Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-03-10

some big hulking fellow six feet
high, 4 regular footboll hero?"
! T-I-hate you. Take me home!
at once!" Natalie said impressively
Winboro looked at her, his breath
coming quicker. I'm sorry for
John" he said. $50 sorry you must
listen to little more"
Well" Natalie breathed rather
than said, settling back to place.
lWinboro's face darkened
| you know about the Minotaur-
1.-THE tabled monster that devoured
Yearly virgins in thousands? he
asked abruptly, then waiting for no
lreply he ran on: THE most of life Is
/ in the fable-only we mortals refuse
| to understand. SO our yearly sacri-
:! fees mount UP almost to millions
! and some heartaches for every one
CT the victims, involuntary victims
mostly-there's the real pity Of It.
How much money is there tonight be-
twixt you and starvation"
"You have no right to ask-to
speak to me So" Natalie cried, max
ing to rise, though she trenbled
violently.
Winboro smiled grimly. sI could
guess" he said Severe respectable
1ty il costly-aiid you have fine taste
in eating. You have laid up-let me
see possibly two dollars weekly
Whether or no I have, l shall not
tax-anybody's charity" Natalie said,
rising, her head very high, her eyes
1ambent.
Winboro also rose. ''No; you would
starve as becomes a gentle woman, .
he said. "But you shall mott will
see to that--whether OF no you like
1t. I'm your fairy godfather.
They went home in silence, Win
boro torn by conflicting impulses.
He was indeed aging-he had next to
no money, and but dim prospects in
delicate tastes that so hampered Ma
tale were also among his inherit
ances. They had hampered him too
made him squeamish and fnical in
many ENTHUSIASTICALLY over things
that other men held good business.
The girl beside him deserved Infinitely
more OF Fate than he could promise
any woman. He must dragon her,
il need were. back to the shelter and
comfort of this half-confessed john
and pray that she might live happy
ever after
Yet-at her door, he kissed her,
lightly, upon the cheek, rushing away
without word. He hardly slept that
night, but dawn brought heavy slurn-
Der. A light tap reused him from it
around II o'clock, and Natalies voice
aclled:
Come in! Quick! l want to show
you something"
Halt an hour later he stood staring
open-eyed at cake. unmistakable
country wedding cake, rich and sweet,
and light as feather, iced half an
inch thick. in generous slices, in
wedges, in halfloafs. Tarts likewise,
and small fahcifully ornamented cakes.
Natalie beamed above the array,
fioprishing in her right hand wedding
cards.
Johns" she explained succinctly.
ooh, I'm so glad. The best fellow in
the world-but nothing else. If he
had had thimbleful of personality, I
could never have said NO All Of
them were so anxious to have us
marry each other-indeed, Aunt Mary
said she had raised me on purpose, SO
her best things would have the right
care. But now--she's quite recon-
ciled, and John happy as the day is
long"
"He was probably caught in the re-
bound" Winboro interrupted.
Natalie laughed softly. ~ don't
know" she said What 1 do know
is---Aunt Mary wanted to send for me,
but the bride forbade. You ought to
see the apologies: l mustn't be hurt,
but must come home and stay always
if choose-and it's such shame to
send me so little, but there was no
bigger box handy-and ever SO much
more
mo wonder you are consoled,'
Winhoro said, possessing himself, I'M
invited, of a speciall.- tempting slice
of cake
Natalie shook her head at his, say
ing. This puts off the starving by
at least a Week-and maybe I shall