Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-11-03
THE EVENING STORY.
MISS sREJETrA's HALLOWEEN.
BY SUSANNA CLIENT
Copyright, 1910, by Associated Liter
arv Press M

copyright, 1910, by Associated Liter
airy Press.)
Miss Brejetta." called Squire
Brown, reckoning to the trim little fig-
ure passing the gate. Miss Brejetta,
hadn't you better decide to take the
school again after Christmas? The new
teacher doesn't seem to give satisfac-
ton. some way, and the folks are all
asking for you You'd better say now
that you will take 1t and have that over
with
WELL" answered Miss Brejetta, hes
itating, maybe will, Squire Brown.
I'll think it over"
AS Miss Brejetta walked homeward
over the sunburned grass and under
the crimsoning naples her thoughts
were busy. Yes, she would doubtless
be better with the school to look after
than she was alone in her quiet cot
tage. It had seemed at first when
her mother left her that she could
never stand the loneliness of coming
home every night to the empty house.
But now she was beginning to think
that she could not endure the lonely
aimlessness Of these uninterrupted
days and nights Tears dripped over
Miss Brejetta's delicate, spirited face
In q way never guessed at by her
friends.
From his vine covered porch Richard
Dayton, her lifelong friend and near
est neighbor, watched her approach
with the tender interest he felt in all
her doings. How dainty and sweet she
looked; so frail and incompetent, yet
SO supremely self-suficient! Almost as
far back as he could remember he had
longed to care for her, to let his love
show itself, yet never in any smallest
way had she allowed him to serve or
approach her.
This strong man, capable Of max
ing the world yield him his honest
rights, stood irresolute and defeated
before the sprightly indifference OF
this pretty but Independent woman
Unwilling to allow her to pass
without word, the man sauntered
to his own front gate in time to in.
tercept her. And Miss Brejetta, see
ing him approach, dried her eyes
covertly, while there was little
sharpness with which she always
treated him, born Of her fear lest he
should see upon her face traces OF
her recent weakness.
"Just been pulling my last beans
remarked Dayton, displaying his
earth-stained hands smilingly. won't
you let me fix yours for you this
evening, Miss Brejetta?''
He glanced over the dividing fence
at his neiphbOr's garden.
Indeed no, thank you" refused
Miss Brejetta emphatically; II shall
enjoy doing them myself! 1t is just
play to care for that tiny garden, and
It gives me something to be interested
in, you know
1T must be lonely for you now"
remarked the man with solicitude
that made Miss Brejetta stiffen with
resentment "Do you never feel ner-.
vous at night all alone in the house?".
why should I be afraid? And,
besides, Mr.. Dayton, what cannot be
the world and so must make the best.
Of It,"
Dayton longed with his whole heart
to tell her of solution to her diff
culties that would bring her a de-
voted protector, but the tilt of her
pretty head warned him to desist,
and he merely suggested lamely.
you know my housekeeper would
be glad to 60 over and sleep in the
house, and 1 really think you ought
to have her, Miss Brejetta, with 81
many tramps as there are about just
now Won't you let her come toright
anyway? The boys will be playing
pronks that may be unpleasant for
you"
Miss Brejetta smiled serenely and
exasperatingly into his pleading face.
.'The boys will do nothing to anoy
me, am sure, sMr. Dayton" she re.
marked, pressing on to her own gate.
But when her own front door had
been closed with quiet precision Miss
Brejetta's calmness vanished and she.
flung herself with angry and undig-
nified haste into an easy chair.
81 wish he would stop it." she cried
stormily Il will not have him plying
me and looking after me all the time!
Now shall have to gather those hor-
rid beans or he will never cease poster
ing me about them! can Just imagine
the remarks that would be made in.
this town If | allowed him to make my
garden!"
And Miss Brejetta, having eaten a
hasty supper, pinned up her spotless
linen skirt. put on her stoutest garden
gloves and, inwardly consumed with
wrath, sought her diminutive beall
patch.
81 had better get it done with" she
whispered tc herself after the fashion
Of lonely people, because it will be
too victim the morning and too warm
during the day. But it Just makes.
me furious to be breaking my back
out here when l haven't even cut the
leaves of that new magazine yet"
The sunbaked earth seemed loath
to part with the vines it had SO care
fully nurtured through long months,
and Miss Brejetta's strength was not
great. Her own cozy piazza beck
oned enticingly, but the CLEAN Of
cigar end on the neighboring porch
I, clJ hors4o bor zoe taj +