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

am so horribly strong" A note o.
laughter broke from her Il cam
get tired!' she cried. 4 have worked
all day long and I'm as fresh! | took
cold. of course but that's nothing. Anc
| am not at all excited; | never fell
cooler. ! could do anything!'
His averted glance, for once, was
lifted full to her face. "You ought tc
go to bed. Chloe. You're ill., he said
mo, I'm not" she insisted. 81 fee
perfectly splendid | shall be back al
the Office in two days. | want to work
Mother would want me to. She said
that, Just the night before. Don't cry
about things she said. Crying means
sitting down and you don't want to sit
down even to rejoice Don't you think
that is fine and true? There isn't time
to cry.Tshe said And l haven't. not
once. was awake all night. think
ing things QUIT didn't seem ten
minutes; but didn't cry. I'm not go
ing to wear mourning-that was one
of the things ] decided. If ! could
wear royal purple or scarlet for her, l
would; but not black. Sabra is going
to-wouldn't you know % She laugh
ed again. but checked herself with a
look of shock How heartless |
sound! Do you suppose really amp
+! His fingers had closed on her wrist.
Now. Chloe" he began, but she in.
: terrupted.
Pm not, tell you I'm perfectly
we'll Why. ! could go down to the Of
! fee this minute the high voice fall
tered and her hands went out cropping
/ hn ho
her to tie sofa, she dropped her head
against him. holding fast. Il think
! perhaps am i'll she whispered.
Yes. get some one, but first walt
i want to send message
Yes. Chloe?" The answer brought
! back her attention, already beginning
| to wander
Its about Alex Oh yes, know.
thought that all out in the night,
too. Tell him | am sorry | said what
l did. l don't care for him any more
that is all dead: but don't reel
cruel and vindictive. | understand
now: he was only hurting out what ne
thought was the whole truth; ne
couldn't see that it was only little
piece Of the truth. know he sees bet
ter now. and I'm sorry for him. VIII
you tell him that. just exactly as SAID
it? I don't want to see him yeti am
so busy and think I'm ILL but he was
kind and | didn't mean what | said.
BY and by he must come to see me.
And you'll send back the money! The
room began to spin around again.
When Chloe opened her eyes, Sabra
was there. But I can't be i'll now
Its the renting season." she cried,
and burst into tears.
Chloe was very ill for many days and
then for many more she lay weak ana
sorrowful longing for her mother
When the nurse could be sent away,
Sabra, who had procured money, no
one could say how, dismissed Lizzie
and found pleasant woman VINO
would wait on Chloe as well as take
care of the little house. Sabra her.
self had gone back to the office and
was filling ChlOes place.
RaIston's wife came nearly every
day.. bringing Billy as soon as Chloe
was we'll enough to see him, Uncle
Harry trudged over every evening,
and friends, rich and poor. left mes
sages and offerings. II was an open
hearted time, and though she had
desolate hours and nights OF shivering
horror. Chloe rose up from it with
renewed sense Of the worlds loving
kindness and the richness Of life.
Autumnal freshness was in the air,
bringing back strength Flowers had
come from Alex. the first with THANK
YOU. Chloe" written on card the rest
with simply his name. She had not
answered. but she stared at them Tor
hours when she was alone. and tine
irst night she went down stairs she
carried with her a jar Of dark req
chrysartilemums, great spicy, ragged
heads that filed the room with festlv-
ity. Sabra had to hurry off to meet
ing
But you will have Uncle Harry,
she said in apology and Chloe smiled
assent. Sabra and she would always
do kind things for each other. but they
would not often voluntarily sit down
and visit together Then the bell |
rang. and though her mind pointed out |
that it was Just time for Uncle Harry, |
her heart knew who was coming. she
had known it all day
We'll, Alex" She smiled from her
hie chair. then. seeing new lines in |
his face. q new, grave look OF expert I
ence. she had to drop her eyelids TO
hold back tears. He was near tears
himself as he held her hand in both
his.
We won't talk about things she
said. and so they sat together in
silence for while. paying that tribute
to all that had happened. To Chloe
it was at first high and solemn. like
9 burial service: she seemed to be
standing in the dimness OF cathe-
dral while the organs requiem rolled
under the high arches. Then the mu-
sic changed. sunlight streamed over
her in broken colcrs, crimson and
blue and gold. and the marriage ser
vice was giving her heart to Alex for
ever and ever Not care for him! Why
he was all her life: for richer. for poor
err: in sickness and in health: till
death
Her eyes srrang open, she turned 10
him for the marriage kiss. Alex. left
ing bis bent head from his hand. met
her with guarded and couSinly smile.
avn, b,yo bo6 had limo uOor little