Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1916-12-01

| SuppoSe ue ~ UlSdppOlnteu!
"My dear girl" Alex took both her
hands, folding them together. ITO be
true and generous and not self seek.
ing-no, he isn't disappointed, little
Chloe at home!"
She drew away, startled, rather
GREATNESS. The open portals were
swung shut with girlish haste.
well, little Chloe ought to be at
home this minute she declared, very
brisk and practical.
But your father was with u.s. Alex
said excusingly. They parted on the
| door step with laughted and the usu-
al cousinly handshake.
Alex came slowly back to the
statue, pausing where they had stood
to look long and intently into the quiet
face
IF you had lived-if you had only
lived!" he said at last, striking the
fence with a reckless fist. A paling
clattered down and he stopped to
i'straighten it. When he had had to
give it up, he found policeman
| watching him from the sidewalk.
Twill all be down before long,"
the latter said, recognizing by Alexis
evening dress that his purposes were
lawful.
Eyes; there will have to be a new
fence Alex assented. - The officer
looked obviously at the wedge of
precious space.
THE traffic is getting pretty con.
gested down here" he said. 81 guess
they'll be carting the old gentleman
on one of these days. Good night,
sir" And he went slowly on his
beat, looking right and left for dis
order in his realm
CHAPTER III.
Now that you haven't Billy" 1t
seemed to Chloe that every family
communication began with that
phrase. Now that she hadn't Billy,
she could do every ones work. She
had wanted to sit down before her
new freedom and rejoice in it for
few lovely weeks, but she was too
full OF buoyant kindness. these May
days, to hold back.
They were curious days. Every
morning in the early dawn she awoke
as though some one had called her
as perhaps some one had, across the
quiet city squares. While the light
grew the joy in her grew like bird
song; then came sinking wings of
droWsiness, taking her back into the
dark, and, the next thing she knew,
Billy's little fists on the door were
telling her that she would be late for
breakfast. All day the ringing gaiety
lasted. rising to secret shout when.
after dinner, Alex came round the
corner. Then it abruptly fell away,
and while he stayed she was her usu-
al self, cheerful or mischievous, quaint
ly grave at times, but undisturbed
Not till he had been gone an hour or
more did the joy begin again. Chloe
asked no questions of life: spring was
a sufficient explanation. She believed
that she always felt like this IN
spring. Alex showed himself newly
moody-gay and conquerins one
night, depressed and absent another.
but he always came.
Now that you haven't Billy" said
Sabra, you can help me with the con.
ference on the eighth"
will it give me chance to wear
my new clothes?" Chloe demanded.
I should think So"
Very well; then I'll help you"
Sabra was looking her over with
large, calm rebuke. Suppose our
father had undertaken his work be-
cause he had new frock coat" she
suggested.
But he never did have. poor dear"
said Chloe, unabashed "And I'm sure
if he could have had one-with a
touch of gold embroidery about it
he would have gone in twice as hard"
This to Sabra: but to the invisible
comrade at her side she said. You
knew it was just little joke," and
her father smiled back his under.
standing.
The eugenics conference had been
hastily arranged in response to Mrs.
Taller Otis's offer of her house for the
afternoon. Why a woman who had
within the year married Taller Otis
should concern herself with eugenics
was question no one had the audac.
ity to ask. The former Mrs. Otis had
made her home rich in beautiful
things, and the afterglow of her social
glory had not yet faded: the house