Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-01-09
THE SEED OF? -
- THE RIGHTEOUS
JULIET WILROR TOMPKINS
Copyright by Bobbs
CHAPTER VIII. (Continued.)

CHAPTER VIII. (Continued)
Leave my work."
YOy ere leaving it so soon any
.ay" X; lston said, while Helena ada
ed an astute: And we're taking
Billy
Il am afraid you would have to take
Alex, too" Chloe explained, so con
tentedly that they gave her up a.
hopeless. She was touched that they
wanted her, afraid afterward that she
had not seemed grateful enough. Tha,
was always an anguishing fear tc
Chloe. It haunted her so that she
stole half morning from her work
to go down with them to the boat and
see them of.
Even starting for Europe no longer
upset >Rawly. who had formerly come
to nervous crises over catching a local
ferry. Now some one packed his
things in the most perfect of recep.
tacles and Helena attended to tickets
devoutly shielding her genius from
practical worries, and the faithful Car.
oline had Billy firmly in charge
Steamer trunks we're put on top OF
the motor while he finished his after.
breakfast cigaret; he had only to take
his hat and coat and start. He was ex-
quisitely conscious of all this ease. His
lids had contented droop-and his
boyish face was not quite so narrow
or so poeticA as it had been in the old
days. He was no less beautiful to Hell
ena, however. She was a happy wom-
an as she came down the steps be-
tween her husband and her little boy,
and Chloe, seeing, wondered anew
about this marriage as they drove
away.
"Rawly isn't improving. but then he
isn't driving anybody crazy" she re-
Elected, with sigh for the eternal hui
man compromise. Ralston was going
to study foreign stage methods, but
she had been treasured to learn that
he would not allow Helena to back his
new play. Money had taken a more
definite value to him, now that he had
It..
Wharves and boats gave Chloe a
dire tremble at the heart, but she
would not acknowledge it. Her moth
OF would have called that Sitting
down." She kept Billy while Helena
and Caroline saw to the luggage, and
then they all went to the gangplank
together, talking gaily over the secret
droop of the spirit that departing
boat gives. Billy, who had been noisy
with excitement in the motor, was
very qniet now, and no one noticed
growing change in his baby face
Chloe had drawn him in front of her
with lift for the gangplank when a
scream brought shocked hush about
them. He had turned in her hold and
was struggling wildly to get away,
while scream after scream came auto
matically from some terror that was
beyond reason.
'Billy! My baby!' Chloe gathered
him up and they hurried back through
the crowd till she found trunk to sit
ON. BILLY, Billy" she implored, rock
Ing him close to her. "Toto's got you,
dear; it's all right Trust Toto!"
The screams stopped, but he sobbed
and Chloe, feeling the trem-
bling of his little body, looked up at
the other two with dread understand
ing.
HE remembers she said desolate-
II. 1--WE never found out what he felt
or understood-oh ought to be killed.
| might have helped him"
They looked on helplessly "If you
carried him on board Ralston began.
She tried to talk Billy into reason,
but he only cried and trembled, and
when she rose with him, he shrieked
aSain. She whispered over his bur-
rowing head:
He mustn't go-oh, you can't force
lhis!" She was miserably afraid that
they would be impatient of him, would
Insist on discipline, but both had tears
u their eyes.
1--WE could leave him and Caroline"
suggested, but Helena broke
in:
mo. couldn't do that. I will stay,
and you 60, love-"
Chloe held her breath while he hest
tated. It seemed to her that If he
went, her wonder about the rights of
This marriage would meet a blasting
answer. Perhaps the pause was not
30 long as it felt. Then the best of
Rawly came out, the affectionate
sweetness OF which his mother had
had rare glimpses.
Z couldn't leave you, dear" he said,
manu- vi NcI SuOuIUSI. NOW,
ouehtn't we to be getting the trunks
oRT
Helena, Of course. saw to that, her
fAce happier than that of anyone sail
Ing. They drove straight up to the
Sound house, and Chloe went with
them, for Billy chung to her. He slept
most Of the way, but his
hands twitched and his pallor showed
row deep the shock had been.
"You don't know what goes on in
babies" Chloe sighed, guilty that she
nd not found out. Now We can only
ct him forget it,
Billy, waking up at the gates Of his
tamiliar garden. made no allusion to
What had passed and by afternoon he
seemed to be himself again. Chloe
left him sitting on the steps stroking
j caterpillar with one careful finger
md murmuring. Dear little pussy
,illar!" with all the usual sunny joy
Ia living things. She went back at
sase about him, but shaken to the
3epths herself.
More than ever now she dreaded the
ninth 6f September. She could argue