Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-02-01

wind had risen, and as 1t went moan.
ing past the window, 1t seemed to
speak Of the yearning Of years passing
in the night, unsatisfied. At last came
the words. muffled. frightened 81
know all about it, H.. u.
"All about what. child?" He had
lost his harshness. His voice was al
most coaxing. as if entreating the
mercy of ignorance.
Fran gasped, 81 know all about it
know" She was terrified by the
thought that perhaps she would not
be able to tell him. Her head grew
light: she seemed floating away into
dark space. as If drawn by the fleeing
wind, while the man before her was
magnified. She leaned heavily upon a
table with hand turned backward.
whitening her fingertips by the weight
thrown on them.
About WHAT" he repeated with the
caution of one who fears. He could
not doubt the genuineness Of her emo
ton but he would not accept her
statement of it's cause until he must.
oh" cried Fran. catching a
tempestuous breath. uneven. violent,
you know what mean--that."
The dew glistened on his brow, but
he doggedly stood on the defensive.
"You are Indefinite" he muttered try
ing to appear bold .. o..
She knew he did not understand be-
cause he would not, and now shs
realized that he would. If possible,
deny. His bearing suggested some.
thing so foreign to her own nature.
that it gave her strength. She had
been afraid to witness the emotion her
knowledge might excite. but all he re-
yealed was a determination to avoid
the issue. -
Pretense and sham always hard
ened her. Then, she said slowly. II
will be definite. I will tell you the
things it would have been better for
you to tell me. Your early home was
in New York, but you had cousin
living in Springfield, where there was
a very good college. Your parents
were anxious to get you away from
the temptations Of big city until You
were of age. So you were sent to live
with your cousin and attend college.
You were with him three or four
years, and at last the time came for
graduation. "Shall 60 on"
He fought desperately for self-pre-
servation. what Is there in all this?'
"You had married. in the meantime
Fran said coldly; married secretly.
That was about nineteen years ago.
She was only about eighteen. After
graduation. you we're to go to New
York, break the news to your father,
come back to Springfield for your
wife, and acknowledge her. You gradu'
ated: you went to your father. Did
you come back?" A..
"My God" groaned the man. So
she knew everything; must he admit
it? ''What is all this to you?" he burst
forth. "Who and what are you, any
way-and why do you come here with
True" said Fran bitterly. III
you've forgotten. why not 60 to Spring
field and ask the first old citizen you
meet. Or you might write to some one
you used to know. and inquire. II lou
prefer, I'll send for one OF your old
professors, and pay his expenses.
They took good deal Of interest in
the young college student who mar
ried and neglected Josephine Derry.
They haven't forgotten it. If you
have"
"You~ don't know" he gasped. that
there's a penalty for coming to peo-
pies houses to threaten them with SUD-
posed facts in their lives. You don't
know that the jails are ready to
punish Matchmaking, for you are only
a little girl and don't understand such
things. I give you warning. Although
you are in short dresses"
YES she said, all the cooler for his
thought that would be an advantage
to you. 1t ought to make things
easier"
How an advantage to me? Easier?
What have I to do with you?"
81 thought" Fran said coolly, that
it would be easier for you to take me
into the house as little girl than as
a grown woman. You'll remember
told you I've come here to stay"
ITO stay" he echoed, shrinking
back. your"
Eyes" she said, all the cooler for his
attitude of repulsion. II want home.
Yes, I'm going to stay. I want to be-
long to somebody"
He cried out desperately But what
am to do? This will ruin me-oh, it's
true. all you've said don't deny 1t.
But I tell you, girl you will ruin me.
Is all the work Of my life to be over
turned? I shall go mad"
"No, you won't Fran calmly as
sured him. you'll do what every one
has to do. sooner or later--face the
situation. You're a little late getting
to it, but it was coming all the time.
You can let me live here as an adopted
orphan, or any way you please. The
important fact to me is that I'm going
to live here. But don't want to make
it hard for you truly. I don't
Don't you?" He spoke not loudly,
but with tremendous pressure Of de-
sire Then. for Gods sake, 60 back!
Go back TOTO wherever you came
from. I'll pay all expenses. You shall
have all you want"
"All want" Fran responded. "is
home. and that's something people
cant buy. Get used to the thought of
my staying here; that will make it
easy
Easy" he calculated. "Then it's