Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1905-06-13

things, he brought her once more into
condition OF sanity. She was not
permitted to test her strength upon
her feet, but she sat up against tree,
and began to regard her companion
with great, round, wistful eyes, with
an air of mingled timidity and I'M
pulsive confidence.
and now, Miss l0e-th," said Thorn
as at last, sit is absolutely necessary
that should leave you for few min.
utes. Will you promise me not to stir
until l return? will be gone just as
short time as possible"
you are SO kind" she said, family.
''If II is for me you are going, l hope,
really, you won't trouble yourself. In
few minutes shall be stronger and
can go on"
We'll talk about that after come
back" he said, cheerfully. "And mean
time have your promise not to stir?"
"Since you are so good, can refuse
you nothing" she returned, YEARLY,
and closed her eyes.
Thomas was off at an energetic pace.
He first tied his horse to tree, and
then ran on to the nearest farm house.
A well-to-do-looking woman, with
sunny face, appeared at the door in an
swer to his knock.
Madam" said Thomas, hastily, II
have to apologize for my unexpected
call, but the fact is, l am in great
need of food-the best you have and
plenty of it. I'll pay-anything. Only
let me have it at once"
But 1 can't" said the woman; 81
haven't thing in the house to eat!"
But l must have something" ex-
claimed Thomas; 'if it's nothing but
milk and water The case is very
urgent. Here, do what you can for me-"
He thrust a f1ve-douar bill into the
good woman's hand. She thrust it
back promptly.
Here, don't want your money"
she said, rather stitt1y. Such as
have you're welcome. to. Come in"
She led the astonished Thomas into
an ample pantry, which was in a con.
dition Of neatness that was almost
painful. But it needed no power OF
divination to determine that it was
the pride of the good woman's life,
and the shelves fairly groaned with
good things. Thomas was dumb with
delighted amazement.
WELL" said the housewife, evident
ly enjoying the condition of stupefac-
ton to which she had reduced him,
do you see anything you'd like? If
SO, you are welcome"
"The-the fact is" stammered
Thomas, 81 wish you'd let me pay for
it. I-I-you see, might carry away
little more than I'd like to; for the
fact is I've got friend just back here
In the woods, and she-he's starving
to DEATH
The woman laughed outright. OF
coure, she did not believe that any.
body was dying for the want of food
in this land of plenty. The best
Thomas could do was to effect com.
promise. The woman accepted "a dol.
lar for the heather" Thomas took
away all he could we'll carry.
1AS viz l 0pSA ISi oppAOoSASo I1o paw
where he had left Stella North, he be-
gan to have some fears that she had
deserted him in spite of her promise;
but, no. There she was, still sitting
against the tree, as he had left her.
No, not as he had left her. Complete
ly exhausted, she had fallen asleep.
Thomas placed his bundles upon the
ground and softly arranged the repast
he had secured from the farm house
J upon light robe he had taken from
the carriage. From the bowl of fresh
milk to the golden-brown custard pie
| 1t was genuine and wholesome; and
though he would fain have had
Young's chief cook at his command
for an hour or two, still he hoped that
she could not fail to find the display at
i tractive and appetiAng.
But he hesitated 10 wake her. The
poor child slept as only one utterly
worn out can sleep. He looked at hel
more attentively, and his heart accel.
Grated Its pulsations.
What pity" he thought, that she
should be so compromisingly mixed W
In such an affair as this! Young and
charming as she is, If the police knew
what know they would not hesitate
a minute to arrest her,
The thought clouded his breast. He
looked at mis- watch. 1t was sgettine
late. Unless he proposed to turn hel
over to the police. in truth, time
pressed.
"Ahem!" he exclaimed. "Miss
North!"
But her sleep was too deep to BIZ
| disturbed by such an expedient. He
placed his hand gently upon her shout
der, and thrill ran through him Al
the contact. She started up and stared
wildly about her. Gradually the truth
came to her. She awoke from happy
oblivion to the horror of the past few
days. The sudden frightened look il
her face proclaimed this fact Ant
then her eyes wandered from the re-
porter's face to the collation. spread a
| har