Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-02-16
Eve,,i;ng Story.
WHEN A SAINT INTERVIEWED.
BY Susanna Glenn.
Copyright, 1911, by the Associated
3. Literary Press).

copyright, I'LL, Dy the AssOclateu
Literary Press.
miss Janet has been down to get
her valentines" giggled Flossie Brown,
peeping out at the trim figure hurrying
past. u 4. ..s
'.Flossie Brown will be making fun
because went to the postof1ce to-
day." murmured Miss Janet to her
self, seeing the saucy, peering face,
.'but don't care! I Just had to 60!
Now IL | can get home without seeing
him!"
But behind her sharp steps crushed
the snow and rang clearly on the
crisp air, and moment later James
Vibrant hurried past her with
averted face. Had he, too, been look
ing for valentine?
Poor Miss Janet shrank away from
him in the dull February twilight
like a guilty thing. Yet she had not
the faintest idea what had changed
the mans loverlike attentions to an
emnity of ten weary years duration.
And it happened on Saint Valen-
tines day.
II was quite young and pretty,
then" she murmured, little pa
thetically, 'and now I'm just Aunt
Janet an undesirable but rather con-
venient member of some one else's
family
Tears sprang to her eyes, and her
lips quivered.
81 don't care II do cry. should
think might have that privilege
once in while, and there Is never
time at home"
MISS Janet found no privacy In her
brothers family. All day there We're
never ending duties for her willing
hands, and at night there was always
the oldest niece, whom she had pity
ingly taken in when the second baby
came, and who now began to look
upon Aunt Janet as an unnecessary
adjutant to their room.
Ten years, and 1t. seemed like yes
terday, SO close had she held the
memory. Her heart hurried little
and her thin cheeks flushed as she
saw again the happy girl in her pink,
frilly frock who waited in the little
parlor for the man who had even now
passed her with such sighting cold
ness
How carefully he once had wrapped
her in the warm robes. How he had
cared for her with the tender atten-
items dear ito woman's heart before
all the young people gathered at the
rustic party, How his voice had
thrilled as he babe her good night
under the blinking stars.
Tomorrow is Saint Valentines
day. he had reminded her. "You
needn't send me valentine, dear;
I'll come after it myself"
''And he never came! He never
camel" Miss Janet now sobbed out
right
Il will not think Of it, she cried
with sudden vehemance. I'll
never be such poor, wee sc as
to go for the mail on Val. > day
again! I'll just hurry home and go to
work. No one seems to want me.
But will not be silly, self plying
creature another day OF my life!"
James Wybrant threw his mail upon
the living room table with a defiant
fling. The daily paper, farm jour
nal and an advertisement for station
airy gasoline engines.
well, what did you expect?" he
demanded harshly.
Drawing a chair before the fire. ne
sat down mcodily to await his house
keepers call to supper.
"You have been insufferatly rude"
urged the gentle spirit of the man In
sistently, "and she looks thin and
worn and tired
"But she prefers this life to me"
WHISPERED Pride. 'ohe did her own
choosing"
Still, she was only girl-she
may have changed her, mind"
"she shall live by her own de.
cision, !, flared Pride, "and--so shall |! !"
"But will not live happily--there al
ways will be the regret, and her un-
happiness before YOU"
"Then," cried James Wybrant aloud,
"I'll 20 where can live in peace!'
All through his silent meal his
mind was at work.
He would 60 to his brother, who
was always begging him to come
south, A neighborlng farmer would
gladly rent his land, and the old
housekeeper could live on in the
house as long as she desired.
"Tll see Fred Hall tomorrow
morning about the place." he thought,
once more back in the lonely living
room. CPL get away as soon as
can't will be better for both of US! :"
He opened the big old fashioned
secretary. Every compartment was
crowded with the accumulation OF
years. From an upper and seldom
used pigeon hole he drew q bundle
of letter and spread them out before
him on the lid.
His heart gave quick throb as
he noticed a letter in Janet's delicate
writing; he reached for it eagerly,
and then dropped it into the waste
basket with shrug at his own weak
ness. There we're also letters from
his brother and a long envelope. into
which had been carelessly thrust
some printed papers. AS he drew
out these a letter fell from among
the sheets, face downwards on the
table. 1t was sealed and he turned
it over wonderfully.
On the face, in his own strong let
tiers. stood the name of Janet Bates!
Gazing at it, his eyes grew dark with
apprehension and hot wave seemed
to stop his heartbeats. His fingers
In