Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-05-26

my letter was final. Heart
brokenly. Cynthia"
Dawson ground his teeth savagely.
turned white as a sheet and picked up
his hat. It was just three-thirty,
and Saturday. He would go straight
to the Haskills' and have it out, face
to face. But half way there, he re-
called the fact. abruptly, that this
was Cynthia's club day and she would
not be at home. He recalled at the
same instant, with fash of inspira-
ton, that she had said the meeting
would be with Florence Greyson.
Ten minutes later Dawson occu-
pied an inconspicuous seat in the
corner Of the park, seven squares up
town. Five minutes after that
Cynthia, radiant in mauve chambray,
rustled by, almost within touching
distance of him. Her face was de.
void Of it's usual delicate bloom and
there were violet shadows under the
brown eyes to match the violets
dropping about the wide, soft brim Of
her hat.
DAVIDSON rose and, without a word,
matched his step with here.
Lets come to the point at once,
~ AlulA, AC DOSoA sloNClS, I6AoAAAo
her little exclamation Of protest.
IF there is anything wrong"
"You mustn't ask me; indeed you
must not" And she shook her head
violently. though her lips were
trembling beyond control and her
eyes were wistful with shadows.
Dawson bit his lip angrily. Ills
voice was several shades deeper than
Cynthia had ever heard it, when he
spoke.
II was determined to see you and
drag the truth from you," he said.
"deeming it my right to know, but
He paused and looked at her long
and earnestly 1--WE reached the
conclusion that it is really better for
me to go on in ignorance. l shall
re-enlist in the army and sail on the
next transport for Manila"
Jack" The girl stopped short.
every atom of color gone from her
cheeks. 81 WON'T won't hear Of
it," The words choked in her throat
and her eyes filled. Then, all at
once she pulled herself together and
said, resolutely: Il shall tell you the
whole truth, Jack. I had made up
my mind to keep silent-from pride,
with a great, big P. But-bur-of
course, cannot let you go, believing
mel hardly know what, or what
not. Last night l went into Martins
for supper with Fred Humphrey. At
the table just behind me were a party
of four-the Elwoods and the
Thorpes. They were discussing our
engagement, and one Of the ladies
sEeeringly observed that it was we'll
that the Davisons knew nothing Of
the fact that Mrs. Haskill's great
uncle was barber"
rs that all?" Dawson heaved a
prOdigious sign of relief.
Isn't it sufficient"
Hardly"
you don't understand, Jacb. It
seemss an insignificant things but It
Is the keynote to an overwhelming
circle in this narrow little social
world Of ours, and well, did what
/ thought was best"
Dawson made a gesture OF disgust.
what kind of love do you call Jhat??"
he demanded CURLY. You give me
up for good and all just because"
II loved you too much to bring
anything disagreeable into your life"
interposed Cynthia, gently.
Dawson burst into laughter. "You
are a Quixotic little idiot, Cynthia.
Here is your destination, by the way
Shall wait around couple Of hours
or come to the house at the usual
time tonight"
Neither. I'll call you up at g."
And with a backward smile she dis
appeared between the flaming beds
of flowers
Dawson returned to his Office in
a rejuvenated frame of mind. The
entire days work had been ruthless
ly neglected and he applied himself
diligently to the stack of mail on
his desk. Six O'Clock came even
sooner than he expected, and when
the bell over his shoulder gave q
prolonged imperative ring he jumped
up eagerly.
The girls first words stunned him.
"Good-by,' she said. I'm leaving
The Hawtreys sail from there on
Tuesday, as told you, and my pas
sage is already engaged"
"And this is all the farewell I'm
to have, Cynthia?'
WY mlnd was maze up, dear, ana
didn't dare run the risk of letting
you see me again. lit is FOR the
best, believe me-"
Without comment Dawson calmly
hung up the receiver. He jammed
his hat over his eyes and ran down
three flights of steps to the street
His runabout stood at the curbing
He stepped in and whizzed off at
sped limit toward the station.
Seven minutes later he was elbow
ing his way through the scurrying
crowds toward the ladies' waiting
room. He found her at news stand,
glancing idly through a periodical.
what do you mean by running
away from me in this fashion,"
ooh, Jack" she said reproachfully,
"why did your"
Because you are mine, and I've a
perfect right
81 should have written to you and
and explained everything" The
girl sat down weakly on the bench
nearest her, her face ablaze with
scarlet. you can have no concep-
ton Of the modification I was forced
to endure-should have had to endure