Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-04-20

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ing paper. Personals. Hillard squirIn-
ed little. The world never holds
very much romance in the sober morn
ing. What stupid piece of folly
The idea Of his sending that personal
inquiry to the paper. Tomorrow he
would see it sandwiched in between
samples of shop-girl romance, CUES
tionable intrigues, and divers seal ca.
warrants Ye gods, "Will the blonde
who smiled at gentleman in blue
serge, elevated train. Tuesday, meet
same in park? Object, matrimony."
Hillard fidgeted. Young man known
as Adonis would adore stout elderly
lady. Independently situated. Object,
matrimony." Pish. "Girlie. Can't
keep appointment tonight. Willie"
Tush. "a French widow of eighteen
unencumbered," and so forth and so
on. Rot, bally rot; and here he was
on the way to join them! "Will the
lady who sang from Madame Angoi
communicate with gentleman who
leaned out Of the window? J. Fl. Bur-
gomaster Club" Positively asinine!
The man opposite folded the paper
and stuffed it into his pocket, and its
disappearance relieved Hillard scmt-
what.
There was scarce one chance in
thousand of the mysterious singers
seeing the inquiry not one in ten
thousand of her answering it. And the
folly of giving his club address! That
would look very dignified in yonder
agony column And then he brighten
ed. He could withdraw it; and he
would do so the very first thing when
he went down town to the office cob
it she would only laugh. 1t was all
decent woman could do. And certainly
the woman of the past nights adven-
tue was of high degee, educated; and
doubtless the spirit which had prompt
ed the song was as inexpiicable to her
this morning as it had been to him.
last night, He had lost none of the de-
sire to meet her, but reason made it
plain to him that a meeting could not
possibly be arranged through any per-
sonal column in the newspaper. He
would cancel the thing.
He dropped from the omnibus at the
park entrance where he found his
FESTIVE mare. He gave her a lump of
sugar and climbed into the saddle. He
directed the groom to return for the
horse at ten o'clock, then headed for
the bridle-path. 1t was heavy. but the
air was so keen and bracing that Meth
er the man mar the horse worried about
the going. There We're do5Nn or SO
early riders besides himself, and in
and out the winding path they passed
and repassed walking, trotting, can
tering. Only one party attracted him;
riding master and trio of brokers
who were verging on embonpoint. and
were desperate and looked it. They
stood in fair way of losing several
pounds that morning. A good rider al
ways smiles at the sight of a poor
one. with little retrospection should
make him rather plying. Hilliard
went on. Fine park was not lovely;
the trees were barren. the grass vel
low and sodden, and here and there
were grimy cakes of unmelted snow.
"She is so innocent, so youthful"
He found himself hummng the re-
frain over and over. She had sung it
with abandon, tenderness, lightness.
For one glimpse of her face. He took
the rise and dip which followed. Per-
haps hundred yards ahead soil
tary woman cantered easily along Hill
lard had not seen her before. He
spurred forward only family curious.
She proved to be a total stranger.
There was nothing familiar to his eye
in her figure, which was charming. She
rode we'll. AS he drew near he saw
that she wore a heavy gray veil. And
this veil hid everything but the single
flash of a pair of eyes the color of
which defied him. Then he looked at
her mount. Ha! there was only one
rangy black with a white throat;
from the Sanford stables, he was
positive. But the Sandfords were at
this moment in Cairo, so it signified
nothing. There Is always someone
ready to exercise your horses, if they
happen to be snowy ones. He looked
again at the rider; the flash of the
eyes was not repeated SO his interest
vanished, and he urged his mare into
a sharp run Twice in the course of
the ride he passed her, but her head
never turned He knew it did not be-
cause he turned to see.
! So he went back to his tentative ro-
nance. she nau passed MS WINDOW
and disappeared into the fog and there
was reasonable doubt of her ever
returning from it. The Singer in the
Fog; thus he would write it down in
his book of memories and sensibly
turn the page. Once downtown he
would countermand his order, and that
would be the end of it. At length he
came back to the entrance and sur
rendered the mare. He was about tc
cross the square when he was hailed
Hello, Jack! I say, Hilliard!"
Hilliard whirled and saw Merrihew
He, too, was in riding breeches.
''Why, Dan, glad to see you. Were
you in the park?"
4 Riverside. Beastly cold. too. Come
into the Plaza and join me in cul
of good coffee"
Had breakfast long ago, boy"
ooh just one cup! I'm lonesome"
That's no inducement, hut I'll joil
you,' replied Hilliard cheerfully.
The two entered the cafe, sat down
and Merrihew ordered Mocha.