Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1916-12-19
CHAPTER v. (Continued.)

II so OeIOTe HaWly, QeaT, Sic duNlocu.
9 mo; Ralston is too personal Sabra
assented "He can't look at writing
4 apart from the fact that he is writ
u err. Chloe, l can see that you are go
+ ing to say something rather excited
about Shakespeare; but should have
to talk for an hour to make clear and
convincing to you just~what | mean"
;s 1T would take you good deal more
4 than an hour" Chloe returned with
g new independence. She had sincere
\ " repented the unjust charges she
Mad flung at Sahra weeks before and
q yet she had never seen her sister With
B the same eyes since that night. Some
thing was Sgone, and Chloe was older
f for the loss. Ralston's step was
D on the stairs, and Mrs. Gage motoned
4 1 warning. He started to go out, but
came back from the front door to
q stand looking in on them.
Il am going to run over some
n scenes with Miss Hawthorne" he an
q nounced for the sheer satisfaction of
II hearing it. S"She misses the shade OF
meaning that want in some places.
4 But she is very nice about taking sug-
Z gestions."
The thrill of what was coming
II touched them all afresh. Their lifted
4 faces begged him to go on.
MRS. Cartaret Is coming up tomor-
row to see some of the rehearsals. :"
Ralston's voice kept a special note
~ for Mrs. Cartaret's name; he had cast
about it such sacredness that MIS-.
4 Gage was afraid to prounce 1T at all.
III it is very hot, she will motor back
4 IN the soJlnd nights"
~ hope you will go with her, dear
\ his mother said. "Her place has done
/ YOU 50 much good this summer.
I Though l suppose, if her son is here
...Oh, yes: couldn't stand Donald
Ralston assented, coming in to lean
saeninst the wall. Besides, i shall
1 have to stay very close now; Grady
!. means we'll but stage managers are
esalways a low type of intelligence. He
sskeeus wanting to make changes and
\ cuts. / have to say dozen times a
day. No; not one line altered! This
! IL going on as j see it, Then he shrugs
and gives In. When l think how my
! NAV would come out if were at his
.sAh. you have been fortunate" Mrs.
= VtAR0 SH1u. IL SCClAo 40 - ISAA"Re
-FOUR hard times were over; as If we
were all going to be fortunate now
THE long struggle is coming to its
inward" There was note OF awe
"a her voice, of tired peace. Her old
hands lay relaxed on her knee, her
eyes blessed her children and their
shining futures. Sabra and Ralston
nodded careless acqu1escence, but
Chloe drew closer to her, dropping
down on the stool at her feet and TAX
ing the hands into an urgent grasp.
"You do too much, mother she ex-
claimed. "That, old Diet Kitchen has
tired you out"
y 1T was worth it, dear. And it is
well started now; needn't go down
there so much. why, who is 1t
A step had passed the open front
door without ceremony, and Alex came
In with the hurried obliviousness OF
one who brings bad news. He held
newspaper and though his eyes met
sChloe's, they said nothing to her that
they did not say to all. III
sHave you read the evening paper
Their faces told him that they had
not and he went quickly to his aunt.
laying the sheet before her. was !
afraid you had missed it." he said,
'sAand knew" His eyes dropped to
Mloe's averted head and he broke
on.
AN old landmark going Mrs.
Gage read. " The statue of Serene
Cage " Her voice faltered. Ralston
mnght the paper from her.
: 20 be pulled down." he exclaim-
ed, A cry broke from Chloe. Ralston
was reading Indignantly, Sabra looked
tAoughtfully grave, but Chloe and her
mother chung together, lifting stricken
faces.
"Of all the asinine-!" Ralston burst |
out. "Why can't the traffic go round |
some other way? To sacrifice an en- |
blem of greatness to few butcher
carts-isn't that just like American
II suppose, If there really are acct
dents there because of the conges' |
ton" Sabra began in tone of high |
reAsonableness, but Mrs. Gage had
put away Chloe's arms and risen
ut isn't going to be pulled down"
she said, standing before them straight
and gaunt and powerful. Il will go
about it first thing tomorrow MORN
ing. Who is the person to see, Alex
the pUrough president?
u The brave girding up to action had
touched Alex LET me go for you. |
II will do~everything in my power. I'll
see the mayor and the commissioner
of parks and highways"
NO. she interrupted. Thank you,
Alex, but this is my work. Tell me the
names
4 He sat down beside her, telling her
all he knew of the men in control. |
The old antagonism seemed gone; he |
was SO kind and so earnest that Chloe |
had to call on the unforgiveable word |
to keep her heart shut. '"Grafter!"
The faithful anger responded. Better
that the sacrilege be committed than !,
that it should be averted by his help.
"If you find you can use me. Aunt |
Emily His handshake completed
the sentence Then he paused before |
Chloe, still crouched on her stool. but
she would not look up. 81 know what |
It must mean he said to them all, |
and went out. Ralston read the article !,
again, muttering impatiently. then
~ n1It III, his hat