Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-12-17

the fa1ntiy smiling mouth, which was
the mouth Of child. Silver Heels
wed? The idea was grotesque. 1t was
also displeasing.
NOT to rebuff her with scorn, said:
Indeed, you are quite woman. Per-
maps IN year you will be one! Who
knows? For a year is such long,
long time, Silver Heels"
1T Is very long time," she admit
ted.
"And to love one must be quite old"
said l.
Eyes, that is true" she conceded re-
luctantly, but not always"
After a silence she said, Michael, I
have secret"
The mere idea that Silver Heels pos
sessed a secret which she had not at
once revealed to me produced a compli-
Gated sensation in my breast. / was
conscious of sudden and wholly In
voluntary respect for Silver Heels, a
hearty resentment, and gnawing GU
riosity to learn the secret.
''Will you promise never, never to
tellT' she asked, raising her eager eyes
to me.
Again resentment and hurt pride
stung me, but curiosity prevailed, and
! promised, with pretended indiffer-
ence, to soothe my weak loss of self
respect.
"Well, then" she said, lowering her
voice, II am sure that Mr.. Butler is in
love with me-"
"Mr. Butlerw cried out in angry
derision. why, he's an old man! Why,
he's nearly thirty!'
Angry incredulity choked me, and I
sat scowling at Silver Heels and striv-
ing to reconcile her serious mien with
such tomfool speech.
| "If you shout my secret aloud" she
said, II shall tell you no more, Micky.
Again expressed my disbelief in a
growl.
"He keeps me after school hours"
she continued. "Once he would caress
my hand, but will have none of it.
He sometimes speaks of the future
and certainly does conduct in most ro-
mantle manners, vowing he will wait
for me, declaring that I must love him
one day, that I am no longer child,
that he has adored me since I was
but twelve"
How long has this gone ont" I
said, my face cold and twitching with
rage.
These three months" said Silver
Heels without embarrassment.
"And-and you never told met"
| She shook her head frankly.
"No, you were but lad, and you
could not understand such things. But
now that you are become a man /
thought to tell you Of this, because IT.
tries my patience, yet pleases me, too
sometimes"
Boiling with fury and humiliation, l.
gave her a piece of my mind. said
that Mr.. Butler was sneak, bully,
and an old fool in his dotage to make
love to baby. told her it did sick
en- me to hear. of It; that there was no
truth in 1t but vain imaginings and that
she had best confess to Sir William
how this gentleman schoolteacher did
teach her his knowledge withal!
"He is gentleman Of rank and sta
Hon," she said primly. 'If he choose
to protest his solicitous regard for me
[ can but courteously discourage him.
''You little prig!" exclaimed, grind
Ing my teeth. 81 will teach this fellow
Butler to abuse Sir Williams conf
dence!'
II have your promise not to reveal
tbic - said Silvor uoolc ooollv
| l groaned; then, remembering that
Mr.. Butler had partly promised me a
meeting caught Silver Heels by both
hands and looked at her earnestly.
81 also have secret" said l. Prom
Use me silence and you shall share it,
Truly?" she asked, little pale
Truly, a secret Promise, Silver
Heels"
II promise she whispered.
Then told her of my defiance, of the
meeting which Mr.. Butler had half
pledged me, and l swore to her that
would kill him, eye to eye and hilt to
hilt, not alone for hts contempt and in
suits to me, but for Sir Williams hon.
or and for the honor of my kinswoman,
/ warren.
me peastr' 1 snarled. '"That he
should come a-suing you without a
word to Sir William! Do gentlemen
conduct in such manner toward gen
tlewomen? Now, hear me! Do you
swear to me upon your oath and honor
never to stay again after school, never
to listen to another word from this
sneaking fellow until you are sixteen,
never to receive his addresses until Sir
William speaks to you of him? Swear
1t or will so straight to Mr.. Butler
and strike him in the facer'
!, "Micky, what are you saying? Sir
William knows all this
Taken aback, dropped her hands,
but in moment seized them again.
"Swear!' l repeated, crushing her
hands II don't care what Sir William
says! Swear itv'
! II swear" she said family. "You
are hurting my fingers"
/ scarcely heard her, being occupied