Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1901-02-21
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Copyright. 1899. by j. B. Lippincott Com.
pany. All rights reserved.
Continued from Page 81

pany. All rights reserved.
Continued from Page 81
"At nine. But what is this upon your
1apel-a fower?"
"a white rose for our wedding"
With pretty show of authority she
drew it from it's resting place and
fixed it in her hair.
DO not flowers belong to the
bride?"
Wear it in memory of me-" he said,
gently. "But now I am going to in
sist that you take steps to preserve
those other roses which I am sure
have bloomed for you. Have you a
dressing-room?"
Eyes, but am not sleepy and I
shall not desert you. Wait Speaking
of the rose, shall sing you song I
love very much-that is, if can find
my guitar. All, here It is! Now I'll
sit here-and you right there-but I
wonder if can ever play in the dark?
May I not have just little light2
7 won't mind"
"How easily you forget! 1t is i'm
possible. Sing as you are; shall not
hear any discord." He was astonished
at her swift change Of mood and a
new, glad note in her voice. She sang
low and sweetly, with perfect control
of her tones, the Last Rose Of Sum-
,mer." And then he understood bet
ter. For in her voice he read that
the soul and spirit of an impassioned
woman dwelt in the slender frame
yelled by the shadows of the room.
He was silent. Every heartache that
had been crushed out of his manhood
seemed to have revived under the
magic of a subtle tone, an indescriba-
BILE, indeinable echo. 1t was resur-
rection of something that had died
hard within him.
"You do not Ike my singing" she
said, disappointed, when, waiting for
his praise, she found him silent and
thoughtful.
your singing? Yes. But menu
DRY! Go to sleep now. Make yourself
comfortable and leave me to keep
watch. Yet stay; will you not sing
over those lines again? To me they
are inexpressibly beautiful"
Standing in the doorway of her
dressing-room, she sang the verse
through again softly without accom-
paniment, waited until she was as
sured that he would not speak, and
then passed thoughtfully within.
When she came forth, arrayed in her
wrapper. she paused beside him, puz-
zled over his change of mood
Il am afraid you are going to be
lonely" she said.
Sleep, my child, sleep; shall not
be lonely-knowing you are there"
Perhaps / am keeping you awake?"
"Yes. That is it; you are keeping
me awake!''
.Well, I am holding out my hands
and saying good night" she said.
He found and pressed his lips upon
them. He held them so tightly and
trembled SO violently she bent down
over him confused. One of her curls,
loosened, dropped upon his neck, and
another across his cheek. The mingled
odor OF her hair and the rose filled
him with strange intoxication
Il am sorry if have distressed you
in any way" she said; you have been
kind, oh, so kind to me. Good night"
He still held her hands, his face
bowed upon them, his form shaking
with strange emotion. "Good night"
she said again. "If I do fall asleep
and you are lonely-oh. sir, you hurt
my hands"
Good night" he whispered, hoarse-
ly recovering himself and releasing
them. She crossed the room, and he
saw her, dimly, standing by the bed,
as though in doubt. And then she
sank softly to her knees and laid her
head upon her arms, child-wise, in
prayer. He arose and stood until he
saw her head lifted.
SWAT" he said, earnestly; twill you
not pray also for me?"
II have prayed for you already" she
answered.
"Will you tell me the prayer2"
Some time, perhaps, when it has
been answered. /"
He thought then that she had fallen
asleep, but after awhile she spoke
again.
"Will you let me ask you question
of yourself again?"
y Eyes, If you WISH
''Dr. Brodnar said that you had
never had but one ambition in life,
and that you had been disappointed.
What did he mean?'
i once had ambition to be great
soldier. That is all"
Were you ever soldier?"
eyes, an officer in the regular
army"
"And now?'
81 am wandsrer. A gentleman
only"
.Why did you leave the army?"
Il struck my superior officer. They
heard my defense and--let me resign"
And the other-what became of
him ~
He cheated at cards, was publicly
insulted-and cashiered"
"yVhy did Won strike hin, o0