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

CHAPTER Nv. (Continued.)
"You can't do it indefinitely and not
be corrupted, not begin to think what
you can get out of every person and
every situation. And it makes you the
underdog-Chloe,, Chloe, you needn't
tell me you didn't cringe and suffer
when you set out to raise that money
the other day! That suffering was your
warning; but you can wear 1t down II
you keep on"
Il hated and loathed it, she cried
Nothing was ever so horrible! But
they thought l was selfish and cow
ardly, not willing to do my share.
. Hard things had been done for me!
What was the answer to that?'
+ 1.-THE answer was that you would
earn it with your two hands before
you would 60 out and beg for it! What
right had you to the earnings OF 9th
ers? Dearest, don't take any more
refuse! Don't join in on the family
graft"
The last word was fatal. Chloe. hurt
beyond bearing, flung off his touch.
"You have no right to call it that" :.
For the first time he lost his sell
command. Don't you suppose tnat
others do? Chloe, it's byword, it's
q toke-the Gage way! Oh, see your
mothers fineness, but, for I'LL that, she
is the grandest old CRATER"
"Stop!" The word crashed like a
stone, and then they stood looking at
each other with hard, strange eyes,
knowing that something lay dead BE-
tween them. III that is the way you
see us. there is nothing more. to be
said" she rushed on. my mother Is
the biggest person l have ever known.
When you are big enough to under
stand her, you can come back and
apologize. Till then" A sob rose.
sucking all the breath. out OF her body.
"Oh, / never want to see you again!
she cried, and went swiftly away.
For perhaps the first time IN her
grown life, Chloe passed her fathers
statue with no consciousness OF its
presence. Her. feet took her home,
but she saw and heard nothing until
from an open window voice of husky
relief shouted her, name. Billy had
seen his Toto's vanishing hat and
known himself deserted, and his
broad face was sodden with tears, but
already, at sight of her, forgiving
light was dawning.
"Tm here, Toto" he faltered.
Hearts may break and kingdoms
fall, but babies must be comforted.
Toto put away self, sorrowfully kissing
the grieved face, and hand in hand
they made the nightly pilgrimage.
Toto ran away from me, but she
coined back" Billy told his grandfath-
or with a lingering hiccough.
The level sunbeams threw dim
glory on the sculptured, face; Serene
Gage might have been uttering some
fine old reinsurance beginning with,
"Inasmuch-" Chloe did not get the
message, but the little boys clinging
hand made life more bearable.
CHAPTER v.
Chloe had made her choice, had
cast In her lot with her family. For
them she had put away love and de-
MED the deepest instinct of her being,
and there was no hour in the bitter
days that followed when she would not
have done, the same; yet never had
she felt so alien to them, or so longed
10 ret away. She could die for her
family, but it was borne in upon her
that she could not eternally live with
them.
The yacht became her hope now, the
promise of escape, and she waited for
LIE, summons as she had waited for
Alex. The day 1t came, she few about
the house like young whirlwind. A
noisy Chloe was something new, and
49, - 80 sxI<.naa xuffh ornrNvo1
Chloe hasn't had enough young
HE" she confided to Sabra. Eve don't
realise Show Billy has tied her down.
- 20 glad you can take him for her,
0Dae. I should have loyed to if I
pledged to the Diet Kitchen"
Sabra looked up from club regis.
ter she was studying. 1T is pity his
class stops" she said. IF Lizzie were
more willing"
well, she will have good deal of
work with Chloe away" Mrs. Gage adj
mitted. Besides, she isn't kind to
Billy-it wouldn't do. But can near.
Is always take him after three. And
he will be nice rest for you, dear;
you have done so much public work"
Sabra started to speak, but the
sound of Chloe's light feet on the
stairs closed her lips. Presently she
put away the register; together with
bundle of time tables that she had
been looking over. X
Pleasure seems. so unimportaht
when you have put,your shoulder to
real work. she said, rising. 81 have
called special board meeting, moth
er; I may be kept late.'
Mrs. Gage looked apprehensive. 'Is
It about putting on that dreadful
play?' she asked rather timidly.
Paternity is very great play"
Sabra began from height, but went
on more humanity: And if it doesn't
20 on under our auspices the medi-
cal or some other society will produce
It."
We'll, dear, why not let them"
"A Eugenics society can't shirk the
fundamental truths Sabra interrupt
ID. "But of course the board will do
Is 1t thinks best; the chairman has
40 opinion" And she went out Sc
enc and unhurried, as one who runs
zig affairs must.
1t proved stormy meeting, for, one
had burned her copy of Pater-