Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-03-08

made you 20 away from town. But
that's not the worst: what made you
stay away? And what were you do
ing OF there wherever It was. while
poor little girls were wondering them
selves sick about you? But waltz
the wheels going down--down-down.
-. Good thing I have you to hold
to--poor Miss Sapphire, she can't
come now! Listen at all the street
criers, getting closer, and the whistle
sounds wish We had whistles; the
squawky kind. See my element, Ab-
bott, the air I've breathed all my life
tho carnival. Here we are, Just
above the clouds Of confetti. -
Now we're riding through.
pretty damp, these clouds are, don't
you think! Those ribbons OF electric
lights have been the real world for
me. Abbott-they we're home.
No, Bill, we don't want to get out. We
intend to ride until you take this
wheel to pieces. And oh. by the way.
will you?-when we're up at the very
tip-top. All right-goodby."
And Abbott called gaily, "Goodby,
Mr.. Smookins!"
'I'm glad you did that, Abbott. You
think you're somebody. when some
body else thinks 30, too. Now were
rising in the world" Fran was 80 ex'
cited that she could not keep her
body from Quivering. In spite OF this
she fastened her eyes upon Abbott
to ask. suddenly, "'Most'-what?'
Most adorable" Abbott answered
az if he had been waiting for the
prompting. Most precious. Most
bewitchingly sweet. Most unanswer.
ably and eternally-Fran!"
And YOU she whispered.
"And t. he told her, am nothing
but most wanting-to-be-loved"
Its so queer" Fran said, plaintive'
ly. "You know, Abbott, how Ions
you've fought against me. You know
it, and don't blame you, not in the
least. There's nothing about me to
make people. 80 = But even now,
how can you think you understand me,
when don't understand myself"
II don't" he said promptly. 1--WE
given up trying to understand you.
Since then. I've just loved. That's
easy ##.E '....
What will people think of super.
intendent OF public schools caring for
show girl, even if she is Fran Non.
pareil. How would it affect your ca
reer?"
But you have promised never again
to engage in a show, so you are not
show girl"
What about my mother who lived
and died as lion tanner? What Will
you do about my life-history? I'd never
speak to a man who could feel asham
ed of my mother. What about my
father who has never publicly acknow'
lodged me? I'd not want to have
anything to do with a man who-who
could be proud of him.
"As to the past, Fran, I have only
this to say: whatever hardships 1t con
tanned, whatever wrongs or wretched
ness-it evolved you, you, the Fran Of
today-the Fran OF this living hour
! And it's the Fran of this living houl
that I want to- marry"
Fran covered her face with he
| hands. For, a. while there was silencl
then she said:
Father was there, tonight"
AT the lion show? impossible. Mr.
Gregory go TO 49, to-a-
Eyes, 1t is possible for him even tt
! 20 to show. But to do him justic'
he was forced under the tent, he hat
no intention Of doing anything &c
| wicked as that, he only meant to d.
some little thing like running away
But no, can't speak of him with bit
terness, now. Abbott, he seems al
changed"
Abbott murmured, as If stupefied
"Mr. Gregory at a show!"
Eyes, and lion show. When Il
was over he came to me-he was sc
excited"
$50 was l." spoke up the other
"rather!"
"You didn't show it. Thought may
be you wouldn't care II had beer
eaten up. $50 No, no, listen. Hi
wanted to claim me-he called me
daughter right there before the PEG
pie, but they thought 1t was just sor
of-of church name. But he wal
wonderfully moved. LETT the ten
with him, and we had long talk
came from him to you. never saw
anybody 50 changed"
, But why?"
You see, he thought was going tt
be killed right there before his eyes
and seeing it with his very own eye'
made him feel responsible. He tolt
me, afterwards, that when he fount
out who it was in the cage, he though
of mother in different wayne saw
, how his desertion had driven her t.
earning her living with showmen, 81
could be supported. All in all, he ii
changed man."
Then will be acknowledge your
but no, no. ="
you see? He can't, on account o
! Mrs Gregory. There's no future 70
him, or for her, except to go on livinl
as man and wife-without the secre
tary. He imagines 1t would be sor
Of PREPARATION to present me to tn
world as his daughter he thinks
would give him happiness-yet 1t can
be. Grace Noir has found 1t all out
Then she will tell" Abbott ea
claimed, in dismay.
"She would have told but for on
thing She doesn't dare, and It's o.
her, own account-of course. She ha
been terribly-well, indiscreet. Yo'
can't think to what lengths she wa
willing to go-not from coldly MAXIM
up her mind. but because she lost girl