Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1916-12-12
the light, feeling as though she lifted

1 the light, feeling as though she lifted
her hand to stab.
Mother, people criticize us for
asking things like that. Mrs. Murray
herself has done it'll heard her. They
say we-take--too much
The blow had missed Mrs. Gage
was only patient. "Ah, people say
things, careless things they don't half
mean. We all do it. The only way
is to pay no attention and do as you
would be done by. Why, would take
all three Of the little Murrays tomor-
row, if Alice asked me-
"But that is just it-she doesn't ask
YOU said Chloe quickly. "Oh, l know
it is no use; you won't see. But we
can't ask that of Mrs. Murray. Moth
or, we can't!'' The intensity of her
feeling could not be ignored. Mrs.
Gage yielded without resentment.
Whom shall we ask then? am tied
| up and Sabra can't help herself-you
were not quite just to her, Toto. And
| Lizzie wouldn't do it, even if she could.
would take him"
There is said Chloe. will you
leave 1t to me?"
I only want to help, dear"
81 know-I'm grateful. But want
to arrange it myself. May 1?">
yes; of course. But if you want
help, am right here. my little GIRL"
and Mrs. Gage went back with a sad
dened realization that her little girl
was growing up. Chloe herself was
conscious Of new forces
WAS l unkind, father?" she asked,
and felt homesick longing to ex-
change the shadowy presence for a
wise, comforting, human reality.
l"Oh, / wish l were old, and knew
things, and had done with all this
hurting!" she cried
In the hurried days that followed
Sabra asked no questions about fam
lily arrangements. With her marvel
Gus power Of seeing just what she
wanted to. it was doubtful if she re-
membered Chloe's disapointm ent.
Even at parting her clear, straight
look held no concern. Mrs. Gage re-
membered and looked daily question,
but kept her difficult silence till a
chance encounter gave her the truth.
She hurried home, full Of distress.
why, Chloe" she exclaimed, "the
Commodore says you wrote him you
couldn't 60 l was all ready to help
you'll would have found some way!
Why didn't you let me?"
Love had aroused Chloe to cour-
age; and now that love was dead, she
had the courage Of new and devas-
tating Indifference.
II didn't want it, mother; not
enough to put my work off on some
one else"
But" Then their eyes met. and
the familiar arguments faltered be"
fore the bewildering discovery that
they were strangers. Mrs. Gage tried
to bridge the gulf, but words would
not come; she slowly turned away.
looking troubled and poor and very
old. Chloe suddenly sprang up, throw
ing impetuous arms about her.
81 love you-better than any one on
EARTH she said holly. 81 have to do
my way, but don't mind-let me work
it out Just remember that you are
always the biggest pehson in the
whole world to me, and that ! love
you. Don't ever let me hurt you, moth.
er!"
The kind arms, feeling her sob, held
her comfortingly Are you unhappy,
Toto-bothered about anytbing?" Mrs.
Gage presently asked.
: Chloe dried her eyes and managed to
smile. ooh. being a girl is no joke"
she admitted; 'but dare say one gets
over it in time"
The summer weeks trailed by, and
Chloe, who had been half frantic to es-
cape, yet found measure of relief
in giving up hope of anything better
and plodding through her days one by
one. She lived like person who,
after disaster, has closed all her big
house, combining herself to one small,
practical room. She never looked
back to the wide, sunny days with
their shining outlook. Her anger had
shut down, hard and cold, against any
thing that Alex had shared. Invita-
lions came. but she steadfastly refus-
ed them until a note from Mrs. Cartar-
ct begged her to come down to the
sound for week and to bring Billy.
II shall love to have = little boy in
the house, she wrote. nd have no.
ticed that children always enjoy a
beach," Mrs. Cages surprise attested
that the invitation had not been
DlOIAplSd llC< IsaicIoAl iSVSA
planned for others, SO she felt free to
accept. A bitter thought that even
Alex could not carp at this rose,, but
was thrust back. She would not pay
Alex the compliment of remembering
his existence.
The first day it was all joy-the ex.
quisite house, fresh and clean as a
sea shell, the salt breath of the sound
coming UP over the rocks, Billy's hap
piness and his little padding feet.
There were no other guests, and
Chloe, who had hoped for girl of her
own age. would have been disappoint-
ed if she had not realized some wist-
full and lonely desire in the lovely lady
of the house. Mrs. Cartaret was not
simply being kind to Ralston's sister
and son; she was shyly bent on max
ing friends. She came down to the
sand where Chloe and Billy were pill
ing up fort and sat very upright on
rock beside them. the delicate linen
and lace of her costume as little suit
ed to the rugged spot as her own fra
grant. drawing room personality was.
1t was impossible to picture Mrs. Car
taret as getting down into sand or