Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1903-10-22

demanded 1.orry. struck by the change
| in it.
"Nly voice." asked the other, the
| tones natural again. ITS changing.
Didn't it embarrass you when your
voice broke like that?" went on the
\ questioner breathlcssly Lorry was
/ now leaning back in the seat, quite q
| little mystitied.
II don't believe mine ever broke like
that" he said speculatively There
was no response. and he sat silent for
some time, regretting more and more
that it was so dark.
Gradually he became conscious of q
strange, unaccountable presence in
that dark cab. He could feel change
coming over him. He could not tell
why, but he was sure that some one
else was beside him, some one who was
not the soldier. Something soft and
delicate and sweet came into existence,
permeating the darkness with its I'M
deniable presence. A queer power
seemed drawing him toward the other
end OF the seat. The most delightful
sensations took possession of him His
heart tiuttered oddly. His head began
to reel under the spell.
"Wno are you?" he cried in a sort
of ecstasy. There was no answer. He
remembered his match safe and with
trembling, eager fingers drew it from
the pocket of the coat he was wearing.
The next instant he was scratching a
match, but as it flared the body of his
companion was hurled against his and
ruthless mouth blew out the feeble
blaze.
"oh, why do you persist? was cried
in his ears.
Il am determined to see your face"
he answered sharply, and with low
cry of dismay the other occupant of
the carriage fell back in the corner.
The next match drove away the dark
ness aad the mystery. With blinking
eyes he saw the timid soldier budding
IN the corner, one arm covering his
face, the other hand vainly striving to
pull the skirt of military coat over
pair of red trouser legs Below the
arm that hid the eyes and nose he saw
parted lips and a beardless. dainty
chin; above, long dark tresses strayed
In condemning confusion The breast
beneath the blue coat heaved convul-
sively.
The match dropped from his fingers,
and as darkness fell again il hid the
soldier in the strong arms of the fugi-
tive-not soldier bold, but gasping,
hInShipp LET, rxr
form quivered and then became mo-
tionless In the fierce, strairsng en-
brace. The head dropped upon his
shoulder, his hot lips caressing the
burning face and pouring wild, inco-
herent words into the little ears.
You! Your he cried, mad with joy.
"Oh, this is heaven itself. My brave
darling! Mine forever--mine forever
You shall never leave me now! Drive
on! Drive on!" he shouted to the men
outside, drunk with happiness. Wen
make this journey endless. know you
love me now-I know it! Oh, shall
die with Joy"
A hand stole gently into his hand.
and her lips found his in a long, pas
sionate kiss.
Il do not want you to know! Ach,
am SO sorry! Why, why did come. to-
night? | was SO strong. so firm, 1
thought; but see how weak ami You
dominate me; you own me, body and
soul, in spite of everything against
my will. love you, love you, love
you!"
Il have won against the princes and
the potentates! l was losing hope, my
Qieen-Iosing hope. You were so far
away, so ,unattainable I would brave
a thousand deaths rather than lose