Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-02-27
ByWHN BRECKENRIDGE ELLIS
The Bobbs-Mcrriil Company.

s-McrriN Compsny.
consent to divorce"
"A divorce? Good heavens, Lucy,
are you mad? Do you think want a
separation because you disown the
church? What have I ever done to
make you imagine such an absurdity?"
She answered gently, Eyes, it seems
I misunderstood. But you. said you
wanted me to discuss the future in a
matter-of-fact way, and couldn't think
of the future as having any other mat
ter-of-fact solution"
Gregory was hotly indignant. Lucy
II that is meant as an insinuation
again5t-"
Mis-. Gregory raised her hand com.
pellingly. do not speak any name"
she said, looking at him steadily. II
can endure much" she went on. in a
milder tone, finding him silent; II
often wonder II many women could en-
dure as silently-but there must never
: a name mentioned between us."
Her manner was so unwontedly final,
that he stood looking at her, not know
ing how to resume the pressing subject
OF his past. They were in that same
silent attitude when Grace Noir came
in from the hall.
Grace turned up the lights, and
then-"Oh!" It was impossible to pre-.
vent an unpleasant compression Of the
mouth at discovering Gregory SO near
his wife. "Am in the way? ! am
looking for company, and I heard the
Observation-Disclosures excuse me" she ad.
ded, biting of the words.
no ~ n ho t1yo
Gregory returned desperately. Com.
pany, you say? And you heard the
door-bell-is Bob Clinton" He grew
white. "My eyes are bad, for some
reason" he muttered, and switched on
the lights again.
Hoy very dark you have /. in here!"
said Grace reprovingly. "Of course Mr..
Clinton has been shown in the back
parlor where 1t is light. l will go to
him there, and leave you two" she
paused irresolutely, but neither spoke.
Grace has no sooner gone than Greg
DRY with an effort found his voice.
"Lucy, my conscience has tormented
me until it will not let me rest-about
you. It's your right to know something
more about my life than I have ever
told"
Fright in there" said the maids
voice, from the hall, and Abbott Ash
ton and Robert Clinton entered the
half-light
While Robert was greeting Mrs.
Gregory with exaggerated pleasure, in
order to escape facing her husband.
Abbott spoke to the other with an odd
sense of meanness, as II he partook,
by mere nearness, Of the others COW.
ardice II wish to speak to you for a
few minutes, Mr.. Gregory"
Gregory, like an animal brought to
bay, said, 4 suppose you've some excuse
about playing cards with Fran"
more important than playing
cards" Abbott returned. He could
not meet the eyes Of this man he had
once highly venerated-it was like
beholding an ideal Invested Of imagined
beauty. shivering in the shame Of it's
nakedness.
Gregory fought off the inevitable:
III you refer to losing your position
at the public school"
mo. Clinton has come home from
Springfield, and we have a matter"
Its pressing business spoke up
Robert, who all this time had been
asking Mrs. Gregory If her mother
was well, if Simon Jefferson was no
worse, if Fran was hearty, if Grace
Noir was at homeland private bust.
ness"
Abbott looked warningly at his friend
to remind him Of his promise not to
utter word. Robert. remembering g,
tightly compressed his lips. and
marched over to the piano. He leaned
upon it heavily.
"I have no business. Mr.. Gregory
exclaimed. in fear, "that my wife need
not know"
"This is" cried Robert. Then
emembering. he struck the keys a
resounding chord.
Mrs. Gregory was about to leave the
oom
mo, moi" exclaimed Mr.. Gregory,
starting to the door to intercept her
II want you to stay. I'll have no sec.
refs from you, Lucy. | want you to
hear what these gentlemen have to
say" He glared at Abbott as If dar.
ing him to speak the words that must
destroy his wife's last feeble hold on
her position.
II hope Mrs. Gregory will excuse
u.s. said Abbott, smiling at her as
cheerfully as he could, "but she knows
that there are matters Of business that
women don't understand. or care to
learn. This is something that relates
merely to you, Mr.. Gregory, and orr.
selves"
"Of course understand you, Alb.
bott,' said Mrs. Gregory gently, land
Mr.. Gregory is wrong to insist on my