Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-12-01
lille Lane told me-


fully herself; have you ever seen her
miniatures?' s
NO." Grace answered coldly.
"She is a wonder" Jack stated
Some day she is going to be great,
and we'll be proud to know her"
81 don't see anything very wonder.
full about Lille" Grace remarked,
land she certainly isn't pretty"
ooh, beauty. Jack shrugged his
shoulders, doesn't count much in
these days" .
Grace looked at him startled. That
was a new point OF view.
What does count she demanded.
.sOh, brains, personality, charm"
he said, picking up his brushes.
Lille Lane has all Of these. l think
she lis not appreciated in our town,
however"
Perhaps not" Grace admitted.
duly. She felt miserable. She did
not know what was the matter with
her except that her world was upside
down.
Jack continued to work In silence,
and presently Grace said: Perhaps
had better go away; you're busy"
4 Perhaps you had" was his dis
couraging statement.
& She stood up disconsolately. ~
see,' she said somewhat timidly. II
wish that there was something I
could do that was worth while
For the flrst time he turned and
looked at her with interest. There
are lots OF things" he said, briskly.
"sYou ought to be able to take up.
music or singing 1t seems to me
that you have some talent in that
line"
Some talent! Grace had prided her.
self on her nice voice 1t was not q
big voice, but she had been able to
charm her followers and that was
all she cared.
But this man demanded something
more Of her. She said good-by, and
went away slowly, unaware that his
eyes followed her, and that little
smile dawned in them.
The next day she sought out Lille
Lane.
Lille she said, you seem to
make life worth living-tell me what
I can do" 8
Lille was enthusiastic and while
she talked Of her painting Grace was
forced to admit that the dark little
girl had much of charm in manner
and face
II mo wonder Jack Martin loves
her. she thought. "she is just
sweet"
" Lille was great help to Grace.
She showed he spolled beauty that
there were other things In the world
besides admiration and adulation.
"It was Jack Martin who has made
me see the beauty of doing my best"
Lille confided to her friend on one
occasion. II can never thank him
enough"
I 1T was Jack Martin who made me
see It," Grace faltered. "but he isn't
my friend as he is yours, Lille
\. "Why, he u.s. lille said HE
thinks you are perfectly lovely"
+ Grace looked at her, tewildered.
II don't believe he. ever thinks Of
Il well, he talks about you lot"
Lille stated, but Grace wouldn't be
convinced. For SO many months she
had suffered from his Indifference
and criticism that she had no vanity
LEFT, andA-it was Lille be cared for.
Therefore, when Lille came to her
with q ring on her third finger and
said, 81 have secret to- tell you.
Grace felt her heart grow cold within
her. but she answered calmy:
" II think ] know your secret" you're
going to be married"
"But how did you know 2 Lille
asked. II thought no one had heard
of 1t but Jack Martin"
"Of course he knew It," said Grace.
".Yes,' said Lille, II told him first.
he was chum of Bob's at college.
'Bob?' Graces voice expressed
establishment. WHY thought you
were engaged to jack"
ooh! you silly. Jack was nice to
me because Of Bob, and because we
both paint, that's all
It.. seemed to Grace that the world
took on new radiance. Perhaps,
oh, perhaps. If she tried she might
make him like her little.
The next morning, she saw him at
dawn, His picture was almost fin
ished, and as she came up to him, he
said:
LET me show it to you"
1t was just an expanse OF sea lighted
up by the rosiness Of the rising sun.
Glow lovely 1t is," Grace said,
softly. How beautiful
Then she looked up at him. yet
you said that beauty didn't count
much"
Il said in a woman" Jack cor
rected.
Then as he looked down at her he
spoke with some hesitation, But
your beauty does count, Grace"
"Oh!" she said breathlessly, "do
you really think so?"
AZ know it," he said, s'but there Is
new quality to it of late; you seem
sweeter and nearer to me-"
She had nothing to answer to that,
and he went on slowly, For long
time you seemed so far away, you
seemed to think Of nothing but hav-
ingaa good time, and life to me has
been serious thing, but now, some
how, feel that we have more in
common
They had long talk after that, and
while Jack said nothing Of love, there
was much in his manner OF Difference
and OF devotion.
And so it came about that in the
-. 3 -. - Il