Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1916-12-08
Late in the afternoon they met

Late in the afternoon they met
again at the home corner, coming
from opposite directions, Mrs. Gage
striding as though she carried ban
ner. Chloe with a CLEAN of upright
!, eous Joy showing through an air OF
decent regret.
Il did my very best, mother" she
cried at once, land l couldn't see a
single person on that list! They were
nearly all out of town, except when
they were ill. They expected Mr.
Gardner in. so waited and waited
l haven't shirked. And then he tele.
phoned that he wasn't coming" She
!; threw an arm about her mother
laughing into her shoulder. II
couldn't help it, could I?''
Mrs. Gage smiled down indulgently
into the wicked face. We'll, dear, it
didn't matter, for have had tremen-
dous luck We needn't raise any
more"
Wheel Chloe's squeal would have
drawn a crowd in more conventional
part of town. "Oh, mother you are an
old brick! How on earth did you do
it,"
Mrs. Gage, after rather futile al
ternoon. had had the luck to meet a
wealthy connection from Rochester on
the street. "Of course, had thought
of Cousin Anna. but there is not much
use writing to people when you want
money" she explained. Face to face
is the only way-remember that, dear.
INN INV i
gave me check for the balance then
and there. A very public spirited
woman, Chloe. ! wish she lived near
err"
"Oh, I'm-so-glad!" Chloe breath
ed Mother, isn't life perfectly beau
tiful!"
! Mrs. Gage answered with an unex-
pected sigh. Things are going so
well. it half frightens me- she adj
mitted.
It did not brighten Chloe. The accu-
mulated good news was too great to
be held in. Ralston had demanded
absolute secrecy about the play, imply
ing darby that word might burst
the lovely bubble, but Chloe, finding
him at home, begged permission to
tell Alex.
"He never repeats anything" she
urged. "He will be SO pleased
Ralston's excitement had come to
it's inevitable reaction ooh, relatives
never care" he said moodily. They
are glad if you fail. They have known
you all your life, therefore you can't
be any good
ITS natural" Chloe excused them.
| Don't YOU remember when | came
back from Europe and Uncle Harry
saw me on the street? why, that's a
pretty girl-oh, no, it isn't. it's Chloe!"
She laughed, loving Uncle Harry and
all his ways. ALEX has invented some.
thing to do with dynamo, but don't
believe you would take much stock in
it," she added.
The Observation-Disclosures admoni-
y ton always annoyed Ralston. He had
been born feeling himself something
special and set apart, one Of natures
| princes. to whom the leveling advice
could not apply: and yet, when others
| did not recognize this, he had no
means of asserting it.
ooh. tell him if you like" he said,
turning away.
Chloe had been longing for some
such opportunity She and her father
both knew that Alex loved her; why
should the lovely spring go by, vast.
ed? Alexis bad temper must vanish If
they came together again, and Chloe,
brave and bright in her new power,
meant to have no more nonsense.
Stupid boy, staying away" she
silently scolded him as she straight
ened her hat over laughing eyes. She
could intercept him on his way home
If she hurried. 1t was Billy's hour
for saying good night TO his grandfath-
err. but for once Chloe did not want her
little boy. She slipped out uncaught.
Alex would pass the statue, so she
went out to the peaceful little island
! in the traffic. whence she could watch
both sidewalks. girl could wait I'M
noticed in this shabby old corner of
the town. Neighbors, passing, greeted
her with city gaiety. The world was
hot and dusty, tired with the days
| work. but the jest and the laugh ac-
companied homing feet like an organ
| grinders tune. horse baked and
the entire street stopped to grin and
TO help. Two taxicabs grazed wheels.
| and their chauffeurs, polite backs to
their fares. rolled eyes and pulled
cheeks at each other over the eternal
Joke of the close shave. A truckman
and a teamster bawled witticisms
across the traffic. They could all be
savage enough on provocation: but
meanwhile they were gay. the city
wine bubbling in their veins and
touchingly patient under difficulties,
and Chloe. city child that she was. felt
a Joyous tremor of response to The
rough fellowship. No doubt evil and
despair stalked the streets, but il was
the kindness and the laughter thai one
saw
"My city" an articulate song was
streaming through her heart; "My city
my father-my love"
Her love was coming. Chloe wctch
ed him with quick rising Of posses.
sive pride. She longer &c point him
out to the whole street: See that is