Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-05-29

Il do not allow myself to think Of
4 that, he said, with sudden frmness,
That has been only dream oftmine,
] hopeless, vain dream, sent to teach me
how grimly real life is"
/ Tears sprang into Mrs. Lancaster's
/ eyes and she choked up.
You must not lose hope" she al
most sobbed, as she wrung his hand
and then quickly released it.
He laughed bitterly. IL never called
it hope at any time" he said. "She
has only been my dream"
| She had reached the door and was
looking out into the yard where old
Fanshaw, in his united brogans, hick-
DRY shirt and jeans pants, was oiling !,
the aNles of wagon under an apple
tree. She overheard the low voices of
his two daughters on the porch and
Mrs. Fanshaw's heavy tread in the adj
joining sitting-room.
Remember" said Mrs. Lancaster,
that you have a true friend over
| there
THANK you,'' he replied as she passed
out. He escorted her, hat in hand, to
the cart and assisted her to her seat.
Then, with twitching lip, he stood
watching the cart as it rolled away.
Evelyn was in the garden gathering
flowers for the dining-table when her
friend returned. She held her arms
full of them when the old lady aEght-
| ed and came down the walk to her.
Evelyn studied her face in astonish.
ment.
why, dear Mrs. Lancaster!" she exc
claimed, you have been crying"
The old woman wiped her red eyes
and began to shed fresh tears.
He is SO like my husband she said,
huskily. $50 noble; such grand char
| acter."
Evelyns face lighted up. ST have ais
| ways known that, Mrs. Lancaster. Now
| you must tell me all that took place
mind. every word that you said and
every word he said" Evelyn drew her
down on rustic seat; her whole body
| seemed ready to listen. Mrs. Lancaster
told her of her offer to aid Ronald and
Evelyn broke out, impulsively:
And he refused to accept it! Icould
have told you that
"Yes, he refused and Mrs. Lancas.
ter gave his reasons in detail. EVELYN
| raised bunch of pink roses to hex
face; they were the color of her cheeks.
Nothing she said, with conviction,
nothing under high heaven can keep
a man down with such God given pur-
pose as that
For moment the two friends were
silent, then Mrs Lancaster caught
Evelyn's hand and pressed it tenderly.
i II made a little discovery this morn-
j ing" she said.
4 Evelyn caught her eye and smiled,
| still knowingly.
'You have discovered that he loves
me; knew that long time ago, and
1t has made me unspeakably happy"
Il discovered further" pursued Mrs.
Lancaster, that he does not hope ever
to win you Mrs. Lancaster's lips
| twitched a little sit is that which
pains me SO much. He looked SO grand
when he made that admission. all
most cried in his presence
He does not hope?" said Evelyn,
and then she caught her breath, lows
cred her head and began to gather up
her flowers. HE does not hope ?" she
repeated the words as if to herself, and
| Mrs. Lancaster rose and followed her
up the walk to the house, and as the
girl, with bowed head and rigid mien,
passed into the grand hall Mrs. Lancas-
ter began to think that Evelyn herself
had never really hoped.
Seeing that no one was in the hall.
Evelyn wheeled round suddenly.
! 81 have never once thought thatI--
that my love would be essential to his
well-being-his happiness" she said,
looking up into the expectant face Of
her friend. But, Mrs. Lancaster, il he
should really need me, it would be my
duty, before God, to be by his side
it would be my duty in spite of my
on EARTH
An anxious look lay in the face of the
/ widow as she answered: 4
1 81 think he has thought the matter
over and decided that the idea of mar
rage is out of the question. 1t was
that which seemed SO sad; poor fellowN
/ he spoke of you as his dream"
ellis dream!" Every muscle in
Evelyn's face moved; her eyes filed to
the brim; it looked as if she wanted to
say something else, but was prevented
by an overwhelming commotion within
herself. She turned suddenly aud went
into the dining-room. I. III
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