Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-04-16
occupied the floor above the Suffrage

club.
/ There was a young man-Rober
/ Bayne, 1t happened to be-comfortablJ
sprawling, book in hand, before tht
] fire in the club sitting room. He jump
ed to his feet as the unexpected guest
pushed open the door.
i Dorothy was apologetic and embar
raised, and blushed little as she tool
the knife the young man offered her;
and he, in turn, was also embarrassed
and laughed at her confusion, not un
kindly.
''You needn't bring it back again,
he said, 'I'll come for 1t when | want
It," And after she had left, he won
dered idly over his book why on earth
women wanted the suffrage and
thought, idly too. that the sort OF
timid blue eyes he had just seen
didn't exactly agree with his idea OF
a thoroughgoing suffragist
When Robert Bayne called for his
knife the next day he looked with in
creasing wonder at the gentle blue
eyes and the delicate curve OF the
pretty mouth.
care you really suffragist?" he
asked bluntly.
ooh. yes, indeed said Dorothy. re.
membering Miss Tinker's instructions.
| Indeed am. Every one is who under
stands the subject. Won't you take
some Of our pamphlets?" she asked as
she handed him an assortment OF
brilliantly printed pamphlets.
Robert carefully put the pamphlets
in his pockets and fingered several
minutes. When he did go and had
closed the door on the alluring smile
OF the little suffrage secretary he had
forgotten to take his knife with him
OF course Robert Bayne had to call
the next day for his knife, and after
that he found, on his frequent visits
to the Blue Pencil club. some sort OF
excuse to stop at the suffrage rooms
below. The result Of it all was that
within two months it was quite OBJ
vious, though neither Dorothy nor
Robert had spoken Of it to the other,
that there was really a remarkable
bond of sympathy between them, and
except for the question of woman's
suffrage, which they never discussed.
Robert was sure that they were two OF
the most agreeable and companionable
people in the world.
Then suddenly Robert Bayne's Wis.
its to thes Blue Pencil club stopped,
and, poor Dorothy, without really
knowing why, found herself very
weary of the long hours she spent at
the Suffrage club rooms.
One day Robert did come back to
the Blue Pencil club and. Just as he
was trying to pass by the rooms on
the second floor without going in, he
encounted Dorothy on the stairs.
II suppose" he began, when he had
followed her into her office, that 1t
did seem rather abrupt for me to leave
without saying anything about it." He
looked at Dorothys gentle eyes and
caught the CULVER that passed over the
pretty lips. "You did miss me little,
Dorothy, didn't you, for all your suf-
frage and mass meetings and tea par
ties:'
Dorothy, I'm in love with you" he
said rather dejectedly. There's no use
talking about 1t, suppose. should
have confessed it from the first. 1t
wasn't that wasn't willing, simply
thought that I couldn't. I'm not cut
out for that sort Of things, that's all.
And even If I could manage" he went
on with excitement, 1T would seem
positively weak minded for a man with
my prospects
Dorothy's face was flushed and her
voice was trembling II don't see why
it would be weak-minded. never
heard any one speak that way before.
It wasn't weak-minded for you to
stand hours of the day here, wasting
your time and mine"
ooh. but that was different, Doro-
thy" said the young man 1mpatiently
Don't you understand? I'd do almost
anything for you-anything but that
Robert sat for few minutes In de-
lection at Dorothy's side, watching
her fingers as they tried nervously to
address the pile Of envelopes that
lay before her. Then he rose and
came to her. eve got to do It," he
said very solemnly. II don't know how
I can, but I'll manage somehow. I'll
make any sort OF fool Of myself you
want me to, so long as you will marry
me. Dorothy. we we're made for each
other from the beginning of time and
there's no use trying to get away from
It,"
Dorothy had given a little gasp and
now turned to look at the unhappy
man beside her. II don't see why you
need to make fool Of yourself Rob.
ert, or why it is any disgrace to want
TOTO marry me"
ooh, 1t isn't just marrying suf-
fragist. it's the other part-having to
give up my career and 60 into politics
and fight for a cause don't care about.
It's that, Dorothy. It seems as II sim.
ply couldn't; but suppose that's the
penalty have got to pay, II you'll let
NE"
''Why, 1 don't see what you mean
said Dorothy with tears in her eyes.
II think you are making fun Of me"
Robert had taken well-worn pam
phlet from his pocket and handed It
to the girl. Here 1t is he said,
pointing to a clause in heavy print.
ats that blessed pledge Of yours. It
has kept me awake nights for the last
month. It's the pamphlet you gave me
the first time ever came into this
ROOM"
Dorothy read with tears still shining
in her eyes: "The members Of this
.o~so&,, II ordor IN hr}nc about the