Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-11-26
THE EVENING STORY.
THE LITTLE LONELY GIRL.

tHE EVENINGS SIOnS.
THE LITTLE LONELY GIRL.
BY Temple Bailey.
Copyright 1910 by the Associated
Literary Press.
"A month of rain and month Of
high winds had kept the Little Lonely
Girl prisoner. Hence, on the first
sunshiny morning in October she
sailed forth, locking the door Of her
room, high up in the tall tenement.
with sense of joy and of freedom I'M
known to those whose lives are not
bounded by four narrow walls.
The Little Lonely Girl carried a
very small basket and thumbed
paper backed volume. Over her arm
hung a shabby shawl She stepped
lightly however, as If her feet
wanted to fly over the ground and
take her as quickly as possible from the
grimy street where she lived.
1t was 10 O'Clock when she reached
the goal of her desires. Most people
would have seen nothing attractive in
the stretch of stone sea wall at the
end of smoke stained city park. But
there was curve in the wall which
made a nest for the Little Lonely
Girls back, and, with the shawl
tucked in for a cushion and her book
on her lap, she could read and watch
the ships, and drink in the freshness
Of the sharp, salt air.
x At noon she was ready for her lunch
and the hard boiled egg and slice Of
bread seemed wholly inadequate to
the demands Of her appetite She ate
the very last crlmb, then flung the
went a fine white napkin, which was
a leftover from more affluent days.
hel.craned her neck to look where 1t
fell and saw it futter across the eyes
of a man who lay half asleep on the
sands below.
He looked up.
\ would you mind sc hesitated,
Handing it up to me?'
4 He. was on his feet, in moment.
Wait till catch it, e>called.
As she watched him run after it
there seemed something familiar IN
the long stride.
Therefore she was ready to say de-
murely, who would have thought. Of
seeing you here?"
He peered up at her through his
glasses. "Babbie,,'' he said, "by all the
fates. Did you drop from the SKYE"
She shook her head. Il was watch
ing the ships from the sea wall,
'.Wait till come up" he said, and
made a quick ascent.
Nov tell me-" he commanded He
sat down beside her on the shawl.
The telling was not easy. II am liy-
ing here in the city and earning my
living"
4, How ?" was his quick question.
!. She evaded him. "And this is the
first clear day for long time, so
took holiday and brought my. lunch
and my book, and--it's lovely,
In spite of the brave tone, he was
not deceived His keen eyes had
noted the shabby black shoe tucked
under the worn skirt, the plain little
hat and the questionable coat. 1t was
not thus that Babbie had CARRIED her
self in her butterfly days.
.'Babbie," he said gravely, what
has happened to you, child?''
II mustn't tell you," she whispered.
why not?'
bSCduSGt suOIl WduI--pILy. ~,
'Ah-" His hand went over hers
in sudden hard clasp. Is it as bad
as that?''
"Yes, l have almost died of loneli.
ness-and you were the only one who
might have helped-and couldn't ask
you"
why not?'
II think you know
Because you sent me away when
you were prosperous, you wouldn't
call mo back when you were poor?
Is that it, Babbie?''
Yes
Don't you know that my love
wouldn't ask questions? Don't you
know that I've been sailing the seas,
travelling in foreign lands to ease my
heart? Could anything make me so
glad as to spend my life in service
for your
Il know, but the same cause exists
today that existed a year ago,
Richard
Z "You still stick to that?" There was
note of anger in his voice.
4 Eyes"
He stood up. Then might as well
go as went before"
Her hand went out to stay him,
then she said. drearily, Eyes, you
might as well go"
So he went, heavily, as one who
carries burden. but when he reached
the sands he called back to her. TELL
me where you live She shook her
head, emphatically. mo"
After he had gone she packed up
her book and her shawl and went
home. The brightness had gone out