Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-01-05


but she only laughed.
ed. "Sabra and l have considered
taking ledger. Have you refer.
ences?"
About twenty minutes ago.
| thought perhaps you would invite me
to dinner"
IF there is enough to 60 round-Tll
ask ANNIE" she went out. and pres.
emily came back very demure.
Sabra has telephoned that she won
be home. so you may have her two
chops she explained.
Praise God"
| "Oh, wouldn't be too glad; they
may be rather tough. They often
are"
Hang the chops said Alex, but she
had run off to dress.
| When she came down she was too
busy setting the table to pay any fur
Their attention to him. The finest lin
en-, the best of the old silver and china
were brought out, but she could trust
| to his not knowing the difference. She
| even found some crumbling, dusty
wax candles for the battered old can
delabra, and sat down to rub them
clean.
These ought to be used up she
said, lest he suspect tribute here.
They have been in that drawer ever
since I have been tall enough to look
into it. They must have been left
from the one party we ever gave in all
our lives-when Sabra came home
from college"
Il remember that tea" Alex laugh.
ed. There were nineteen carriages
outside: ! counted them. The neigh
borhood was an wrought up. l had
a very hard yellow ice cream pear
in the kitchen-the spoon wouldn't go
into it, I remember
And the splendid old swells came
people who had always known me- -
ers people: and funny people who had
adored father" Chloe could laugh
if we had just met year or two ago
and hadn't all that old background!
She did not realize all that the impul-
sive speech admitted, and though
Alex was deeply smiling, he took no
advantage.
you were the dearest little doll of
a child he said. you have been in
my arms many a time, Chloe"
why, of course was the cool an
swer. you taught me to tell the time.
You used to lift me up to the clock
every time you came in
He was leaning against the table,
watching her deft hands. II remem-
Der the first time ever saw you.''
what did have on?" she asked in
terestedly.
about seventeen blankets, should
say. You were some six days old.
Funny little red Toto! I didn't think
much Of you"
They laughed together at the dim
old picture-the sturdy little boy and
to which they were growing. "Ah, I'm
glad you came in!' she cried. He
bent over her. one hand on her chair
back, one on the table in front of her,
and their moment was very near.
You're so brave, dearest. One can
only guess how lonely you must be-"
She answered with dropped head.
81 am simply trying to do what she
said-to follow her" Then she look.
ed up into his face. Alex, you do feel
her quality-now?"
His eyes blurred. II feel her splen-
dor. Chloe"
Then it's all right!' She let her
forehead touch his sleeve, and felt his
answering start; but Armies entrance
drove him back. Bring, up chair,
Alex" Chloe ordered with the mar
velous feminine power of acting as
though nothing had happened.
She lighted the candles, then took
her place opposite him. and Annie in
a clean white apron stayed to wait.
Alex was of no earthly assistance He
took what was offered him with fun
bling hands, but his eyes, very still
and dark. never seemed to leave
Chloe's. His only contribution to ap-
pearances was that star-gazing silence.
Chloe, girlishly frightened clung to
her light speech even after Annie had
eft the room.
"She is such nice woman, so diff
ferent from that dreadful"
But Alex had risen and was coming |
round to her. Again his arms lowered /.
about her, all ready to take her in.
Chloe, Chloe he begged. els it
II IlSit.
Fear was lost in gladness, and she !
pressed up to him. 'It's all right for
aver and ever."
Annie. coming back to change the |
plates. found them sitting decorously !
opposite, to be sure. but not bite of
Inner eaten, and went out again look /
ng wise.
you might just ring when you want
me, Miss Chloe" she said, and they |
laughed, and ate the chilled food with !
guilty haste.
when | am rich Alex said as he
'ose from the table. Il am going to en-
dow whatever society it was that kept |
5abra away tonight"
Chloe knelt to light the fire in the I
sitting room. Turn out that stupid !
gas: we will just have the lamp" she |
said.
Alex turned out the gas. but the !
amp was not lighted, and while the |
paper smoldered and curled the room
was deeply, TREMENDOUSLY dark: and |
Chloe. who had all her life wanted
o be big and strong knew now why it ,
was beautiful to be little and soft and !
slender. Then long finger Of fame 7,
shot out, pointing. and dozen little !
flames leaned I'D with Joyous |