Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-07-09

for a foreigner" hazarded Mrs. Cal.
houn, because she did not agree with
her daughter in her low estimate Of
his histrionic ability and knew that
Angie was not in the mood to be COM
batted successfully.
He's perfectly horrid" declared
the girl with an emphasis that made
her mother shiver. "They all are!"
Then why don't we go back to
Alabama by the first train?" walled
the perplexed woman helplessly.
AS If in immediate answer to her
question, Mr.. Godfrey Martin was
announced.
Are you going to see him?", Mrs.
Calhound asked in whisper.
Certainly not. Say that we are at
breakfast"
Nobody ever breakfasts at this
hour in Talladega. He'll think 1T
mighty strange"
81 don't see why we should be re-
sponsible for that. He might have
avoided the difficulty by remaining in
Talledega."
"You may be sure that it's some.
thing unusual that's brought him 10
New York." said Mrs. Calhoun, with
a puzzled look on her fair face.
"Oh,, If you have the slightest curl
osity to know what brings him, bet
ter have him come up That break
fast Jacket of yours is altogether too
becoming not to have some on see
it. III disappear into my room. Tell
him I'm well. dressing for re-
hearsal"
The girl rose and with few deft
touches piled the breakfast things on
tray, her mother half protesting,
half acquiescing. Almost coincident-
al with her exit, tray in hand, from
one door, was the entrance Of MI.
Godfrey Martin at another.
He was a favorite with Mrs. Cal
houn, and his reception was most
cordial. The little woman made no
attempt to conceal her delight at see
ing some one from home and had so
many questions to ask him concern
ing local happenings that the young
fellow, who essayed courteously to
answer them, had little room for con-
straint. At the first opportunity he
asked after Angela Because she
would have preferred to speak openly,
and even more especially because she
knew that from her room, only sep
arated from them by drawn curtain,
her daughter was more or less In
terested listener. Mrs. Calhoun as
sured him that Angela was as ever.
II saw her last night-at the thea
tre," he said soberly, "And IL fan
cied-"
"And you were there!" she inter
rupted eagerly. TELL me what you
thought of her. Isn't she splendid?"
He hesitated so long that she mis-
took his silence for disagreement.
The possibility almost angered her
and she drew herself up prepared to
defend her opinion to the very last.
ooh, perhaps" she began loftily.
Pardon me, dear Mrs. Calhoun"
he interrupted hastily. "She Is in
deed splendid. Under any circum-
stances whatever she is that. That I
would have admitted before you left
Alabama l saw her act last night
and now am ready to pronounce
her magnificent. Did she tell you
that our unfortupate--ah-a h-dis-
agreement came from my absurd I'M
belief in her dramatic ability? Think
Of it; /. Godfrey Martin, tried to con-
vince her that she could not act. Do
you wonder that she broke with me?"
did she-iust for that?"
"How could she help it, dear little
grill" he went on, passionately. ri
was an idiot and shall never go back
to Talladega until ! have the chance
to call myself an idiot in her pres
ence. have lost her. but don't iu-
tend to deny myself that final pleas
ure. When shall have the oppor-
tunity?"
Before Mrs. Calhoun could frame q
reply Angie emerged suddenly and
stood against the crimson BACKGROUND
of the curtain. Her face was flushed
and tear-stained, but she was smiling
radiant1y.
"You shall never have the opportun-
ity if can prevent it, she said.
The bell interrupted noisily and
Mr.. Goldsmith was announced.
"Please attend to him, momsey,"
said Angie, with admirable presence
of mind" and tell him there will be-
no contract"