Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-11-15
THE EVENING \ STORY.
A CALL AND A CLIMAX.
BY MABEL CHASE ENGLAND.

airy Press.)
The school bell in the little western
town of Burton announced the hour OF
noon.
Philip Malvern untangled his long
legs from the hammock where he had
been lying. stretched his arms above,
his head and yawned YEARLY.
"Confound this hole!" he muttered
81 wish I'd stayed in college and let
my whole ba1ly system go to smash
If 1t wanted to. Silly lot Of parrots
doctors are. Go west-go west-go
west! That's all they can think of
when fellow goes bit of his feed.
He slammed his book under BUSH,
aimed kick at mongrelly looking
cur that showed tendency to investi-j
gate and sauntered lazily down the.
sun-baked street to the postoff1ces
There was only one letter. a short,
characteristic note from his uncle, tell,
ing him that daughter of his old
friend, Col. barton, was staying near
Burton with her uncle, Max Whittier.
for q few weeks, and advising him TO
call She had been making tour OF the
world, he said, and was now on her
way east.
Philip whistled obviously. Yes, he
knew old Max Whittier-crusty old
chap! Had place mile or two out.
He tossed a penny in the air. HEADS
l go-tails don't. Bosh! Probably
some prim, prudish old blue-stocklng.
Tails, by Jove!"
The moment fate had decided
against it a contrary impulse sWayed
him. He'd go! Anything was better
than this everlastingly deadly monot-
ony He'd get some fun out OF her,
somehow.
Accordingly at 8 o'clock he climbed
into his big touring car and chuggea
off down the dusty road. Arrived at
his destination he walked quickly
up the gravel walk and pushed the
electric bell with will.
The door was opened by pretty,
demure-looking girl in gingham
dress and big, blue, enyeloping apron
He looked at her uncertainty.
els Miss barton at home?" he IN
quired.
She glanced at the huge car by the
gate and then at him in evident as
constituent.
"I'm sorry-Miss barton has gone
down to the village she told him.
"Ye gods! She must be that frum-
nv individual met footing 1T, along
the side path he commented, inward
ly with sigh of thankfulness for his
escape He took out his card.
81 am sorry, too. Will you give her
this, please?"
The girl glanced at the card as she
took it. ooh, but" she hesitated,
Miss barton will be disappointed.
She has spoken Of you-won't you
wait?"s
He was about to refuse when
look at the youthful, sun-browned face
with its downcast eyes and long curl
ing lashes reversed his decision. After
all, Miss Darton couldn't get back with.
in the hour, and a short time spent
with this seemingly embarrassed, but
certainly attractive young person
might prove amusing. He assented gra-
ciously.
"Mayn't we sit here?' he indicated
the vine-covered porch with It's capac-
ious, comfortable wicker chairs. "lt's
so pleasant outside
1--WE? Oh, why, yes she as
scented, with pretty confusion.
They moved over and took possess
sion of the chairs. The girl sat uncom-
fortably, rolling and unrolling the cor
ner Of her apron with nervous fingers,
very pretty fingers they were, too,
thought Philip Malvern, surveying
with approval the soft, rounded arms,
bare to the elbow. He grasped the stu
alton at once and began to talk. fluent
w, amusingly, inconsequently Her
eyes met his in shy but interested
amusement Bully eyes, too" he
thought. They'd turn the heads OF
some fellows"
what great big automobile she
commented presently, looking out ut
his car where it stood by the gate.
give always wanted to ride in one.
Is it's it fun"
ooh. great!'' he exclaimed eagerly.
"Come on out with me now and We'll
take short spin"
ooh. I couldn't" she gasped,
shrinking, back in her chair. And be
sides have to stay here until my
cousin-till Miss barton comes back.
There's no one else at home and there
are some groceries and things coming
and"
..Then will you come with me this
evening. please" he begged. "1'll have
the car here by s o'clock"
"But don't you think-hadn't you
better take Miss barton? You came
to see her. you know?"
ooh, we'll. this is different. Why your
cousin probably cut her eye-teeth in
an automobile and has lived In one
ever since. It'd be no novelty to her.
want you to come.
Every well. then" she agreed, IF
you think-f you're sure she won't
mind"
"Don't believe she'd come if asked
her. She must be more or less done up
after careering round the continent for
three years. Do you ever long to
travel?"
"Oh," she sighed. more than any
thing else l can think of. And to see
New York and all those beautiful big
cities. Didn't you hate to leave it all
to come out here?''
Her shyness seemed to vanish in a
wave of eager enthusiasm.
well, yes-I did hate 1t just at first.
but now-well, I'm really beginning to
pat fond of tho nlace Rut v0ll-- y0u