Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-07-11

INSURANCE.
RALPH M,ELRoY, Mgr.
ENNIS BUILDING.
Corner Main and Market Streets.
Office Phone 1879. Res. Phone s14e.L
----+--- 49, -------- .--
low and he did not see her till she
spoke.
We'll, boy, So it's over at last!"
Her words chimed SO perfectly with
his thoughts that he replied: Yes. it's
all over, little girl"
You don't need my congratulations
you know me- too we'll for that.
How does it feel to be winner?
i don't know. I've lost"
Lost what?''
"Everything-except the gold mine."
Everything except see. You
mean that she-that you have asked
her and she wont?" He never knew
the cost at which she held her voice SO
steady.
More than that. It's SO new that
1T bursts yet. and it will continue to
hurt for long time, l suppose-but
tomorrow I am going back to my hills
and my valleys, back to the Midas and
my work, and try to begin all over.
For time I've wandered in strange
paths, seeking new gods, as it were,
but the dazzle has died out of my eyes
and | can see true again. She isn't
for me, although l shall always love
her. I'm sorry l can't forget easily.
as some do. It's hard to look ahead
and take an interest in things. But
what about you? Where shall you
go?"
Il don't know. 1t doesn't really mat.
ter-now." The dusk hid her white,
set face and she spoke monotonously.
Il am going to see the Bronco Kid.
He sent for me. He's ILL.,"
He's not bad Sort" said Roy.
And suppose he'll make new start,
too
Perhaps" said she. gazing far out
over the gloomy ocean. ut all de-
pends." After moment, she added,
What pity that we can't all sponge
off the slate and begin afresh and
forget"
Its part of the game" said he. 81
don't know why it's so. but it is. I'll
see you sometimes, won't II"
NO, boy-I think not"
L believe | understand" he muir
INJURED; and perhaps it's better So"
He took her two soft hands in his one
good right and kissed them. God
bless you and keep you, dear. brave
little Cherry"
She stood straight and still as he
melted into the shadows, and only the
moonlight heard her pitiful sob and
her hopeless whisper:
Goodbye. my boy. my boy"
He wandered down beside the sea,
for his battle was not yet won, and
'until he was sllrer Of himself he could
not endure the ribaldry and rejoicing
OF his fellows. A welcome law wait
ing Tor him in every public place, but
no one there could know the mockery
Of 1t, no one could gauge the desola.
tion that was his.
The sand. wet, packed, and hard as
a pavement, gave no sound to his care
less steps; and thus it was that he
came silently upon the one woman as
she stood beside the silver surf. Had
he seen her first he would have SUNK
past in the landward shadows; but
recognizing his tall form, she called
and he came, while 1t seemed that his
lungs grew suddenly CONSTRUCTED as
though bound about with steel hoops.
The very pleasure of her sight. panied
him. He advanced eagerly and vet
with hesitation. standing stiffly aloof
while his heart f1uttered and his tongue
grew dumb At last she saw his band
ages and her manner changed abrupt
~. Coming closer she touched them
with caressing fingers
It's nothing-nothing at ALL" he
said, while his voice jumped out of all
control. when are you-going
away?"
Il do not know-not for some time"
He had supposed she would 20 to.
morrow with her uncle and--the other,
to be with them through their travail.
With warm impetuosity she began:
1T was noble thing you did today.
Oh am glad and proud"
II prefer you to think of me in that
way. rather tfnn as the wild beast you
saw this morning, for I was mad. per-
fect]y mad with hatred and revenge.
and every wild impulse that comes to
a defeated man. You see, had play.
ed and lost. again and again. till there
was nothing left. What mischanca
brought you there? 1t was terribly
brutal thing. but you can't under
star;."
But | can understand. do. II
know all about 1t now. I know the
wi'a rage of desperation; l know the
e'."tation of victory; know what
hate and fear are now. You told me
once that the wilderness had made
you savage, and laughed at it just
as | did when You said that my con.
fact with big things would teach me
the truth, that we're all alike. and that
those motives are in us ALL l sec now
that you were right and was very
simple. | learned great deal last
night"
Il have learned much also" said
he Il wish you might teach me
more"
"I-I-don't think I could teach Won
any more" she hesitared
He moved as though to speak but
held back and tore his eyes away from
her.
WELL" she inquired, gazing at him
covertly.
"Once,, long time ago I read