Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-11-10

what fool she was. Dark had falle1
and the lamp was 1T; she drew tn
curtains, and moved things about t
homelike coziness What for? Sh
laughed bitterly 1t herself. Here sh
was twenty.nine past acting like
girl expecting 4 boy lover! We'll
John certainly was not coming
Probably he was taking that littl
nothing Of Sadie somewhere. Sh'
went into the bedroom, lighted thu
gas over. the mirror and looked q
herself as she put on the soft bu
rather worn and old-fashioned rose
colored dress he had once liked *
much. Ridiculing herself as she die
$50, she let DORM her thick dark hail
and rewound 1t softly and becomingly
about her head, loosening It about thu
temples. It took i've years from hel
age.
| Back In the sitting room she tool
her chair close to the light and picked
tup some sewing. but the stitches
would not 60 in straight; she tried t.
read, but the story she picked up
seemed inane and tiresome. What
was the use? Then another thought
came to her-what IL she should call
him up over the phone in the hall and
ask him to come to see her! Could
she? She never had done so-she
had an old.fashioned dislike for q
woman's making any advance to even
the most trusted OF friends. Perhaps
he would not want to come, but would
feel that he had to-and she would
see that, and 1t would hurt hundred
4 m
again at all. No. she would not!
BY 8 O'Clock she had made serself
50 miserable that her face was
flushed and she was nervous enough
to jump, calm as she was by nature.
Several times she had even gone into
the hall, intending to risk calling him
up, and then her courage had failed.
She was Just deciding to phone any
way. and ask some trivial question
she could say she had very bad
headache, and could not come to the
ONCE in the morning. He knew she
never had heada ches, but this might
alarm him-he might be sorry.
At this point the doorbell rang
not an unusual thing, and she won
dered impatiently why on earth Mrs.
Jones did not 90 to the door. Where
was the woman Finally she. heard
her lumber down the hall and open
the door. A mans voice spoke few
words. and mans foot sounded on
the stairs-cam to her door.
She jumped to her feet and opened
to the light knock John Trenton, hat
In hand, stood before her with SER
Ious face, making no offer to come
In until she found her voice and babe
him enter.
"Well. here am" he said while
she closed the door, and he made no
motion to sit down. Can help you
In any way?"
His eyes were devouring her as she
stood flushed and hesitating in her
rose gown. her eyes suspiciously wet.
Her gaze widened on him.
DO anything? Not that know
you sit down." He took
chair tentatively and answered the
question in her eyes.
Just a few blocks up met Madge
md that Bobbytrailer Of hers. They
said you wanted to see me this even
Ing. thought II, strange you should
send me message by anybody. when
vou know
Here things became too much for
Emily. The tears came up and over
lowed in spite Of her. She stood be-
Iore the mans questioning look, help
essly dabbling at her eyes.
He rose and reached her at step.
and took her in his arms.
"Tell me the truth-did you send
Tor met"
She hid her face against his arm
and shook her head violently. He
bent low to hear what she might say.
But she said nothing. Then he tried
another question.
"Shall 60 away?
She chung to him, and again found
her voice. pulling bravely away to
look at him while she said brokenly:
81 did not send for you that
Madge ought to be-spanked-but !
was going to phone to you and
| did want YOU"
He stopped her there in her speech.
well, II you want me. shall stay.
Not even you. Emily, can send me
away again! Just exactly when are
you going to marry me?"
Still In his arms she thought a
her face demure.
"Would--next week some time be
too soon?"
And then she hadn't breath enough
to say anything whatever. Not that
she wanted to talk-far. from 1t.
~ s. L /