Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-05-08

SdANTIQR AlA.-lOntllueu.
Before her stood Clarence MISSIONER.
"You? Why
She moved back from the door, and
Clarence Westover entered, holding
newspaper in his hand.
am awfully glad to find you in.
am just back from Berlin; found a lot
Of mail matter waiting for me, this
among It,"
know-we know" said Olivia, nod.
ding her head slowly.
tits about Broxton, I mean" Clar-
ence said.
"a Yes; we have seen it.'
Westover's handsome face was.
wrinkled with perplexity. He found
himself in rather an awkward predica-
ment. He had come to plead Tom
Broxton's cause with the woman they
I had both loved
1T is an awful pity" he said, glanc-
4 ing at the paper he still held. sThere
are not many men like -Broxton in the
world"
Not single one" Miss Malvina in.
terjected, with decision
thought perhaps-you might
AZ You see, | feel deucedly oficious"
Miss Malvina and are starting for
America immediately" said Ollie, with
blushing dignity.
Good! The sooner the better! But
& don't know of any vessel that sails
sooner than the one l have taken pas.
I sage by. That goes OF Wednesday.
This is Monday"
Your
Westover looked at her meditatively.
a demure smile lurked in the corners
Of his mouth How desperately in love
with this pretty little thing he had
II once fancied himself! But thas was
before he had met his Clementine,
whom he had marrisd week before
: In Venice.
Yes, my wife and sail for America
on Wednesday" he said quietly.
Four wife? I've had heard
4 that
y hope you will like her, Ollie"
II know shall adore her, Clarence"
'sYou see,' he went on maliciously,
after YOU made up your mind that
you would never. never marry any
\ body, / felt it duty owed myself
A to fall in love with somebody else.''
Ollie treated him to one of her most
i patronizing mods. "You did quite
right. I hope you will always stand
up as well to your sense of duty. I
am so glad. AS for me, shall never,
marry"
# aOf course not. Consistency. forbids,
and a woman is nothing If not con-
sistent. .
4 Miss Malvina and nave been hay
ing perfectly lovely time this win
ter" She bent her head to pin rose
in her belt.
miss Malvina especially, doubt
less" said Clarence, laughing gayly.
.Shall l secure berths for Wednes-s
1 days boat for you?"
II you would"
A little while later she stood in
window watching him cross the wide
plaza upon which her apartment
fronted. She had never found him so
handsome nor so lovable. She turned
toward Miss Malyina, who was reck-
lessly emptying the entire contents of
the writing table into a FELLOWSHIP.
He is very handsome"
Who? Tom?"
mo; Clarence
yes; he is good looking enough.
But, Olivia
He has wife, you dear old simple
ton! Let that suffice to allay your
fears. But, Miss Maisina. all this has
set me to wondering about myself. Am
after all, just commonplace,
20 GOO o%,,,o
know her own mind? What made me
AZ think myself SO dreadfully in love with
Clarence MISSIONER year or two ago?
And now know my heart will break
It anything happens to Tom"
"Oh, / don't know! Clarence was
worldlywise and snowy, and you never
had been courted before. His master
ful ways and strong will dazzled you.
Ny dear, splendid Tom treated you as
II you were queen. He abased him.
self before you, and SO you exalted
yourself unduly."
Ollie flashed a bright smile at her,
and, coming over to the trunk into
which things were being pitched as
IL the steamer were waiting for that
particular piece of baggage, she put
both hands on the thin splnster Shout
ders.
.Malvina Spillman, stand still while
Whisper great truth into your ears"
stWell?"
you are. the wisest woman in the
world. am so much obliged to you
for explaining me to myself l hate to
be inconsistent. After all, Tom is to
blame for everything. He shouldn't
have been SO meek"
ridiculous child" and resumed her
packing.
CHAPTER Xxx.
CONCLUSION.
The parlor of the boarding house
which Tom called home in Kansas