Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-05-16

Newspaper Syndicate.)
"And my answer Is --?" Ton
Randall, holding Nell Eustace's hant
in his, bent forward.
I; Her lips parted in tender Smile
just as the door opened and there
came the cough of Pierre. '"
Pardon, Mademoiselle, but M
Eustace is suddenly Ill and desires
your immediate presence"
Father! I must go at once" Grief
Nell, and forgetting her lover WAITING
for the answer, she murmured an ex
cuse and fled through the hotel cor
ridor to the lift that would carry hel
to her dearly loved parent who had
been father as well as mother to hel
all her days.
Tom Randall waited impatiently
for her return. After half' hour
had passed he sent a servant to IN
quire for Mr. Eustace.
The reply came back that Mr.. Eus'
tace was better and Miss Eustace
begged to be excused.
That was all. The Eustaces did not
appear in the dining room that even
| ing and Toms second inquiry brought
forth astounding news. Nell and heE
father had left the hotel that after
noon and their destination was not
known.
Those we're black days for Tom
Randall. That Nell had gone with
| out word to him was sufficient
| evidence that she did not love him,
and vet - surely no girl would ever
have looked at him with loves eyes
and then fled from him!
The Eustaces were of Boston and
Tom had met them at this Swiss
hotel during leisurely tour OF Europe
before settling down to business in
his fathers law offices.
It was like Tom Randall to finish
| his tour of Europe, although the flavor
had gone from the journeying. He
was constantly watching for glance
of the Eustaces, for he began to be-
lieve that Nell's father had dlsap'
proved of his attentions and had car
ried his daughter away.
Meantime, he hopelessly waited
for letter to follow him, being
most particular about having all
mail forwarded.
! But the letter never came and ne
Isaw nothing of the Eustaces. Ono
| October day he arrived in New York
and went soberly to his fathers Of
flee to talk over the coming part
nership.
A year passed-two years - and
never a word came to Tom about
the girl he had so nearly won and
so unaccountably lost The Ran-
dali law practice was a large one
and Tom found little time for mus
ing over an unhappy past; but his
friends saw a great change in the
youth who had set forth on his
travels happy and carefree to re-
turn after many months grave anc
tired.
The question was ever IN his
mind: What had become of Nellie
Eustace?
"Tom,' said his mother one day,
come with me to Wood & Naylor's
! Il must have your advice in select
ing rugs and hangings for the
camp; your father is too busy to
leave just now
| Every we'll, mother" said the
obedient Tom; you know | think
your taste Is unquestionable - but
if I can be of any use, here l am.
Wood & MAYORS stretched its
hospitable roof over "a city block
and within could be found every.
thing needed by man, woman and
child-save, perhaps, happiness.
Mrs. Randall led the way down the
main aisle of the store, stately
figure in an exquisite gown OF black
and white. Tom in a summer suit
of pale gray followed dutifully be-
hind. pausing now and then when his
mother stopped to examine some al.
Turing bargain or to make trivial
purchase.
At the lace counter Mrs. Randall
stopped. 81 must match some Vene-
tan point, Tom; stroll around II you
wish"
Tom obediently began to stroll, but
suddenly he stopped short and
stared at the saleswoman who was
showing lace to his mother
Her head was bent over the lace
she was displaying, but where had he
seen that crown Of sunny hair parted
in the middle and coroneted with
heavy braids? There was the graceful
/ WnlCe neck CldSpe'u Ill d ul6il SOlinA
was not that mourning stuff, that
white organdie at throat and wrist
of her severely plain black gown?
Her hands-Tom knew those pretty
,fluttering hands, white and shapely
with a quaint silver ring set with an
Egyptian scarab worn on littls
finger. The girl lifted her head and
turned to bring another box from
the shelf and Tom saw her face. II
was Nellie Eustace-indulged daugh'
ter Of a rich man, waiting on his
mother in Wood & MAYORS depart.
ment store!
Tom strolled on, hut his thoughts
were in chaos. What cataclysm OF
affairs had befallen the Eustaces?
Mrs. Randall met his at the ele'
vators.
81 couldn't match it," she said, re.
ferring to her quest for Venetian
point, although the young woman
was most obliging and said they
would send for duplicate of my
pattern"
Toms heart beat quickly. OF course
Nellie would be obliging-the girl he
loved couldn't, be anything else save