Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-01-02

| ciiNel inuSt nave MADE 2 wrong turn
ing, for suddenly they were rounding
strip of dead grass, dividing the
street but unfenced. with fading
sketch of tree at one end and at the
other square of broken earth. cry
burst from Chloe. Alex would have
taken her hands, but she caught them
away, beating them together. Hell
eyes burned as though with anger
All her body was drawn tense and
straight.
oh, it is not fair" she cried "Ev-
erytbins at once-it is not fair! won t
forgive it,
The carriage stopped and Alex
| sprane down. but she brushed past
him unaided. When he would have
come in with them, she turned on him.
Not you! You didn't love her-you
We're cruel. You can't ever come in"
| Don't mind her now, dear" the old
woman whispered. but Chloe hurried
her in and shut the door.
CHAPTER VIII.
The city rang with the story of the
General Sheridan disaster and the
| heroic death of Mrs. Serene Gage.
The varying accounts of what had hap
pened after the great dark wedge that
was the bow Of a coast liner came cut
ting down through the mist. held UP
the same Respondent figure towering
over the confusion, hushins screams
and checking rushes by the sweep of
her shining courage. She had shown
an inspired wisdom. You're cool and
caim-We can count on you!'-the
, words, trumpet clear. had steadied
many trembling heart She seemed
to be taller than every one and filed
with triumphant sladness. as though
at last she had work big enough for
the full measure of her strength. Only
one thought Of self had she shown,
when she gave Billy into old Katy's
care
Whatever happens That was all
she had said but Katy had not once
relaxed her hold on the little boy.
| I'D have saved him though l died
three times myself and lost both them
that belonged to me-" she told the
questioners.
All but the last boat was safely
launched when the brown huddle that
was only forgotten cloak caught her
flnal look and she had run UP the slant
ing deck into the cabin before the
anguished voices could stop her. Then
the ocean had risen up
I'VE nearly went down ourselves.
but We pulled away they said. "and
the captains jump saved him: but she
never came back. We searched and
we prayed. but she didn't come back.
And there wasn't one of us that
wouldn't have died for her"
So tho NOR do ,f b.r =
the rich forgot that they had criticized
or laughed, and the papers. honoring
her, paid honor to Serene Gage, max
ing much Of the fate that had brought
down his statue and his old wife on
the same day. Chloe fearless, with
fever bright eyes. went ceaselessly
about the house all the next day,
working at anything, seeing everybody
who came. Sabra was curiously cow
ed. She sat bent down in her own
room. and no one might know what
went on behind her expression1ess
silence. She seemed impotent. as
though her power to see things as she
wished were dirnred, and she had no
other resource. Late in the afternoon
Ralston came back alone, shaken with
grief that made Chloe very tender of
him. She felt none herself-only
confused exa'tation. sense of rushing
strength: but tears were the right
tribute from Lalston. A motor waited
for him, and he did not stay long.
Helena wants to take Billy" he
said at the door. For a few days.
anyway. Don't you think it would be
better?"
Chloe assented with the same curl
Gus absence of feeling. No one had
paid much attention TO the little boy
today. and he had played quietly by
himself in corner, making few de-
mands. He had seemed absorbed in
his games and there was no sign .
show how much he had understood
or how deep mark yesterdays ex.
perience had left. He went readily
with his father to see his dear lady, !
whose new relationship lad not vet
been explained to him. Chloe. putting /
him into the car. looked meaningly /
over his head into her brothers eyes. !;
"Ralston, | have told Billy how
grandfather has had to move away be- /
cause the street was so crowded" she
said. And granny has now gone to .
stay with him"
'ediSluIi Lace IulVerPG. nut ne nOdO- !
ed his UNDERSTANDING Billy, Chamber
ing in. paid no heed Al her cheerful.
KISS Toto, old man" he obediently
turned back: but his little personality
was yelled. He seemed Interested only !
in the ride and the arrangement Of his
toy pony so that the latter might en-
joy the scenery
Billy has gone" Chloe said to her
self as she turned away. but The words
meant nothing. She had so many
things TO do. As night came, they
seemed more numerous. more import Y
ant. Throat and head ached. but
some dim idea that everything had 10
be done today drove her on Uncle
Harry had come in the morning. but
At evening Chloe sent for him again.
She net him. with small box in her
hands
Uncle Harry she began at once.
this is the money that people gave
FOR the fund we were raisiEg-you re-
member? It's money. not checks
And it was not mothers. you see: the
aw has nothing to do with it. ! have 4
'ound a list of the people who gave.
out il doesn't say how much" She