Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1916-11-21

dierly woman, so lined and weathered
that only from her children could one
guess that she had ever been fine look
ing.
"Ralston, it wouldn't be much
trouble to have tray for you every
morning" she offered. "Chloe would
carry 1t up-wouldn't you, dear, to
help your brothers. work."
Chloe's hesitation lasted bare sec.
ond, no longer than it took for her to
answer her own instructive protest
with a family rebuke; but Ralston cut
off her assent.
why trouble Chloe? She does
enough for me, looking after my child.
Billy won't always be burden on you,
Chloe he added with sad patience.
| 1T Is only question Of my getting a
fair chance to do what Is in me.
have never had it yet"
Mrs. Gage loked unhappy, as though
personally reproached, and, Sabra with
her trained pleasantness offered di.
version.
"Ralston, will it disturb you if tell
Billy dream had about him? think
! it will amuse him."
! Ralston with one movement emptied
his coffee cup and rose from the table.
ooh, we'll, have finished" he said.
please don't telephone this morning
if you can help it. hear every word.
Thank heaven, Billy can play out-of-
doors today" And he went out, profit
! ing little by that fine example of door
| closing.
Sabra interlocked her fingers, and
looked out over them at the world.
Nov, mother, quite impersonally,"
she began IF make a good impress
sion at the congress this afternoon,
am almost certain to be put in as the
next president. am being very seri-
ously considered. in that case ought
| to give up my office work" Chloe
started, and for an instant Mrs. Cages
alert face sagged into old age. II
know. l realize all 'the COST Sabre
spoke strongly. But, looking at il as
a whole, isn't the cause of eugenics
more important than the earning of a
small salary?"
Her mother tried to grapple fairly,
then slipped down to a side issue.
your Uncle Harry won't think So"
she said with an unconscious sigh.
spirited, as opposed to public spirited"
sabra explained "He gave me today
off most unwillingly. If I were presi-
dent of the association, could not pos
sibly stay In his Office and barter for
free time. He considers me crank
Well, perhaps / AMI want to work
for unborn generations rather than for
two or three individuals now. Only we
must remember that for great many
years my father was considered a
crank. ! want you to look at it quite
impartially."
There was bare second for the
girding up of tired muscles; then Mrs.
Gage rose to it like the stanch old sol
der that she was.
IF you feel that is your work,
Sabra, we'll find way" she declared.
1.-The children of Serene Gage are not
going to be kept back as he was Shall
go and talk to your Uncle larry
about it?'
Sabra was finely radiant, as though
already she heard the clapping hands
and saw the upturned faces. mo,
dear mother. will do that myself
when the congress is over. ] don't
want anything on my mind today"
But, Sabra," Chloe broke in, won't
the eugenics people pay you any
thing?" She spoke nervously, like one
who knows she may seem ignoble but
is too worried to hide it. you see,
/ pay the bills, SO have to realize"
Sabra raised hand for silence. mot
today. little sister," she said kindly.
81 must not think Of anything but my
address But will you, as a great ia
vor, run over to Uncle .Harry's with
some papers? He wants them this
morning. You can easily catch him
before he leaves the house"
Chloe stood Swallowed and silently
knowing miserably that the
others must be right, and yet rebelling
at the fresh financial crisis ahead.
Then. seeing her mother already alert
on the new problem, she was ashamed
of her cowardice and ran off with the
papers.
The morning was fresh and lovely.
full of good promises. AS she passed
her fathers statue. his kind quiet
seemed to fall benignly on her heated