Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-07-10

very eIeCt ana Sulil, DuL out OIL. HIS
eyes shone the lovers look as he faced
the woman of his hearts longing. He
did not try to conceal it, and Dor
othy knew as well as If he had spoken
it aloud that he said, II love you, Dor
othy Gilbert, and l cannot do my life
work best without you." Mrs. Penrose
saw that look also and respected it.
The servant entered and announced
that tea was ready, and Malcolm Kirk
found himself shaking hands with Dor
othy and saying some very common
thing about being glad to meet her. A
few minutes later he found himself at
the table with Dorothy and. her aunt.
He ate and talked at first with re-
pressed excitement that gradually be
came n source of eloquent conyersa-
ton. No one asked any more questions
about Francis Raleigh. 1t is certain
that Mrs. Penrose and Malcolm Kirk
understood that he had pleaded his suit
again with Dorothy and had again
been unsuccessful.
"She has given him his answer" said
Malcolm Kirk to himself, and there
was the first positive hope in his heart
that he had dared to feel. He had new
er appeared to such good advantage.
Mrs. Penrose, experienced as she was
in the ways of society and familiar
with some Of the most brilliant men
and women, felt positive charm in
Kinks voice and manner. His awk-
wardness for awhile was subordinate
to his higher gifts.
Mr. Penrose was in New York on
business. Malcolm Kirk learned after
ward some things in his history and
why John Gilbert had been allowed to
meet his great financial losses without
help from his own sister, who to a
large extent had been powerless to per-
suade her husband to come to her
brothers aid. But she was absorbed
tonight in the thought of Dorothy He
knew that q crisis in his life had come.
After tea they went into the recep-
ton room again. Mrs. Penrose staid
for half an hour and then suddenly
went out, and Dorothy and Malcolm
Kirk We're left alone
He was fully aware that the whole
future Of his life work would be shap-
ed by the events of the next few min
utes, but he had never felt more a
Christian than now. There was posi-
tive religious excitement of the high
est, purest, noblest character in all the
thought Of his love for Dorothy. There
always had been. He felt that it was
no cheap or silly or shallow sentiment
that moved him to think Of her as of
no other being in the world There
had not been a night Of his life since
he began to love her when he had fail
ed to speak her name in prayer. He
knew that his Christian faith was
sanctifled and beautified by this hui
man love.
he rose and went over near her. He
had the miniature in his hand. When
he spoke, it was in great simplicity,
but in great directness.
"You know what l have come for.
You know that I love you wholly.
You know what my life will be- You
know that am poor Dorothy, can
you share such a life with me? Must
l give this back, or may keep it al
ways?"
She was sitting with her face partly
in shadow, and she slowly rose and
turned and faced him. Like all girls
who dream of lovers, she had her
dreams,s her ideals, her imaginings
She booked up at him now, and the
blood rushed impetuously through him
as he saw the beginning of her answer
She had learned to love him during
his absence abroad, during her recent
sorrow, during the days that followed
her bereavement 1t was not so sud.
den as it might seem, for Dorothy had
learned when Raleigh spoke to her
that afternoon that the greatest rea-
son why she could not love him was
because she already loved Malcolm
Kirk. So she gave him then and there
what he asked. All, Malcolm Kirk, not
this side of heaven will you know the
| power Of that flood that lifted your
heart and all it contained when you
first heard the woman you loved say
as she lifted her face to yours: Yes,
will share your life with you. Yes,
love you"
Two hours later Malcom Kirk went
out into the starry night and down on
the sea beach, and with the freshness
of the sea breeze blowing about his I'M
covered head he thanked God for the
precious, priceless gift of this WON
ans heart. They had had much tc
say, rs true lovers always have. AL
ways they had come back to the indy.
ing theme Of their love for each other
"She loves me" he kept saying to him.
self. And the waves and the night
wind and the stars and the harboi
lights and the pines near the beach al
joined in the same song. He walked
up and down the sands until the early
morning. He found his face wet once
with tears. He ran across long STRIP
Of beach exultant and walked from
one Of his reyerles to find himself knee
deep IN water, for the tide was coming