Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-03-10
THE EVENING STORY
A WEDDING FEAST.

BY MERTHA M'CULLOCH !W1L
LIAMS.
Copyright, 1910, by Associated Liter
airy Press.)
Peter WinborO, actor and gentle
man. tapped rather hesitantly upon
the door of his next reighbor,. Natalie
Peytor. Fer three months they had
been harbored III Mrs. Jones's severe,
= respectable Lodging house, Natalie
in the small front room, Winboro in
the bigger chamber adjoining. Since
their first meeting he had given the
girl q respectful salutation at each en-
counter She had answered with a
rod. smile and murmured word !;
nothing more. But somehow his days
Lad been the brighter for them. 1t
hsd hardly gone beyond that. Once he
had ventured to lay magazine at her
door; once, also, she had sewed up
deftly an uhtimely and annoying rent
for him. He had got it carelessly just
as he was starting out, and already
late. so that the kindness had been as
real as it was trivial.
He had meant to return it in the
shape of matinee ticket. But he had
found out that Miss Peyton was at
work every day-their encounterings
had been as she came in from the
shop and he went out to dine. before
the theatre. The shop was bedizen-
ed place on the avenue-Peter did
not know it-where fine hand-sewn
custom lingerie was made. But wages
we're not at all proportionate to prices,
SO when the slack season came and
there was work only for the regulars,
Natalie, new to the city last autumn,
found herself idle, with no friends.
faint prospects and scant hoard Of
money.
Winboro had somehow sensed the
s;tuation-helped. perhaps, by hear
ing her move about her room In day
light. Her face. too. had stfbtly ter
rifled look, though she held herself
straiEhter than ever. and smiled as
brightly at him "she's game AS
game as she's good" he told himself
upon certain bright Sunday after
noon. Hanged II I don't chuck the
Blenton crush and take her for walk
and to dinner afserward."
Youth loves company the same as
misery. Natalie, young and miser-
able, went without demur, though she
had been bred to the strictest social
observances. Neither did she balk at
The suggestion Of dinner.
"It's a risk--I am tr,.iy frightfully
hungry" she warned him, with a
smile that was piteously brave.
It was the memory Of the smile that
emboldened him, as they sat over their
coffee In d quiet place, yet still far
from cheap, to say, lightly, touching
her free hand: "Why don't you get
out OF all this? You don't in the least
belong"
now do you know / could get out
of it!'' Natalie parried.
Winboro smiled softly and f1icked
The ash from his cigar. Finding him
si!ent. the girl went on: Il haven't
run away from adoring psrents--only
rfen, step-,ncle and-well, Aunt
Maryland john"
II see." Winboro interrupted.
"Jofn---rlow. tell me all about him."
n cant. There's nothing to tell
If there we're Natalie cried, stop
ping short with vivid blush that
made Winboro smile again and shake
his head.
you'll never in the world make an
actress he said. CHOSE eyes of
yours CO tell only the truth. John
is hasty--foolishly hasty. he wants
to marry you out Of hand When
you want to find the great adven-
..rre."
low do you know" Natalie again
demanded.
Winboro looked straight into her
eyes, his own kindling. Il have been
young l am-sging, IL not old,
be said "Still, l have not forgotten
the righteousness of-folly. In your
eaSe-I wonder is it only folly, or