Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-02-04

guess I'm the trouble for this house,
but I'm going to hit It as the daughter
I'm just about as Independent as Pat
rick Henry, Miss Noir. I'm not re-
sponsible for being born, but it's my
outlook to hold on to my equality
Fran" exclaimed Mrs. Gregory, in
mild reproof.
Grace looked at Mr.. Gregory and
nothing could have exceeded the saint.
Illness of her expression Insulted. she
was enjoying to the full her pious
satisfaction of martyrdom.
Dear Mrs. Gregory" said Fran
kindly, I'm sorry to have to do this,
but it isn't as II you we're adopting
penniless orphan. I'm adopting home.
want to belong to somebody, and I
want people to feel that they have
something when they have me-"
"I reckon they'll know they've got
something" remarked Simon Jeffer.
son, shooting dissatisfied glance at
Fran from under bushy brows.
Fran laughed outright. "I'm going to
like you, all right" she declared. "You
are so human"
It Is exceedingly difficult to main
tain satisfaction In silent martyrdom.
Grace was obliged to speak, lest any
one think that she acquiesced In evil.
lis 1t customary for little girls to roam
the streets at night. wandering about
the world alone, adopting homes &C
cording to their whims?"
II really don't think 1t customary"
al
customary girl" At that moment she
caught the old lady's eye. 1t was
sparkling with eloquent satisfaction;
Mrs. Jefferson supposed terms of serv-
ice were under discussion. Fran
laughed. grabbed the ear trumpet, and
called, Hello. How are your
When an unknown voice entered the
large end of the tube, halt It's mean
ing was usually strained away before
the rest reached the yearning ear.
Mrs. Jefferson responded eagerly,
"And will you wheel me around the
garden at least twice day."
Fran patted the thin old arm with
her thin young hand, as she shouted.
'I'll wheel you twenty times a day, II
you say SOL"
But do not see-saw,' retorted tho
old lady VIII spirit. -.
This is going to agitate my heart"
mi exposed Simon jefferson, as there
came louder dash of rain against the
windows. 81 ought to be getting the
benefits of this soothing sound. in my
Ted. When is this company going to
break up?"
Gregory, finding Grace's eyes fixed
on him searchingly. felt himself
pushed to the wall. "Of course he
said coldly, 1T is understood that the
daughter of-er-my friend. comes
here as a--as an equal" AS he found
himself forced into definite opposition
to his secretary, his manner grew
more assured. Suddenly 1t occurred
to him that he was, In way. atoning
for the past. f..
"As an equal, yes!" exclaimed his
wife, again embracing Fran. How
else could it be?' e
This is going to be good thing
for you, If you only knew It," Fran
said, looking into her face with loving
eyes. aa<
Hamilton Gregory was almost able
TO persuade himself that he had re-
ceived the orphan of his own free
choice. thus to make reparation. 1T Is
my duty" he said; land I always try
to do my duty, as / see It."
me-" Fran asked cOnfidentially nj
Mrs Gregory. ....s .
Gregory turned pale. II don't think
it Is neces-" u
DO tell me-" exclaimed his wife.
ooh, Lord" murmured Simon JEFF
ferson. sinking back into the hall
chair. '-./.s r.
Father and mother married secret
ly," Fran said, solely addressing Mrs.
Gregory. but occasionally sending Il
furtive glance at her husband. He
was a college student, boarding with
his cousin, who was one Of the profess
sors. Mother was an orphan and lived
with her half-uncle-a mighty crusty
old man, Uncle Ephraim was, who
didn't have one bit of use for people
getting married in secret. Father and
mother agreed not to mention their
marriage until after his graduation;
then he'd go to his father and make
everything easy. and come for mother.
SO he went and told him-father's
father was millionaire on Wall
street. Mothers uncle was pretty we'll
fixed. too but he didn't enjoy any
thing except religion. When he wasn't
at church-he went most all the time
he was reading about it. Mother
said he was most religious In Hebrew,
but he enjoyed his Greek verbs
awfully." ."..... ... ~ 49,
Grace Noir asked remotely. Did
you say that your parents eloped?"
"They didn't run far Fran ex-
planned; "they were married in the
county. not far from Springfield"
"Il thought you said" Grace inter.
rupted, "that they we're in New York. "
did you?" said Fran politely. $50
father graduated. and went away to
tell his father all about being married
to Josephine Derry don't know what
happened then. as he didn't come back
to tell. My mother waited and waited
and I was born-and then Uncle
Ephraim drove mother out Of his
house with her tiny baby-that's me
and I grew to be as old as YOU see
me now. We we're always hunting
father. We went all over the United
States. first and last-it looked like
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