Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1899-09-07
Rollin bit his lip and looked gloomy.
Rachel had not spoken anything as he

Rollin bit his lip and looked gloomy.
Rachel had not spoken anything as he
wished.
CHOW, look here, Rachel-oh, know
that's forbidden, but Eve got to speak
some time you know how feel. What
makes you treat me SO harda You used
to like me little, you know"
did I 2 OF course we used to get on
very well as boy and girl, but we are
alder now,
Rachel still spoke in the light, easy
way she had used since her first annoy
ance at3seeing him. She was still some
what preoccupied with her plan, which
mad been disturbed by Rollins appear
ance.
They walked along in silence !, little
way. The avenue was full of people.
Among the persons passing was Jasper
Chase. He saw Rachel and Rollin and
bowed az he went by. Rollin was
watching Rachel closely.
81 wish were Jasper Chase. Maybe
I'd stand som. show then" he said
modify.
Rachel colored in spite Of herself.
She did not say anything and quickened
her pace little Rollin seemed deteri
mined to say. something, and Rachel
seemed helpless to pressnt him After
all, she thought, he might as well know
the truth on time as another.
"You kne " well enough, Rachel,
how feel toward you. Isn't there any
hope7 I could make you happy. I've
loved YIN good many years
WY, how old do you think am ?"
broke in Rachel, with a nervous laugh.
She was shaken out Of her usual poise
Of manner.
"You know what / mean, {" went on
Rollin doggedly, land you have no
right to laugh at me just because I
want yon to marry me-
"I'm not, but it is useless for you to
speak Rollin, " said Rachel after lit
tie hesitation and then using his name
in such a frank, simple way that he
could attach no meaning to it beyond
the familiarity of the family acauaint-
ance. cit is impossible" She was still
a little agitated by the fact of-receiving
proposal of marriage on the avenue,
but the noise on the street and side
walk made the conversation as private
as If they were in the house.
Would you-that is-do you think
If you gave me time would"-
"NoP said Rachel. She spoke firm
~. Perhaps, she Thought afterward, al
though she did not mean to, she spoke
harshly
They walked on for some time with
out a word. They We're nearing Rachel 8
home. and she was anxious to end the
scene.
As they tnrned off the avenue into
one of the quiet, streets Rollin spoke
suddenly and with more manliness than
he had yet shown. There was distinct
note of dignity in his voice that was
new to Rachel
Miss Winslow, Isask you to be my
wife. Is there any hope for me that you
will ever consent?'
None in the least. .. Rachel spoke
decidedly.
.'Will you tell me why7" He asked
the question as if he had right to a
truthful answer.
81 do not feel toward you as wom-
lin ought tofeel toward the man she
| ought to marry
In other words. you do not love
me2"
81 do not, and cannot. .
"Why?" That was another question,
and Rachel was little surprised that
he should ask
Because She hesitated for fear
she might say too much in an attempt
to speak the exact truth.
Tell me Just why You cant bur.
me more than you have done already. =
''Well, / don't and can't love you
because you have no purpose in life.
What do you ever do to make the world
better? You spend your time in clut
life in amusements, i'll travel, in lux
.ury. What.is there in such life to at
tract q. woman?" ~
"Not much, guess said Rollin,
with a little laugh. "Still, l don't
know that | am any worse than the
rest Of the men around me. I'm not Sc
bad as some. Glad to know Your rea
| SON. -
He suddenly stopAed, took off his hat
bowed gravely and turned back. Rache
went on home and hurried into hel
room, disturbed in many ways by thu
event which had so unexpectedly thrus
itself into her experience.
When she had time to think it al
over, she found herself condemned b,
the very Judgment she had passed OF
Rollin Page. What purpose had she il
life9 She had been abroad and studied
music with one of the famous teacher
of Europe. She had come home to Ray
mond and had been singing in the FRS
church choir. now for a year. She wa
well paid. Up to that Sunday two week
ago she had been quite satisfied will
herself and her position. She had shared
| her mothers ambition and anticipated
4 growing triumphs in the musical world
4 What possible career was before her ex
cept the regular career Of every singer
A She asked the question again and, il
the light of her recent reply to Rollin
asked again if she had any very grea
purpose in life herself? What woul,
/ .TeSrs do2 There was n fortuna in he