Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-03-25

1ACA SAe dropped OaCk lAIO AoA SAA
for another head appeared-an en-.
chanting bronze-brown coiffured head
banded with black ribbon.
Yes, please come up" supplement-
ed the little widow.
Mary shrugged her shoulders. Too
hot. I'm going upstairs and cool
on"
Still smiling she found her way
to her little room and threw her
self face downward on the bed and
wept. And the reason for her weep
ing was this: When the little widow
had leaned forward over the pal
|cony she wore in the front OF her
black gown white flower, that Mary
had stuck that morning in Bobble
Howell's buttonhole.
When the slippers and the tennis
sneaks came down the stairs the
white flower was in the lady's hand.
please take 1t" she said, and held
it out to him.
"Why?"
Because you had no right to give
1t to me. And had no right to
take it. But this must be my ,ex-
cuse, that l did not know then that
lit would hurt someone else. But l
know now"
How do you know"
"Ah," her calm eye met his stead
lily, IT am a wise woman--I have
lived such long Uncertainties
"Not in years. doggedly
Perhaps not-but In experience.
And let me tell you this-that am
not the right woman for you, Bob
bic"
"You are. have told you SO q
dozen times. Since the night you
came have wanted no other"
"But that isn't love. You are
young, and you are proud to show
the major and the Judge and Teddy
Dudley that You can win me. You
like the chase. You like to be one
of the crowd which surrounds me
and so you think you like me
81 love YOU"
Tomorrow you will say that to
some one else. You are senti-
mental backslider, Bobbie. But let
me tell you this: The girl who gave
you the white flower is the right
woman. You will simply thwart des-
tiny II you give her up"
HOW uO yOu khOW
81 know It," her strong little hands
rested on the back of big chair.
She turned her wedding ring abb
sently
He noted the action, and he noted,
also, that while three years had gone
by since the death Of her husband,
that she still wore deep black.
Yet he ventured. Suppose De.
eide to make you the right woman, :
he said, masterfully.
"But you cannot. Fate decided
that for you. saw the love in that
little girls eyes when she looked up
at you. All women will not love you
like that
"Why not = he flared.
Perhaps you are not worth It,"
There was hint of scorn In her
voice. But she will always think
you are worth it,
= "Oh," impatiently; don't let's talk
of her! *Iwant to tell you things.
I want a little moment down on the
beach, all our owncome."
b She hesitated; then pinned on her
broad hat, and together they went
down the steps.
The beach was dotted with bathers.
SO that they skirted the edges OF
the crowd until they came to a little
pavilion that overlooked the sea.
A few gulls, posing on pointed wings
showed dark against q sapphire sky.
Far away on the horizon was a trail
OF smoke. i.
Her eyes followed it. Next week
shall go that way" she said. y
go! 7Where?"
ITO Rome-to Paris-anywhere to
get away"
From me?" triumphantly "Oh,
knew It," he caught at her fingers
and held them close, while from the
third one he slipped its encircling
golden band.
ooh" she tore herself from his
grasp, "how dare you? How dare
your
Let me put another there"
Her eyes were deep wells Of tears.
She covered her face with her hands,
and when at last she looked up at
him, he saw the sorrow Of the wife
who is widow indeed.
II loved my husband
He laid the ring upon her lap, and
stood irresolute, abashed by the dig
nifty of her grief.
II thought"
''You thought because was gay
and young, and did not wear my
heart upon my sleeve that had for
gotten. But" and her eyes looked
out across the sea, Il shall never for
get"
Thene,she smiled up at him sadly.
go back to her, Bobbie," she told
him, Ego back to the right woman,
and let her make man Of you. She
is sweet and good, and she believes in
you. And after while you will want
to live up to her belief, and then you
will reach your full stature. But T.
wouldn't believe in you, because /
don't love you. Ii loved my hus-
band-I adored him.
Out Of GREATNESS silence, he fall
tered, Forgive me"
She held out her hands to him.
Go back to her, Bobbie," she said,
again, Ego back to her-and thank
Cod
He gripped her hands in HIS.