Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-01-21

Fowler stood with her hands by her
side, alternately clasping and olsen
tangling them, her face fitting from
red to pale-from ash to rose. She
had written for this, hoped for this,
almost prayed for this! And now 1t
had comet was quite different!
This big man with his commanding
ways, his shoulders squared, his
strong set face of granite-did she
hear Alright, when she thought that
she detected the sob OF his throat?
JANET love you-Ianet! Janet!
Sac held him off whilst she asked a
question. But Vic had been instruc-
ted In the not substle casuistry of the
occasion. Mr.. Irongray had read him
his lesson. The wooer had learned 1t.
NO" he answered, II never really
loved her--I never loved but you,
Janet. You taught me to live. When
/ was far away your sapphire eyes
were like nails driven into my soul.
| could not get loose from them!"
All true--all to the point. But an
hour or two before he would have
tangled 1t all up with explanations
and diminutions. Now the girl got 1t
plain and strong-as indeed was the
manly verify. For Vic Morris had
loved only Janet--that is, az man
ought to love woman
How she wished now that she could
think Of something clever to say. If
only he had told her all this thou
sand miles off, and she had answered
it with a pen in ner hand! But no
there he stood before her, and she
could not take her eyes off his face.
She trembled- so violently, that Vic
saw 1t, and changing his tone suddenly
charged her with loving him in re.
turn.
II DON'T don't!" she cried, so
fiercely that he almost laughed know
ing different.
Then stop shivering!" he retorted,
triumphantly.
That, however, was far, far beyond
her. And she knew it.
II am cold" she cried, "but don't
love you'll"
"The thermometer is marking
eighty in the shade. 1t is because
you love me that you are trembling.
You are going to marry me. You had
no business TO have written all those,
letters to me, II you meant nothing!
You know that very Welt"
There was no answer. The old Vic
was. coming back.
Shall call my father?" She was
trying desperate tactics now.
You may" said Vic, coolly. 'but he
VIII not hear. You forget he has gone
visiting In Block g.
Janet had to bethink herself again.
Nothing farther occurred to her at the
moment. Possibly something might.
Only Vic, quite unfairly followed the
example of his late subordinate and
set the strongest pair of arms In Kirk
town about her. He drew her to him.
Instantly the trembling stopped, and
She began to cry softly on his breast.
he was 30 strong. 1t was comfortable
though.
Look at mel" he said, I" you dare
not look at men'
He was right. She dared not. after
telling what was very like a STORY.
about her father. She knew very we'll
where he had gone. The Reverend
John Fowler always visited on Thurs
days. All the world knew that-eyen
Vic Morris, when 1t was to his adyan-
tage
II dare you to look at mel" He said
this not so much as a challenge, but
as an excuse to hold her longer.
All at once she turned the depths
of her sapphire eyes upon him. The
spark in them was extinguished. It
had become now only a mellow glow.
Tears had moistened and softened
everything. Janet's eyes were deep
wells Of youth, and beauty-yes, and
love.
Vie Morris was instantly and hope
lessly conquered. He altered his tone.
He was the vanquished, this time.
oh, Janet, can you love a fellow
like me?"
Promptly the eyes filled up. Their
blueness, as Of the deep sea or of
Henry Mnore's pictures, had become
mysteriously liquid, and was about to
overflow. Vic hastily prevented this,
In the way that suggested itself to him
as the most convenient in the circum-
stances. He felt her shrink within his
arms-then come closer again.
"You are sure you will never be
sorry?" she said catching the lapels of
his coat-all she could do.
"Never-never!" cried Vic, "only
you are infinitely to good for me. You
really connot love mel"
1.-THE End