Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-01-02
THE SEED OF -
- THE RIGHTEOUS
JULIET WILROR TOMPKINS
Copyright 1916 by the Bobbs- Merrill Co.
CHAPTER, VII. (Continued.)

NT1Af EN- II. lNOHtliltcu.j
81 can't bear it much longer" she
gasped I'm so frightened-and so
alone-and Of course ii is all right, it
always is, but do wish"
"Oh, here you are" the voice. kind,
quiet. matter of course, came like a
saving hand. Her heart cried 1T is
too good to be true!" even as her lifted
eyes told her that it was true, that
Alex was there. Il have brought you
a sweater he said. and. as she did
not speak or move, he wrapped it
about her shoulders. then sat down
beside her on her box.
Chloe found a husky shred of voice:
How did you-?" His arm. straight
ening the sweater, stayed about her.
but neither of them seemed to know
it.
why, went over to the house. he
said at cousinly ease Il knew it had
been a bad day for you ALL had to
run in, Toto. Sabra hadn't got home
yet, but Lizzie told me where you were
Have you been here long,"
She nodded ooh, hours and hours!"
His arm could no more stay imper-
sonal than she could help the plunge
Of her face into his shoulder. All his
pity and love and strength went into
the clasp that held her and the broken
words murmured against her hair and
cheek. She heard them, one after an
other-the beautiful words for which
her heart had starved. Darling"
first, and Beloved" and then, my
little girl. my own little girl" Her
chilled blood was racing. She lifted
her face, turning it up like flower
to the sun, but before his lips had
found hers, shout wrenched them
apart. They sprang up, to see great
blur of light coming inch by inch out
of the mist. Dark lines began to divide
the blur into groups of lights and the
throbbing Of machinery grew steadily
louder. Shouts of command reached
them as the boat worked in to the pier.
How high it is! 1t looks so differ
ent," Chloe exclaimed, but every one
was shouting and rejoicing and they
pushed forward with the rest Now
they could see the deck and it was
packed solid, with standing women,
each carrying a baby or holding a
child's hand and all straining white
faces toward the waiting crowd: but
no one spoke or answered the jubilant
welcome. Their stiffness fell with a
hush on noisy greetings. Then muir
muir went through the crowd on the
pier:
That amt the General Sheridan
that amt our boat! Yes, it is
But it Amt It's big
ger Well, there's mamma
anyway! Why don't they say some
thing" 1a
Chloe's eyes, running back and forth
to every Tail Donnet. ssrew wide with
fright. 81 can't find her. she STAN
mered
They are so packed" Alex said.
His eyes, too, were darting right and
left in frowning search.
The boat stopped. and still the hud-
died women looked down in silence,
and the silent crowd waited The
calls of the sailors lowering the gang
plank. sounded harsh and loud The
first woman to cross it fell sobbing in
to arms held out to her. Then the 9TH
ers came, all turning from white fear
to weeping as they reached their own
Chloe's hands were twisted into
Alexis arm.
II can't find her." she repeated 81
can't find my Billy"
let me go and look, dear" He
broke from her and the swelling crowd |
pushed her back. She could not see |
the gangpiank now. A confusion of
words and cries grew about her but |
she could not make out what was said
Then, at last, the crowd was parting
before Alex, and she saw Katy coming
toward her. gnarled old Katy who had |
once brought her Cinderella's pack
Of gay clothes Now her face was !
gray and wet with tears, and she car.
ried little boy, heavily asleep on her
shoulder.
"Billy!" Chloe had started forward
with cry of joy, but their faces stop
ped her. Mother" she breathed
Come home, Chloe. at once" Alex
said, his arm about her, but she re-
sisted him, staring into Katy's tragic
lace
my mother-tell me-" she cried
"She was the only one, dear the
Dh woman's tears were streaming. but
her voice was strong. But for her.
he water this minute The big boat
~ us down and the poor things was
Wild with fright But y our mother, she
was lIhe n u uHpetlHS anger. one
EN-, and gathered EN-. and
vas everywhere at once-dear she
was so strong, so happy like. Never
49,, ,-ocr, VOL wr,r,an sn ~loricus
And she and the captain. they got
j = -'~' '~ot wet
Il a child trampled-they did what
= e said. And then she run back. dear
twas only an emntv cloak. but she
fought child had been left And
Ie called and cried, but she couldn't
Var us, and then it was too late. and
n over. And brought the boy safe
u you. dear. hut she's 9one--may God 5
est her soul in peace
Silence had fallen on all sides. Dim
not understanding why, Chloe saw ;
! omen with bowed faces and men
jttb heads uncovered making way for
/ lr and Katy and the sleeping child
t&en they were al in carriage.
flnninc unfortunately through the
(ack streets. She felt no need to cry. !
y, heartbeat She did not seem to !
ne very much, and wondered with
ne shame at her own insensihility.
My mother is dead" she told her