Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-01-02
began with dogmatic energy, but she

I
tempt to hide ran down her cheeks
She hoped that they hurt him.
Toto, | am brute beast!" Again
she had succeeded rather too well
Just lie still. dear. and let me reat
you something. l won't talk. I won
bother you in any way" He tucked
his big handkerchief into her hand. sc
cretly. and turned his back under the
pretense Of shielding the light from
her eyes. Next he brought footstool
and something in the way he knel
to place it. something reverent anC
humble and pledged to self denial, re
stored a little warmth to her chilled
soul Then he arranged the shaw
about her shoulders and the lingering
tenderness of his hands utterly be
trayed him. Chloe's relief was hot
with Indignation.
"Alex. you stupid-you perfect fool!'
she silently stormed at him
! Haven't we been hurt long enough
This looks amusing:' Alex was
folding back a magazine he had
brought: land it won't tire you. Are
you comfortable"
| Chloe refused to answer. He began
| to read. but as she did not hear a
word. she naturally failed to respond
to the points and at the end he softly
closed the magazine and rose.
Now think ought to go" he said.
,, reluctant but manful. May come
again soon?'
oh, do" said Chloe politely.
| He felt the rebuff. but was too pitifuj
of her condition to challenge it. He
was very eager to do right. and so
vowed to caution that he could not see
how all need for caution was over. He
was settling down to siege while the
gates were wide open.
II shall come, but you can just tell
the maid when you don't want to be
bothered he said. taking her hand as
though it might break
ooh, stupid" she silently cried at
him: but she looked more animated.
81 like to be visited" she said. do
you know. miss the Office! Every
time Sabra tells me she has rented
anything. ! feel jealous. I can't wait
ito get back"
You'll jolly well have to wait" he
said with more of the familiar empha-
sis. you are nowhere near fit for it
yet"
Inwardly she was saying. ooh, why
don't you understand! while outward
ly she made sturdy answer: But
Sabra's lecture course begins in few
weeks and she ought to be free to
work on it. Besides, ! am really valu-
able to Uncle Harry, I'd have you
know He said so. am going to work
so hard and so intellgently that some
RI ho Wi ,a,.tp
II was Alexis chance to cry out
against any partnership but life one
with him. but he only looked disheart-
ened. Still. you must take your
time" he said with an effort.
well, if he isn't masterful. then he
can't have mel don't want him."
Chloe explained to her disappointed
self
81 am going down to the sound over
Sunday with Helena" she said aloud.
THAT and my Billy will make me good
as new" He stiffened at the mention
of that marriage. and she nodded her
understand. Il know. felt that way.
too. It scorched me. Alex! And yet
they are very happy: Both Of them. If
they stay so, won't it perhaps turn out
to have been-right!"
He started to answer with the old
cocksureness, but the words faltered.
81 don't know" he said instead, I'm
hot against it, but then I am always
finding out that I've been pig-headed
ass" He knelt beside her chair. lay
ing his face against her arm. I've
been so ashamed he whispered.
81 know-I've understood Her
hand passed softly once over the thick
hair strong and colorful like the man
himself. Then she drew it away. 81
won't help you she silently defied
him "If you are not man enough to
take me. you can go without" At the
withdrawal he rose at once.
"Well. good night, little cousin he
said. eco to bed early and don't for
get your tonic" And he was gone.
Stupid" Chloe hurled after him.
but she was smiling.
Alex was prepared for long siege.
He had Chloe's word for it that she
no longer cared for him, but he meant
to win her love all over again from the
very beginning. and he set about his
task with a patience and devotion that
exasperated her, but more
often, when she was alone, brought a
warm laugh deep in her throat. or
course, he was very soon laying down
the law again. and she was standing |
up to him with the old spirit, and be.
coming daily more sure that never be-
fore had so sound and sweet and strong |
a heart and mind been offered to liv-
ing woman. Health came back very !
fast. She was out every day now, and !
spent hours with Billy, who had ac-
cepted the big house and the many !
|uxuries with childish unconcern.
The last day of her freedom was
stormy, and Chloe slipped over to !
Billy's nursery early in the afternoon. |
There were changes in the little boys |
outer appearance. His hair. instead {
Of being prosaically "shingled," had !
already assumed Dutch cut: when |
ho went ont his fine little coat was |
trimmed with astrachan and HIS leg |
gings we're Of aristocratic heather. |
,-hile indoors he played in blue linen !
blouses that would once have been |
saved for Sunday best. But there was |
no change in the inner Billy. He was |
showing the delights of a toy train |
and tunnel to his new mother, who,
though in hat and coat. fingered to |