunk. How
ever his mother in the old school-days
had got all his belongings into one
trunk was still an unsolved mystery.
Stubborn as the lock was, persever-
apce overcame 1t. George then, as
slight division, spread the ancient
Yhiordes over the trunk and stared
at it in pleasurable contemplation.
What beauty 1t was! What exqui-
site blue. what soft reds, what minute
patterns! And this treasure was his.
He. leaned Down upon it with his two
hands. A color stole into his cheeks.
II had it's source in an old confusion;
school boys jeering mate seen walk
ing home from school with girl. 1t
was all rot, he perfectly knaw, this wish
ing business; and yet he flung into
sun warmed, sun-gilded space an ardent
wish, sent il speeding round the world
from east to west. Fast as heat, fast
as light it travelled, for no sooner had
it sprung from his mind than 1T enter
ed the window of room across the
corridor. Whether the window was
open or shut was OF no Importance
whatever. Such wishes penetrated and
went through all obstacles. And this
one touched Fortunes eyes, her hair,
her lips; it caressed her in thousand
happy ways. But, alas! such wishes
are without temporal power ss
Fortune never knew. She sat in a
chair, her fingers locked tensely, her
eyes large and set in gaze. her lips
compressed, her whole attitude one OF
impotent despair. (.
George did not see her at lunch, and
consequently did not enjoy the hour.
Was she i'll? Had she gone away?
Would she return before he started?
He greeted the major as one greets
q long lost friend; and by gradations
George considered clever indeed,
brought the conversation down to
Fortune. No, the major did not know
where she was. She had gone early
to the bazaars. Doubtless she was
lunching alone somewhere. She had
the trick of losing herself at times.
Mrs Chedsoye was visiting friends at
Shepherds. When did Mr.. Jones
leave for American What! on the
morrow? The major shook his head
regretfully. There was no place like
Cairo for Christmas.
George called carriage. drove about
the principal streets and shopping dis.
tricts, and used his eyes diligently;
but it was loves labor lost. Not even
when he returned at tea-time did he
see her Why hadn't he known and
got up? He could have shown her
the bazaars; and there wasn't a drago-
man in Cairo more familiar with them
than he. A wasted day, totally wasted.
He hung about the lounging-room till
It was time to 60 up and dress for din.
ner. Tonight Gas II the gods had
turned Georges future affairs over to
the care of Momus) he dressed as if
he were going to the opera; swallow
tail, white vest, high collar and white
lawn cravat, opera-Fedora, and thin
soylled pumps all those habitiments and
establishments supposed to make the
man.
When he reached what he thought to
be the glass of fashion and the mold
Of form, he turned for the first time
toward his trunk. He did not rub his
eyes; it wasn't at all necessary; the
thing he saw, or rather did not see,
was established beyond a doubt, as
plainly definite as two and two are
four. The ancient Yhiordes bad taken
upon itself one Of the potentlalities Of
its fabulous prototype, that Of invisi-
bility; it was gone.
CHAPTER XII
Fortune had Immediately returned
from the bazaars And a kind OF tor
por blanketed her mind, usually SO fer
tile and active. For time the process
Of the evolution Of thought was denied
her; she tried to think, but there was
an appalling lack Of continuity. of
broken threads. It was like one of
those circumferential railways; she
travelled. but did not get anywhere.
Ryanne had told her too much for his
own sake but too little for hers. She
sat back in the carriage. inert and list