Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1916-12-29
CHAPTER VII. (Continued.)

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The voice was exalted, almost joyful
Hell go on, marching on-the!
can't pull down what he did and was
The statue doesn't matter any long
er; his work lives. It's all right
Then she saw that the face lifted tt
hers was tremulous. tear marked
Her hand fell strongly on her daugh
ter's shoulder. Don't cry about
things, Chloe! Do your level best, ant
then go on to the next thing. Crying
means sitting down and you don't want
! to sit down even to rejoice. There
isn't time" She looked about her as
though seeing her world with renewed
eyes, then she went on upstairs like
q general who has spoken to private
and passes on forgetting him.
There are days that are strange
4 even if nothing happens on them
Their color is different, the air has an
unfamiliar feeling. In some lands the
people say, Earthquake weather.
not from any scientific connection, but
because something big and unnatural
seems impending. That Friday morn.
ing dawned in breathless stiffness
the air, sweet heavy, tepid. lay with
palpable weight on the lifted face;
= faint apricot glow gave the streets
an unearthly charm, and there was a
breath of wood smoke. Chloe, after
she had left the house, went back
again
TITS queer day, mother; anything
could happen she began uneasily. Il
should hate to have you and Billy on
that boat in bad thunder storm"
Mrs. Gage indulgently came to the
door. why, it is just September
haze, Toto; and We could always put
In somewhere. We don't go far out,
you know. You mnstnt grow ner-
vons, dear"
~Oh, know it is an right" but
Chloe still fingered. It seemed to her
that her mother stood feebly this
morning, and that her face looked very
old. II am glad Katy is taking her
grandnieces," she said. Make her
look out for Billy, mother, and you
just rest"
Y will. l shah enjoy it, dear. Now
which way are you going?"
"ph, round by the alley" said Chloe
quickly. Her mother nodded her I'M
der3tanding. They would neither Of
theh pass the familiar way that day.
ut it is long way round for you"
she ogaid. MRS. Van Dusen is sending
her ear to take us over to the dock;
I'm ure she wouldn't mind having It
com earlier and drop you at the Of
fee. Shan't telephone her again.
dear It won't take minute"
5 "a MOI" Chloe spoke impulsively,
but was no day on which to make
prot sts and she added a softening,
y. INT a walk l shall be in all
day. They kissed each other and ex-
cha&ged little aimless family remarks
abott dinner and wraps, neither
wholly conscious Of what was said.
Chloe, going off in the new direction,
glanced back at the turning and saw
the tall figure still on the steps. She
lifted her hand, and her mothers hand
answered, waving her on.
1T is as if one of the family were
going to be hanged today" she
thought; then shook herself with a
Hot demand for common sense and
64rraed to the ONCE.
lSeptember was the renting month
md the home hunters streamed in all
DAY. At lunch time Uncle Harry took
her over q new building in which the
spaztments could be altered to suit
he tenant, and Chloe became so alb
Dorbed in the possible rearrange-
lnents Of partition walls that they
lunched with plans spread between
Them and pencils in their hands. The
nnseciful anodyne Of work had wiped
ut everything else.
you were made for this business"
y t0od her as they went back to the
1ace. You've got the housekeeping
49,
but Sabra must have been won
Des4i" Chloe said little wistfuIly.
she Souid talk to them so WELL"
'.Yes,khe drewled. "Oh, yes; Sabra
m talk. But you really care
Her look was a startled question;
ut she did not ask It. II don't see
Aow you kept the place for me-" she
Md, instead: cor why!~
WI, sort of expected you" was
II he would say.
The air had grown heavier, the
streets ended in a gray blur, but the
yemse Of strangeness had gone off the
lay, and Chloe thought only Of getting
back to work. Uncle Harry's praise
Was very precious. She would increase
Ills business, grow so valuable to him
hat Alex, seeing her prosperous and
would be ashamed of his
marsh words and would come humbly
back to- Here the ONCE door swung
,hut on dreams, and she flew to work |
again. In the middle Of the afternoon !
he foghorns began to bleat in the riv-
.r. The sound was so faint and so /
familiar that Chloe did not notice it
Until she realized that lights were be-
ing turned on.
ut can't Sc so late as that" she ex-
slaimed. why, it's not half past
BUR-" Then, looking from clock to !
latndow, she saw the gray invasion. !
1aly a dim spire or two and single
he of roofs remained of the city that
Nd spread it's bright miles in the
aprning glow. !
III wish to ask about residences on
n upper west" the voice brought
9loe's troubled stare back from the
,ldow, but the request had to be re-
ated She did her part mechanical
inwardly raging at the feminine ex-
ic;yauacc tbot cou1d not sock a