Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-10-22
Ie was the only one / went to see at

n she naQ Deel very IaCCIuI aIIoT Cnc
first outburst Of enthusiasm over me
upon the witness stand; and as soon
as she understood how I hated and
couldn't endure any allusion to It. had
never mentioned 1t to me again, though
used sometimes to catch her looking
at me in a way which made me know
she WAS sympathetic and curious; and
that made bond between us.
/ was fond of the Fergusons' house
itself 1t had charming garden, plant
ed with roses, with big, blue Chinese
Jars at the elbows OF the paths and on
the porch, and a dear little upper bal
cony-just such one as Leonore
walks out upon in II which
overlooked the convent and It's gar
dens. Sitting there with Halle one late
afternoon, while sunlight was still
among the housetops. but with the con-
vent garden In shadow so deep 1t
looked like reflection in water, l
saw the procession Of nuns, slim, black
figures and bending heads, winding
slowly through it. The sight touched
me with very melancholy yet not
quite unhappy feeling.
What would you think, Halle
asked, .if / should become NM"
"A nun." Halle almost shrieked,
ellie Fenwick, what are you thinning
Of? Why, you would have to cut off all
your lovely hair!'
yes said, zone Of the sisters
there told me that she had hair as long
as mine when she was girl, and yet
she doesn't look unhappy now. And
then everything is SO peaceful over
there the garden is so quiet, and they
are SO calm. think should love to-;
and oh, dear. Halle. you don't know!
/ am very unhappy"
Halle put her arm around me and
said firmly, "You will do no such ching!
You will come to Estrella's party to-
night and forget all about converts
and such hateful things. OF course |
know what the matter is; and It's very
lovely and awfully romantic, but really
I'm afraid that he is quite gone. dear.
Don't you think you could think OF
some one else?"
said couldn't bear to, that i didn't
want to go to Estrella's party, that !
hated the thought Of the people would
have to meet. But Halle can be very
persuading and when left her my
resolution had weakened considerably.
''Why not go?''I argued with myself
on my way home Fl will have to begin
this sort Of thing again metime-tha
is, supposing don't go into the con
vent. and L am afraid father wouldn
like me to do that.aAt least while / am
making up my mind about It anything
will be better than brooding over this
thing, which cant help" m
When reached homefI felt restless
and the house seemed Gerry small.
Rather difidently preached the sub
ject of Estrella's ball to father; but he
was quite delighted.
Excellent he said, hurried of a
boy to the Mendez house with word
that was coming, sent out for flowers
and made lovely little fuss about me.
Fl tried to make myself look as pretty
as possible in pale tulle, with little
rosy wreaths upon it, and the high old
tortoise shell comb that had been
mothers, in my hair. The excitement
gave me more color than had had
for weeks. thought, Even if am not
happy, at least can be excited.
Father looked so tired that when he
left me at the Mendez house asked
why need he come back for me, why
not just send the carriage. He wouldn I
hear Of that, and then Sonora Mendez
said why shouldn't / stay at their house
all night? So it was agreed, and Els
trella, looking like a little dancer in
yellow gown sown with twinkling
spangles, came running and hurried
me upstairs to take off my cloak.
The ball was a large one-one Of
those affairs that is so big it makes
you feel lost. danced, danced madly;
but a. forloTn conviction kept growing
on me that I did not have that same
joyful feeling that could dance on air
which other parties had brought me.
Every young man who looked at me
was not possible sweetheart, yet
more looked at me than ever did be
FORE had a little crowd around me,
and lots Of pretty things were said to
me. and was not so afraid to reply as
/ had been. When Senior Mendez, Els.
trella's father, who is fat, but dances
like thistledown, took me for turn
around the room, "You are having
quite a success, Ell, my child?" he said.
"The young men are beginning to
wake up. You are coming out.
- i nat WIS all tStIy plSdSlH5 tauu ny
wits were never any too sharp at a
dance, being in dreamy and delicious
state Of obedience to the music and
the swimming atmosphere, so that
did not keenly take note OF why Laura
Burnet did not return my bow. Jack
Tracy took me in to supper and fused
until he found seats for us in the big
hall beyond the supper room. 1t ap.
peared he wanted to propose to me
again: and as / was ready for any.
thing as far as only making proposals
went, did not try to stop him. Be
hind us curtain hung. the only thing
between us and the ball room, but the
orchestra was still playing softly and
there was hardly any one in that room,
so I thought no one could overhear us.
In the midst OF 1t, Aleppo Mendez
put his head in the door and asked
what had Jack done with his partners
program? Jack. not discovering 1t in
his pocket, very much vexed at being
interrupted, went to look for 1t with
Aleppo in the sitting room. and I was
left alone.
For few moments sat listening to
the music. Then this ended with soft