Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1899-10-05
"Why?' asked Rachel, little star

casper SHaSe. lie 1S 100 cola and 90
not like to judge him. but have al
ways distrusted his sincerity in taking
the pledge at the church with the rest. -
Rachel looked at Virginia thought
fully.
81 have never given my heart to him,
l am sure. He touched my emotions,
and admired his skill as writer.
have Thought at times that l cared a
good deal for him. / think perhaps if
he had spoken to me at any other time
than the one he chose l could easily
have persuaded myself thatI loved him,
but not now" Rachel paused suddenly,
and when she looked up at Virginia
again there were tears on her face Vir-
ginia came to her and put her arm
about her tenderly.
When Rachel had left the house. Vir-
ginia sat in the hall thinking over the
confidence her friend had Just shown
her. There was something still to be
told, Virginia felt. sure from Rachel's
manner, but she did not feel hurt that
Rachel had kept back something She
was simply conscious of more on RAJ
chefs mind than she had revealed.
Very soon Rollin came back. and he
and Virginia, arm in arm, as they had
lately been in the habit of doing, walked
up and down the long hall.
1t was easy for their talk to settle
finally upon Rachel because of the place
she was to occupy in the plans which
were being made for the purchase of
the property at the Rectangle.
''Did you ever know girl of such
really gifted powers in vocal music who
was willing to give her whole life to
the people, as Rachel is going to dot
She is going to give music lessons in,
the city, have private pupils to make
her living and then give the people in
the Rectangle the benefit of her culture
and her voice. :"
SIT is certainly very good example
of self sacrifice, replied Rollin, little
stiffiy.
Virginia looked at him little
sharply.
''But don't you think it is a very
unusual example? Can you imagine
here Virginia named half dozen ia
nous opera singers doing anything
of this sort?"
''No; can't Rollin answered
briefly. Neither can I imagine Miss"
he spoke the name of the girl with
the red parasol who had begged Vir-
ginia to take the girls to the Rectangle
what you are doing, Vir-
ginia.
ANY more than lean imagine Mr.. y
-Virginia spoke the name of a young
society leader-''going about to the
clubs doing your work, Rollin,
The two walked on in silence for the
length of the hall.
''Coming back to Rachel" began
Virginia, "Rollin, why do You treat
her with such a distant, precise man
ner7 I think, Rollin-pardon me if 1
hurt you-that she is annoyed by it.
1ou used to be on easy terms. don't
think Rachel likes this change"
Rollin suddenly stopped He seemed
deeply agitated. He took his arm from
Virginia. s and walked down to the end
of the halls Then he returned, with his
arms behind him. and, stopping near
his sister, he said
Virginia, have you not learned my
secret?"
Virginia looked bewildered Then
over her face the unusual color crept,
showing that she understood
81 have never loved any one but Ra-
chel Winslow. Rollin spoke calmly
enough now. "That day she was here,
when you talked about her refusal to
Join the concert company, ,asked her
to be my wife, out there on the avenue.
She refused me, as Iknew she would,
and she gave as her reason the fact that
l had no purpose in life, which was
true enough. Now that 1 have pur-
pose, now that am new man, don t
you see. Virginia, how impossible it is
for me to say anything? lowe my very
conversion to Rachel's singing, and yet
that night while she sang can honest
~ say that for the time being / never
thought of her voice except as Gods
message, / believe all my personal love
for her was for the time merged into a
personal love to God and my Saviour. :"
Rollin was silent. Then he went on
with more emotion, II am still in love
with her, Virginia, but do not think
she could ever love me-" He stopped
and looked his sister in the face with a
sad smile.
Il don't know about that, said vir-
Einia to herself. She was noting Roll
Inns handsome face its marks of dissi-
patton nearly all gone now, the firm
lips showing manhood and courage, the
clear eyes looking into hers frankly, the
form strong and graceful Rollin was
i man now: Why should not Rachel
come to love him in time? Surely the
TWO were we'll fitted for each other,
especially now that their purpose in
life was moved by the same Christian
source.
She said something of all this to Roll
lin, but he did not find much comfort
When they closed the interview, Vir-
ginia carried away the impression that
Rollin meant to go his way with his
chosen work, trying to reach the FASH
ionable men at the clubs and, while not
avoiding Rachel, seeking no occasion
for meeting her. He was distrustful of
ri, ~, L.. I