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


aware that l excited comment by do
ing so. But then thought that all
TIME was before me did not has
ten to speak"
The dear man." murmured Vida
adm1ringly. just like them all =
amks he Is the only one in the
world!''
And she stole another glance UP at
she top of the Heugn But still no
band of fiuttering color was blowing
out for her to decipher. Either Phil
mad not get her message, or, leaving
the Portogarten mine to look after
Itself, at that moment he was tearing
down the slopes towards the cottage
She wanted to tell Vic Morris to get
onto give him a push-he was so
SLOW. For Phil was as likely as not
TO hurl himself bodily into the open
window and put his arms about her
neck without saying "By your leave!"
She knew Phil.
She hlushed again. She also moved
little farther from the window, but
did not close it.
Poor, poor Janet!" was again the
unspoken thought of Vic Morris, ac-
companied by heavy sigh.
Yes" he continued bravely ought
to have spoken-to nave asked you to
marry me! Yes, had no right to run
away like that, acknowledge it. My
duty was clear, and have come back
to perform it"
And he threw his head back with
a kind of noble air which annoyed the
girl exceedingly.
MI Morris" began Vida, half
rising.
Hear me out-hear me out.'' Vic
Morris put up an authoritative hand,
you promised! OF course you do
right to be angry. But hear me out.
went away, however-Aeeing from
what ought to have BENNY pride and
my pleasure. And-I can hardly bring
myself to tell you the rest-what fol
lowed!"
Bless me-" thought Vida, has he
killed somebody, too?"
During the time that I was in
Spain" Vic Morris went on, "a cor
respondence grew up between myself
and young lady of this neighborhood.
Followed, I fear at least on my side,
Dy change in my attentions-of my
feelings with regard to you'll
Vida was too aStonished to utter a
",
getting over the ground, lest he should
be interrupted.
But duty-duty, Miss Vida, is be-
fore all otner things with me. Accord.
1ngiy, as soon as | had heard of your
fathers misfortune, l started to do
what ought to have done before-of-
fer you good home and q faithful
husband! | love another. 1t Is true.
p,fs
But you need have no fear She shall
never know it, and will gladly sub
ordinate my happiness, In order that
you and yours may know a happy
home, Love would gladly give If 7
could. Once 1 thought that the feel
ings were under the control of the will
OF a determined man have found
out my mistake. But I am man Of
duty, Miss Romer True, | love an.
other. 1t is best to be frank. But all
the same 1t is my duty to make this
offer to you-and, | do make It in all
honesty of resolve and purpose!"
There was not the least reason to
doubt it.
But just at this moment the little
French window was driven in two
halves, and Phil Calmont leaped into
the parlor. Coming straight snd
breathless out Of the sunshine, he did
not for the moment see Vic. The last
accents of the dutiful and noble speech
OF the engineer had died away among
the dull mahogany furniture, so that
there was silence.
The next moment Phil had Vida in
his arms.
oh, you darling!" he was saying,
"how good of you! To promise to
marry me on the tnirtieth! Oh, you
-! OF course the house won't be
ready, but can get substitute up at
the pit and we will have long tour
Italy, Florence, Rome, Naples, ana
home by Switzerland How's that?
deserve it-Eh-what? Who the-Vic
Morris, by the Lord of the Isles!"
They gazed in mutual establishment,
But Vic Morris was not cast down
Far from it-Vic Morris's feet were
dancing a little double shuttle. He
could not keep them still for JOY.
see-I see!" he exclaimed 81
have come the day after the fair. You
don't want to marry me then, Vida?
You never dfd?"
Well, hardly" said that young per-
son, demurely, ut isn't legal, you
know. Or at least it won't be after
the thirtieth! Besides-there is that
change in your affections
Don't laugh-"he said, seriously;
iB'I will be Phils substitute for your
honeymoon or find him one-if you
let me off! l know it's lot to ask
If you don't make laughing-stock of
me. don't ask it for my own sake.
What an ass | have made of myself!
Oh, say-wnat an ass! How you
must have laughed! shall laugh,
toby and by!"
Tell US who the girl isl" said Vida,
land we won't tell either-we
! promise"
oh" cried Vic, sit scared me stark,
tell you, coming out here and jaw
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