Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-10-04
THE EVENING STORY.
THEY COMPROMISED.
BY NELLIE cRAvEY GILMORE

airy Press.)
Phoebe laid down the letter she had
just finished reading and sat for
belligerent moment staring straight
through the open window at. the riot
of Towering roses in the garden be.
yond. But the rainbow beauty and
pervading fragrance failed to carry
an appeal Her eyes were flashing
and twin flags of resentful crimson
had begun to wave danger signals in
her cheeks. His minister, indeed! .
Why, she would as soon think OF
being married by the gardener as
not to have dear old DR.. Waverley
officiate at her wedding. He had mar
ried her mother, baptized herself and
performed the last sad rites over her
beloved father. There was no one else
in the whole world who could, or
should read the nuptial service over
her.
With trembling fingers she took up
Harold Craigs letter, postmarked
New York, and skinned through the
contents:
Dearest Phoebe:
II am glad you have set the day for
June 10. | can then have full
months vacation, and Mr.. Hendricks
will be, able to take his at the same
time, coming with me to Chicago
couple OF days before the ceremony |
have asked him to perform the serv-
ice. and he has signifled his pleasure
Am rushed today, but will write you
a long letter by tonight's mail and try
to tell you how much I love you. You
~, hot ON tho horniaSt
man in the world AZ ever,
HAL
The indignant tears splashed the
page she was reading and caused Har-
old Craigs affec ionate words to run
together in hooking blur of purple.
With an uncontrolled gesture of mu-
tiny, Phoebe crumpled the letter into
a ball and flung it into the trash bas-
ket. To be ignored $3.50 superciliously
overlooked! Her temper was fast get
ting the better of her, and obeying
swift impulse, she rose and crossed
the room to desk
With rising ire, her pen raced
through the, words:
Dear Hal:
Your letter of the Sth received.
Needless to say, it's contents grieved
me exceedingly. 1t is my prerogative,
| believe, to select the minister, and
| cannot understand your summary
way of setting aside my rights and
inviting your Mr.. Hendricks to OFF,
ciate at our wedding.
II shall never be married by any
of any denomination except
Dr. Waverley Please explain the stu
alton to your friend and oblige.
yours in haste. Phoebe.
Phoebe's curt little note brought
young Craig to Chicago post haste.
The unexpectedness Of his visit put
Phoebe instantly on the defensive.
She greeted him frigidly.
II came began Craig tentatively,
"to suggest compromise. Just as you
are devoted to your pastor and deter
mined to have him marry us, SO am
attached to mine and-equally deter
mined. 1t is not SO much matter OF
religious principle as personal feel
ing. Why can't we have both Of them
Phoebe, and home Wedding
The black glittered in Phoebes
eyes-the red in her cheeks.
"No," she said decisively, Il have
made all my arrangements, and Il re-
fuse to compromise, as you put It.
Any gentleman"
Young Craig's shoulders squared
He looked at her with
he first touch of anger he had ever
displayed toward his f1ancee siite
heir engagement. Isn't that put
ing it a trifle strong? think we are
starting on the wrong track, consider
ng that we are to spend our lives TO-
,ether-"
Then we will not spend our lives
ogether. So there!"
When Harold Craig recovered, from
lis establishment he was staring At the
plank wall instead of into Phoebe Wal
;ers' face. He waited half an hour
IN hour. She did not return. He picked
ID a book from the reading table and
began to turn the leaves absently. The
clock striking six reused him. tie
must catch the seven train back to
New York without fail, as his bust
hess affairs would be in jeopardy. He
.ose and pressed the bell sharply. The
maid came at once with the informa.
ion that Phoebe had retired to bed
With sick headache. Craig was In
luandary. But the time was flying anu
le had to decide quickly. He tore
eaf from his memorandum book and
scrubbed hasty line, giving 1t to the
maid to be delivered to Phoebe.
"My Dear Girl-You are nervous
md overweight. I am sorry If
seemed rude or ungentlemanly, but my
Intentions were of the fairest. No
ioubt. after thinking things over, you
will perfectly agree with me. In the
Meantime shall be obliged to return
o my work as this is the beginning or
he heavy season-and l don't want
anything to spoil our honeymoon.
"Regretting that cannot see You
before I 20. your loving HAL.
Weeks went by and there came no
word from Phoebe. At first young
Craig had merely smiled at her stub
,ornness, telling himself that he un-
ierstood women. that she would wake
IL before long. But when there re-
nained only two weeks before the ap-
pointed day Of the wedding he began
o experience some uneasiness.
Impulsively he wired:
Expect me on the 18th of June.
.et's quit trifiing."
The answer came back on the same