Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-01-11

"But I'm sure you must be cold" said
Gregory. and he put his hand under
the cloak and found there small fist
doubled up, soft and very warm. He
held it fast in his hand.
ooh, En-, love you better than all
the world besides! Tell me, do you
love me ltttle?"
"Yes, l do" said En-, hesitating
and trying softly to free her hand.
"Better than everything; better than
all the world, darling" he asked, bend
ing down SO low that the yellow hail
was blown into his eyes.
81 don't know" said En- gravely. "I
do love you very much, but love my
cousin who is at school and Waldo
very much. You zee, I have known
them SO long"
ooh, EN-, do not talk to me so cold
lyw Gregory cried, selling the little
arm that rested on the gate and press
ing it till she was half afraid. The
herdsman had moved away to the 9TH
er end of the "kraal' now, and the
cows, busy with their calves, took no
notice of the little human farce. EN-,
if you talk so to me will go mad. You
must love me-love me better than all.
You must give yourself to me. have
loved you since that first moment
when saw you walking by the stone
wall with the jug in your hands. You
were made for me, created for me.
1 will love you till die. Oh, EN-, do
not be so cold, so cruel, to me.'
He held her arm so tightly that her
fingers relaxed their hold, and the
cloak futtered down on to the ground,
and the wind played more roughly
than ever with the little yellow head.
81 do love you very much" she said,
"but do not know if want to marry
you. love you better than Waldo,
but can't tell.i love you better than
Lyndall. II you would let me wait
for q week. think perhaps could tell
you.''
Gregory picked up the cloak and
wrapped it round her.
IF you could but love me as I love
your he said. But no woman can
love as a man can. will wait till next
Saturday. l will not once come near
you till then. Goodby. Oh, EN-" he
said, turning again and twining his
arms about her and kissing her sur
prised little mouth, If you are not my
wife cannot live! ! have never loved
another woman, and never shall
never, neyerr'
You make me afraid" said En-.
"Ccme, let us go, and will ill your
pail"
Il want no milk. Goodby. You will
not see me again till Saturday"
Late that night, when every one else
had gone to bed, the yellow haired lit
tie woman stood alone in the kitchen.
She had come to fill the kettle for the
next mornings coffee and now stood
before the fire. The warm reflection
lighted the grave old womanish little
face that was so unusually thoughtful
this evening.
Better than all the world; better
than everything! He loves me better
than everything" She said the words
aloud, as il they were more easy to
believe il she spoke them so. She had
given out SO much love in her little
life and had got none of it back with
interest. Now one said, Il love you
better than all the world" One loved
her better than she loved him. How
suddenly rich she was! She kept clasp
ing and unclasping her hands So a
beggar feels who falls asleep on the
pavement wet and hungry and who
wakes in palace hall with servants
and lights and q feast before him. OF
course the beggar's is only a dream,
and he wakes from it, and this was
real.
Gregory had said to her, 81 will love
you as long as l live" She said the
words over and over to herself like a
song.
II will send for him tomorrow. and
l will tell him how love him back"
she said.
But En- needed not to send for him.
Gregory discovered on reaching home
that Terminals letter was still in his
pocket, and therefore. much as he
NioAihSd Tic vi
and weakness. he was obliged to be at
the farmhouse before sunrise to post 1T.
If see her." Gregory said. 81 shall
only bow to her. She shall see that
am man, one who keeps his word"
AS to .Jemima's letter, he had turned
down one corner of the page and then
turned it back, leaving deep crease.
That would show that he was neither
accepted nor rejected. but that matters
We're in an intermediate condition. 1t
was a more poetical way than putting
it in plain words.
Gregory was barely in time with his
letter. for Waldo was starting when
he reached the homestead. and EN-
was on the doorstep to see him of.
When he had given the letter and Wal
do had gone. Gregory bowed stiffiy and
prepared to remount his own pony, but
somewhat slowly. 1t was still early
None of the servants was about. En-
came UP close to him and put her little
hand softly on his arm as he stood by
his horse.
II do love you best of all" she said.
She was NOT frjphtened now bowovar