Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-10-01

say. thinking H0T OuI VI Ac0i AAS, shsSe
she didn't know how to talk to q man
even and never went anywhere.
tIt's. pretty tonight, isn't It? But
It's almost prettier out Of doors than
in, don't you think?" She raised her
eyes for shy glance at the face or
the young man. How could she know
that his silence was hope that the
gentle voice would continue it's un-
wonted speech. II like outdoors" she
went on. Before we came here, and
mother was living, we had q little
place almost in the country, and I had
some flower beds and chickens, and
lust did the work at home. I liked
that better than being indoors"
He began to draw her on to talk.
You're. right he answered. i've
got little place myself at the edge
Of town. and when I'm not building
at somebody elses house I tinker at
mine. My sisters coming on from
Chicago to keep house for me-if she
doesn't get married before she starts
she's such favorite. Not that she
likes housekeeping much
IT do" she said II keep Sis and
Jimmy in school--Im bound they
shall know more than l do. Mother
wanted me to go. to high school-but
she died.
She smiled wistfully, but the smile
touched the mans heart more than
tears would have done. And then no
realized that the dance he had asked
for was almost over. He jumped to
his feet apologizing. "But It's your
own fault, for talking to me-any-
body would have forgotten he
said, and then they swung into the
waltz.
He would not have supposed the
girl could. dance like a feather, but
she did-it was like instinct-she was
grace and lightness itself. As they
swung and swayed past corner they
almost ran into Name, who glanced
at the girl in surprise. Then she re-
membered what she had said about
Rose and tossed her head. she
laughed up at her partner of the mo-
ment.
"Say," she said, 'if you want to
,, make a fellow crazy about a girl, no
matter how homely and raw she IS,
tell him she likes to keep house!
Look at John Clifford and Rose
Shaw" :,
Didn't know you liked Rose well
enough to do her good turn" SAID
the man, dapper young stone
mason.
Name shrugged her shoulders, In
wardly calling herself fool. At the
end of the waltz she saw the two
slip out of the pavilion into the moon
| lit paths of the park.
wouldn't that-beat you?" she re-
marked to Sadie Dickson. Rose
Shaw came here and sat against the
| wall and looked at her hands and did
nothing-and walks off with John Gil.
ford. | bet she's sly mink, for all
she acts SO mouse like at work!
watch me take it out of her tomor.
row!"
Meantime Rose. lost in a dream OF
shy wonderment, was walking with
John Clifford the mile to her bare
tenement home. :.
The next day Name and Sadie
indeed took it out" of her; they
made life unbearable to the girl, but
she paid no attention to them out.
wardly. But at night, In her own
| room. she sobbed herself to sleep
She knew that never again could she
be unconscious with John Clifford =
| these girls with their rough tongues,
had spoiled everything.
"A few evenings later when she was
| walking home and he, waiting pur'
posely, waylaid and went home with
her. she hardly spoke to hiW. How
could she. accused as she was OF
angling for him?
That night the young man lay
awake some hours deciding whether
the girl was simply shy or whether
he had offended her. The next even
ing he walked straight to her house
| asked her father at the door LOT mel
and was sent to the kitchen.
| In her blue calico dress, she was
clearing away the supper things and
advising CHS on her arithmetic lesson
Here, in her own castle, she was more
unavoidable. She talked little and
he made friends with twelve-year-old
Jimmy, laid upon the lounge with a
cut foot. Then the father came IN
with his pipe and chatted, finally
going IN to bed at an hour unbel1ev
ably early. Clifford rose to go, but
as he took his hat he said to the
girl:
II came out to ask If have Of
Tended you in any way. Have l!
You hardly spoke to me last night
! and if have done anything I'm
sorry"
To his surprise the girl lost he1
serenity and blushed crimson, fidget
ing with her apron. but he waited
for an answer.
"No-of course you haven't" she
said only wish you wouldn't
talk to me or walk home with me =
when the mill girls are about.
can't stand-their talk, l" She paused
| frightened that she had spoken SC
plainly.
] Surprise, a desire to laugh, then 9
| sort of reverence came into the mans
mind. He was vain enough to know
that most girls he knew were only
too willing to be seen with him. This
was something new and sweet and
| genuine. He would have liked tc
kiss her as she stood looking slyly
at him, but he said good night and
went home.