Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1899-11-23


A dead leaf rustled behind Malvern as
he moved down the broad street under
wasted branches of November trees. It
Bounded like footstep, and for an in
slant he was on the point of turning.
Then he recognized that there could be
no one following him and went on alone.
All, yes, that was the trouble-he was
alone! But the leaf rustled again, and
this time it seemed as though some mes
sage were being blown after him-a bit
Of stray paper, perhaps, on which there
might have been traced words of the
greatest import to him. He knew still
that this, too, was impossible, but he was
In such mood that he now stopped short
upon the sidewalk and looked around.
Tsere indeed was the leaf, still futter-
sng slightly, with one crisp indented edge
grazing the fnlaid bricks of the old foot
way. Then it became motionless and lay
ut his feet.
Had not the passing gust of air brought
1t to him with something like definite
purpose?
Quite mechanically he stopped and pick
ed it up. Any trife that could occupy
his mind just now, even for few mo-
ments, would have been welcome, and
the leaf was beautiful. The upper half
Of it, above the withered pallor of the
rest, seemed still tyrefect the flush of a
lost October sunst in this cold, late night
of November. Tile carried it along with
him, twirling it occasionally by the stem,
without thinking of it again.
But by the time he had come into his
own room in his mothers house and had
begun to look around, with the eye Of a
man who is measuring, at the various OBJ
jects which it contained he grew aware
Of the leaf once more! He went on look
Ing at the photographs along the ,mantel,
some small knickknacks on bracket in
one corner, the papers on his table, the
books in their case. Then, crossing the
room, he selected one book, volume of
poems bound in faded green and gold,
placed the leaf carefully in between the
pages and laid it on the table.
In Malvern's mind another room was
framing itself, with different walls, col
ors and atmosphere, and so vivid be-
came this inward imagining that he
could scarcely have told at the moment
In which place he really was-the room
called his own or the one he had lately
left, but now seemed to see again SO
clearly. The whole scene was being re-
snacted-brief poignant, shattering.
He did not find himself alone. Leila
Grey was sitting there opposite to him
In pale violet dress, with a flexible
gold circlet lying lightly about her neck,
in sort of careless pride. There was
something in her whole attitude that ex-
hailed mood which this CLEAN of gold
In the corner of a couch where q small
white fur lay beneath her arm. She ap-
peared to possess all that she desired for
the time being, yet to be only playing
with 1t, and yet, thought Malvern, that
could not really be true. s.,
"But how did it happenY' she was
asking him. Flow could you do it?"
'sPay SO much attention to Miss Bren-
don?" he answered, for it was all actual
to him again at this moment, and he
could hear the sound of his own voice.
"That is what you mean, of course. But
might ask you, How can you do such a
thing as to be jealous of her?"
Jealous, Dick? Nonsense! Yes, that
is nonsense for engaged people like us.
II we ever were in the stage where that
would be possible, we ought to have
passed out of it long before now, and
indeed you ought to understand me bet
ter"
..Well, I'll try to-" he said, as though
that would be quite easy.
1t isn't that l worry about her or
care about it myself" said Leila, giving
the fur skin soothing touch, but
Strengthening herself little. ut is only
what others may think and say"
"It's very magnanimous in you," NAL
vern laughed without thought of harm,
ito be SO considerable of them But Pm
not trying to please others-only you"
"Ah, that's right. But, as you feel SO,
then, Of course, you ought to do what /
wish"
Certainly"
But you don't do It."
She rose now and moved slowly toward
the long window that looked out upon a
spacious garden lying forsaken and given
over to autumn.
''No?" responded Malvern, half care
lessly, with feeling that something was
going wrong which he could not prevent.
He did not like his own tone, but it was
too late to change it. He had spoken,
and his word was in the air.
"No!' Leila repeated positively, turn.
ing again to face him. He noticed that
CLEAN of sunshine was splashed along
the gray of the garden behind her, and in
another room at distance the bright
trill of canary seemed to answer the
sunshine.
I. II have only one DESIRE" he tried to
say, but Leila went right on:
Listen to me, Dick. Don't let US have
anything SO vulgar as a dispute" Mall
vern felt though, in looking back. that
she had made mistake in using that
phrase. "But tribes will often lead to
something serious, especially with people
in our situation" She had habit Of
speaking with this air Of large experience
and practical wisdom, and it usually inn
pressed him, but did not do SO in the
right way this time. Nov, am going
to be serious" she continued, land about
trifles, IL you care to call them so. It
may all seem very small and petty, but
you and must go through the small
4.