Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1916-11-28

Mrs. Cartaret's house, could I?''
Mrs. Gage was alight with relief
"Why, she would love to have fire
for you'll know it. Any one would
Leave it to NEEDN'T worry, dear boy.
will see that you are, comfortable .
And in the general clearing of her sky
she turned back to the lunch that she
had been unable to eat Ralstpn, too,
was presently up again, borne on her
buoyant faith. Chloe carried a sober
all wrong. of course; but she would
have died rather than ask for that fire.
| Mrs. Gage called on Mrs. Cartaret
that afternoon and the next morning
Ralston found cheerful blaze, await
ing him. Mrs. Cartaret w:s so con.
cerned for his comfort that she her
self came up at noon to see that the
fire was going properly. She was a
widow whose only child had married,
a graceful, still woman not yet fifty.
with an emotional love of beauty and
a remote smile that never deepened
into laugh. A knock on his door be-
fore he had voluntarily opened it usu-
ally made Ralston murderous: but
there was always something fragrant
and distinguished about this dark
eyed woman in her silly black that
soothed his rasped sensibilities and
touched his mood with knightliness.
She wasn't modern or humorous,
thank God! One could be gentleman to
her lady. He begged her to come in
It was an added charm that she could
be little shy.
| Come in and see how perfect it is
he urged. Sit in my chair and see if
you don't at once begin to write a
masterpiece"
She sat there, erect and hesitating,
| letting her lovely smile come slowly
| out 1T must be so wonderful to
write she >said 81 have always
longed to. Tell me how you go about
It. Do you get the idea first, before
you write word?"
To Ralston, who had not yet acqur-
ed public. the question was fresh and
stimulating. He talked at length
about his methods, pacing up and
down as he grew excited. or standing
over her with hair touchingly rump-
led and long fingers pointing his
meaning. Her listening had the per-
lection that he found in all her ways.
How did you first know that you
had this gift?" she asked him. And
How do you get your idea-does il
simply Gomez And DO you take your
people from life or do you make them
up?' Ralston grew flushed and bril-
liant eyed. An hour slipped past At
last servant lowered in the doorway,
murmured and went away.
az am koon;po 1o,, l,o
But if you knew what it meant to
talk to some one who understands and
cares! | can't usually talk to any one.
] am the loneliest man in the city,
Mrs. Cartaret."
But why should you be lonely?"
Her wonder said: You who have
youth and beauty and talent" and per-
sonal vanity might have preened it.
self; but Ralston had been spared
that
People don't like me- he said sim
ply and seriously Her incredulous
smile would have made a joke of it,
but he shook his head. "No-truly.
don't laugh enough, l suppose. Good
God, don't want to laugh-life
doesn't seem to me funny! l am sick
to death of this modern cult of hui
NOR"
The audacity of that took her
breath. Doesn't one have to have
it?" she asked. q touching hope alight-
ing her face.
MOI" He almost shouted it. Let it
alone. That is what makes you so
beautiful. One is safe with you, one
is at home" He took her hand. "You
will come up again? Please promise
you will" He was SO eager, so boyish
in spite Of his thirty years that he
could not quite be left so. She hest
tated, colored little, and asked him
if he would not come down and have
luncheon with her. He came. openly
happy The handsome room. the
skilled service, the graceful, listening
woman, Tapped him in well being
Zone is at home in your house, too"
he told her. Il have never had home
like this, and yet l always feel like,
an exile-as if | had once lived where
everything was beautiful and hor-
monious That would have made all
+l,o d;ffarapoo II, INV roroprS Solf nify