Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1916-12-05
CHAPTER III. (Continued.)

where by putting up some money or
a. good deal Of work you may be
thrown with the incest people. Will
you join at once?"
Chloe hesitated, then laughed weak
ly. Perhaps l will some day." she
maintained, but Alex only laughed at
her.
You're too true, little Chloe. When
you join, it will be because you care.
And then you'll make things hunt"
I'm not sure" Her secret trouble
looked out at him, the guilt Of being
only little Chloe at home. Others do
40 much. Real or sham, clever or
stupid. they get things done."'
Alex squared an obstinate jaw.
They undo as much as they do. I've
, heard them. Now I'm a good suffra-
gist, as you know, but when lovely
drawing room product buttonholed me
not long ago and ran on about her
little tender daughter at home and
big, rough, bad men making laws for
\ her-Lord! l had to talk to an anti
Z and hear some worse stuff to get back
my reason"
"But you wouldn't have realized
that you were for suffrage II ladies in
drawing rooms hadn't stirred 1T up"
said Chloe shrewdly and he had to
laugh.
Il don't care, hate 'em," he said,
comfortably falling back on prejudice.
"Oh, don't mean the real ones, of
course; but the ones who only come
because it's Fifth avenue address.
Now, don't say they are no worse than
men. What I can't forgive them Is
I that they aren't darn sight better
Lots Of them are" said Chloe.
4 ~And perhaps 1t is better to work
wrong-headedly than not to work. she
added with sigh.
But you are only little girl YET"
he consoled her. You are looking on,
and growing up-oh, very earnestly
and biding your time, and being very
loyal to everything round you till you
know Just where you stand But some
day you will rise up-yOu'H bust loose,
Toto"
and what them"
..Well, you will still be the dearest
little girl in the world" was the i'm
$pulsiye answer. Then Alex straight
ened up as though he shook himself
and laughed away the speech. How's
Billy getIlns On Will LILO
SCRIP he asked.
{ Chloe hesitated. 1.-THE trouble is,
Billy has brains" she said finally, and
I looked surprised at Alexis shout OF
laughter. II mean, you don't have to
develop him so cautiously" she ex (,
planned. HE could learn anything
"Then. for the love Of Mike, take
him home and teach him." Alex urged,
and laid down the law about the edu-
cation OF the young with a dogmatic
\ assurance that would have made a
saint take the other side. They argued
hotly at first, then came to peaceable
conclusions and said sensible good
nixht over the topic. But, in spite OF
All Alexis thoughtful remarks, just one
phrase fingered with Chloe-"the dear
al little girl in the world" 1t went
TO bed with her, woke up with her In
the fresh dawn, set itself to music IN
her heart. Surely never had man
4 called woman anything quite so en-
chanting as that-the dearest little
GIRL in the world.
BY morning the phrase had lifted the
q last soft veil Of Chloe's unconscious
ness. She saw with Joy and awe just
whore she stood, and never doubted
but that Alex was at the same place
an ready to hold out eager arms. Fa-
miiiar words burst into blooming signi-
aAcance: '.engaged"-by bedtime she
might pe-Oh, romance that stopped
the breath-"engaged!" And the name
!. AIRS which she had uttered so casual
~ an her life, grew magically into
something big and secret and resound-
sing. to be silently repeated, like a
nrayer, but not easily spoken.
Now that you haven't Billy said
Chloe's mother that morning, you can
\ help me with the fund for your faith
of."
n Chioe. who had been dreaming at
the window, an idle duster in her hand,
Z turned Q startled face. The fund-for
my hther!"
"Oh, forgot: you weren't here when
eabra and discussed It," Mrs Gage
settled comfortably in rocking chair
to discuss it all over again. She dear
" loved plans "The fence, dear, and
the grass; the city won't keep it up,
and there Is no use protesting and
writing to the papers any longer. So
we are going to raise fund to keep
8 Ii In perpetual care. j know dozen
y people who will be glad to give some
thing toward it. And If we need more
we can get up little entertainment.
1 Perhaps Rawly would write play for
us"
Chloe was trying not to look appal
led. She had no idea why the project
30 depressed her. The need was I'M
deniable. do you mean. ask people,
ourselves, for the money!" she fall
tered
why not?" Mrs. Gage spoke from
an expanded chest III the widow and
children of Serene Gage don't work for
his memory, who will? Mrs Van Dus.
en- would help" she added, dropping to
her usual tones. II shouldn't wonder
If she got a good big sum from the
Commodore for us. Suppose you go
and talk to your Uncle Harry about
It."
Chloe seemed to contract bodily at
the suggestion. He won't do any
!. thing"
Now, Chloe, if you start out that
way, you will never get anything" was