Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-01-04


aid the fact that she received them
without protest an acknowledgment
Of q responsive feeling. So he thought
she would accept his invitation as q
matter OF course and prepare for the
frolic at moments notice.
But Mary had ideas of her own on
the subject. and. although she knew,
both from experience and the unwrit-
ten laws of country courtship. that he
would call for her on this particular
evening. she accepted an advance invi-
tation from a young and handsome
druggist who had opened store in a
neighboring village
When Harlow reached the farm
house. he blanleted his horse and rap
ped ut the door. He was met by Mrs.
Burnham. and in response to his in
quiry for Mary was told that she was
In her room dressing for the olio.
well, l have just come to take her
If she wants to CO." he said with q
bashful laugh.
''But she has promised to go with
Mr.. Eakins. the druggist" replied the
mother. land she is expecting him ev-
cry minute now
with RI. Eakins!" exclaimed Har-
low.
why. yes! She hadn't promised
you. had she?"
'No. but l thought Then he stop
ped. for he recognized that the mother
was on the side of his rival. After a
painful pause he turned without saying
word and left the house.
Leaping into his cutter. the disap-
pointed lover dashed. his horse to his
utmost speed and started home. He
swept along the still road like whirl-
wind and seemed to find relief from
his outraged feelings in the headlong
haste Of his driving. His first i'm
pulse was to let the fair iilt go her way
without protest. but after time his
disappointment overcame his rage. and
he longed wildly to see Mary. OF
course lie could not hope to speak to
her at the olio. but he could at least
see her. and hardly thinking of what
he was doing he turned round and
drove slowly to the schoolhouse. When
he arrived. the place was crowded. and
the entertainment was in progress. He
managed to squeeze in at the door. and
after time he discovered Mary and
Eakins sitting in the most uncomforta-
BILE place in the building-beside the
big box stove, in which there was the
usual roaring fire. He smiled grimly
when he noticed that Eakins knew so
little about winter entertainments in
the country that he would accept seats
in such part of the building, for in
order to keep the people in the distant
seats from freezing it is necessary to
have fire that will scorch every one
who is near IT, But the color in Mary's
cheeks was not due to the heat solely.
He could sec it come and go as her es-
coz leaned close to whisper something
f1attering. and it was torture to him
to watch the progress of the filtration.
Mary was evidently enjoying herself
to the utmost and under the guidance
of the witty Eakins was learning to
laugh at the foolish recitations and SEN
timental songs that had always de-
lighted her in the past. When the olio
was about half over, she looked around
and to her surprise met the reproach-
full eyes of Harlow. She did not ex-
pect that he would follow them and
had kept from thinking of him by lis
tening to Ealsins and encouraging his
satirical sallies. But now she could
feel that her honest country lover was
watching her, and the pain in his eyes
made her lose all further enjoyment
In the programme. So between the
heat of the stove and the stress of her
feelings she was thoroughly uncom-
Portable and when the programme was
completed was glad to escape into the
outer air.