Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-03-12
THE EVENING STORY )
NOT ANNOUNCED.
BY JEANNE OLIVE LOIZEAUZ.

Copyright, 1910, by Associated Liter
airy Press.
AS he reached her in the stream OF
guests, mostly feminine, Emile Fen
ton gave him her hand and her best
smile. Thomas Townsend at her mu-
sicale was better than she had hoped
he seldom bothered himself with
afternoon functions. And this was
small and select-for a purpose, too,
which she thought he did not suspect
She suddenly had horrid fear that
he had been interested in Natalie.
Who had said so? She could not
remember. =.
81 know you're surprised to see me,
he submitted impudently.
"Yes, l asked you because | was
SO sure of your absence What does
bring your
"Oh, long unfed yearning for
candle light in broad day, dollhouse
flowers and dollhouse ladies'. He
parted her question.
II shall tell Natalie. You'll pc
sorry Suppose you move on. You're
quite too big for an ordinary door.
way, you know" He laughed and
passed into the dim, flower-bedecked,
candle-lit parlors, deliberately sought
chair that seemed able to endure
his weight for the space of an hour,
and then looked about him at the 9TH
er guests who were chattering with
the zest which nothing but the pros
pect of~music gives a company.
Presently ,Maude Borely trailed In
and came briskly over to sit by him.
He did wish there was time limit
to the kittenish in woman's man
ner. but he listened contemporary
to her gossip. Gossip, in fact. was
what he came for. He had heard
some rumors about Natalie that had
stirred him to a grim determination.
Natalie Norris is to play" she in
! formed him. "She's been abroad seven
years. They say she sleeps with that
violin of here l hear she's awfully
pretty, though haven't seen her since
she was mere child. Let's see
didn't they live next door to your
81 believe they did, he answered.
| But l was at school and all seem to
remember Is black-eyed romp with
curls to her knees
He did not say that in his after
college Europe Vacation few years
since he had spent summer IN a
German town where she was.
Maude continued: "They say her
mothers desperate because she's re-
fused all sorts of lords and things,
Her playing has taken her to courts
The girl says she doesn't want any
body, but if she has to marry at all
wants an American. You see they're
none too we'll off and the old lady
knows that money-my world" She
nrdged him excitedly and strained
her near-sighted eyes at fat, half
bald, wholly blase-looking old-youne
man smirking before the hostess IN
the doorway. Thomas Townsend squar
ed his big shoulders and looked, too
So his suspicious were verified.
"Chris Kirk" whispered Maude
Hes followed her like dog for two
years And they say her mother has
fairly bullied the girl into tacitly &C
cepting him, though it is not yet an
nounced. Do you know, It's whisper
ed that it is to be announced this aft
ernoon? Emile is a cousin. their only
relative. l believe. But it's rather q
pity. isn't it. after all? Money is not
everything she said sentimentally
"aud the world knows Christopher
Kirk"
"Td love to-kick him." he said
through his teeth.
The man took seat in front Of
them, it being near the piano and the
chairs reserved for the musicians.
The hum and chatter continued unit
a sudden hush made Townsend look