Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1916-12-22


them. 1t rang sharply, twice, like bad
lifted for third ring as she threw
back the door. His sleek head was
tremendously uncovered, but his
hard eyes Knocked and insulted Chloe
did not return his greeting or ask him
in; she only stared her dismay with
childish openness.
"Is your brother at homer" he ask
ed. She shook her head, SO obviously
incapable of speech that note of i'm
patience escaped him. Miss Gage,
assure you that I carry no weapons
But am most anxious to see your
brother. II you can tell me when he
will be in-?'
He was short of breath, as though
he had been hurrying, and some sup
pressed feeling shook him visibly,
making him suddenly less formidable.
Chloe found her voice.
ri can't tell you. | don't know"
could you possibly let me waltz"
He would have come in but she
made no move to admit him. At his
stare of surprise the truth broke from
her.
II wish you wouldn't see him to-
day" He would have spoken but she
rushed on. II know Just how you feel
Il do see your side, truly. But he
has been so frightfully upset and dis
appointed. If you could just wait till
tomorrow Her eyes, so like little
girls still, were faftering between her
old timidity and her new courage. 1T
won't make any difference. you know.
We can't help it,"
He looked at her with arrested at
tention, "You-knov how I feel?" he
Eyes, of course" A shamed flush
not be submerged. About all the
money gone. But it was your mothers
own idea, to back us. She wanted to-.
And we all believed in the play. Let
ting her do it was frightful mistake,
but, honestly, it wasn't-crooked. l
saw how you felt that day at the
sound" she added as he still said moth
ing.
He looked away, down the quiet
street and then at his boots. my moth
er is welcome to take flyer in drama
if She pleases." The hard young voice
seemed to be feeling its way. 81 may
not consider it wise. but I should not
attempt to interfere in her-strictly
financial affairs"
In her relief, Chloe could have put
glad arms about Mr.. Donald Cartaret's
unyielding neck Then it wasn't the
money? You're not bitter about that"
she cried.
His gaze tried to pierce to her very
soul. Are you really as innocent as
you seem?' The question, half mock
ing. half puzzled, made her recoil so
sharply that he apologized. 81 beg
your pardon! see that you really are:
and that America is quite as wonder
full as ever. One forgets, in Paris.
Now if you can tell me anything about
your brothers movements
She answered stiffly: Il only know
that he ran down stairs with bag
about an horR-"
The simple news had had startling
effect Mr.. Cartaret jerked out his
watch looked briskly about as though
for a cab, then, with mnttered ex-
cuse, plunged down the steps and hur-
ried away. Chloe consciously slammed
the door upon him. He had taken
some of the burden off her soul, but
he was hateful and impairment, and
she never wanted to see him again.
What did he mean. and
what business had he to mean it!
Mrs. Gage came in at noon. her
haad IN in q sembIance of the old spir-
it. but her lips driven together in
new line of disbursement. She said
nothing of last night. Sabra, too,
when she came, seemed little dim.
med. 1t would have been silent lunch
but for Billy. At the end, when he
had trotted out. Sabra pushed back
her chair, but did not rise.
81 have been to see Mr.. Harper
Lindsley's son." she began. looking
straight before her over folded arms.
81 thought he might want to carry on
his fathers projects; but he Is very
different sort of man. Very. Not at
all abreast of the times. I think now
that help from such source would
be mistake. One would be hamper
ed. am glad found it out in time"
What did he say" Mrs. Gage ask
ed anXiously.
"Oh, he was rather coarse. He said
that our membership had largely
passed the child bearing age--as II
that bad anything to do with a prin-
ciple: But imagine he had some idea
of being humorous. Well, he consider
ed me a crank, and 7 have no doubt
he would have considered my father
a crank. I am very well satisfied not
to be involved with him"
Mrs. Gage could not echo the salts
faction. Whom will you try next?
she asked
81 have several projects" Sabra
turned them over in her own mind, and
the others waited respectfully. Il
might start magazine. something for
the modern, intellectual woman. The
Voice would be good title: or The
New Voice ] know ! could get back
ing"
Mrs. Gage never met any project
with objections. Her note was always
the trumpet call. sounding tho adj
vance. splendid dear!' she said. but
her eyes did not match the words. and
perhans Sabra felt difference. for she
slowly shook her head.
NO: it would take too much Of my
time. Well, wrote several days ago