Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1916-11-24

some, assured SaDra. She could still
hear Sabra's confident, Mothers com
| pliments, Mrs. Van Dusen, and if it is
no trouble, may Chloe spend the day
here, because we've got a mothers
meeting at our house?" The answer
was always gracious, and yet Chloe's
very being would seem to melt with
shame under it-she was so sure she
was not really wanted She used to
try not to eat much lunch and to run
on her tiptoes, by way of lessening
the infection. And when these invol-
untary hostesses called her-as they
often did-a dear little SOUL her
| quaint, still face would be lit from
within by very acstacy of grateful
relief.
OF course, later, she was made to
understand how glad people were to
be neighborly and to help one another,
and that it was mean to suppose they
were not. Mrs. Gage certainly lived
UP to- her creed. Little sisters of
measles and brothers = of whooping
cough spent weeks in their crowded
home. The new babies Of her poorer
neighbors never lacked flannel and
soft cotton, sturdily collected from the
richer. Mrs. Gage could not see a
kindness as too much trouble-either
to give or to be taken. And she never
forgot that the children of Serene
Gage had heritage Of rights.
The Murrays had fine old house
and, at one side, walled garden that
should have grown plants of solid gold
to balance it's value in feet and inches
Chloe, standing at the wall door. felt
the same old reluctance to ring: but,
after she had forced herself to do it,
she was ashamed Of her own ungener-
osity, her lack of faith The little
Murrays greeted Billy with Joy, and
their pleasant Mary assured her that
he was never any trouble.
II will come back for him at noon"
An hour up in the green park. with
sun and birds and opening earth. took
the fever out of her. Chloe could be
quite exquisitely happy when she
could get away from the clash of the
family ideal on her own tiresome
scruples and constituencies. The prob
able loss of Sabras earnings had at
first troubled her, but their mother
would damage some way. She always
managed No doubt some rich old ad-
mirer of Serene Gage would be glad
to back Sabra in the more valuable
work. People never tired of paving
honor 10 Serene Gage The father who
had not seen her was Chloe's secret
romance When she was alone she
walked with her hand in his, and she
was as fluent with him as she was 81
lent with her living family. He would
have understood even her incurable
wrennishness.
When she again passed the wall
door, Billy was seated on the gravel
nursing a sleeping cat that overlooked
him on either side. and whose nap
must not be disturbed, so Chloe. with
small witches Of amusement showing
through her grave consent, sat down
on the stone Jench against the house
to await the cats pleasure. 1t was
sweet here, with grass under her feet
and birds chittering in the house
vines. little figures trotting about. the
nurse bending over the baby carriage
She tipped up her face to the stream
ing sunlight, the April scents and
sounds, and so became aware of voices
at the open window just over her head
who's the fourth kid?" 1t was an
elderly man speaking, and he said
the word kid" pleasantly, as though
he liked little fellows; and because
she loved to hear her fathers name
pronounced, Chloe stayed still.
THAT is the Serene Gage grand
child" Mrs. Murray spoke with a
note of laughter He is dumped down
here rather often-you know the fam
lily way. But Mary doesn't seem to
mind
They laughed again at some further
comment as they moved away. For a
Chloe sat white and helpless
with bewildered pain. Then terror
lest Mrs. Murray might come into the
garden made her start up.
Come. Billy; come home at once"
she commanded. and the sleeping cat
was bundled out with horrifying lack
Of respect. Billy was grieved, but
dared not protest to this wholly new
Toto. At the wall door she suddenly
left him and ran back to Mary.
"Yon have been kind and good: /,
shall never forget she flung at the