Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-07-18
know said Amy.
coming here for "
But what's she

know" said Amy, but what's she
coming here for #
Visiting, I suppose" said Gerald.
Eve used to fight when we were lit
tie tots. Gerald, and haven't seen her
since and" She was going to add.
II don't want to-" but Gerald was out
Of hearing. He had run down the
steps and to the outer gate to open It.
Amy watched them from her ham
mock. She sat very stir now and her
eyes never left that rose-colored dream
who had held Gerald's hand so long in
greeting.
She watched them pause before they
reached the house. They spoke In
confidential tones.
Amy" said Gerald, when at last
they reached her side, you remember
Annabel Leighton?"
But Annabel broke in effusively.
I'VE were great friends, Amy dear,
when We wore our hair in pig tails
and sat in the front seat In school,"
1T was long ago." said Amy, but she
added Hospitality II weakly, won't you
come in?"
Thank you. no." said Annabel,
lets sit here
She looked at Gerald and Amy sank
back In her hammock. She knew she
was staring rudely at the visitor but
she could not figure it all out. Why
did Annabel, whose parents had moved
away when she was little girl, come
to see her on her first return? She
had heard that Annabel was living in
Boston. A vague rumor had said she
was on the stage. That very morning
she had heard that Annabel was ex-
pected today at her parents home.
The more she thought of it the more
bewildering 1t all was. Annabel her
self was bewildering to look at and her
clothes were wonderful The conversa-
ton went on without her and Amy
realized that she was unnoticed in the
presence of so much splendor.
II must 60 and help mother" she
said, rising.
you are busy Amy" said Annabel
without protest.
Amy hesitated moment, but Ger
aid was deep in conversation and did
not notice when she left the porch.
With flushed cheeks and quivering lips
she went to her own room and locked
the door.
."She did not come to see me-" said
Amy to herself. TITS Gerald, and he
never noticed when left" The tears
would come and she lay down on her
bed and had a good cry. Then her head
began to ache and she got up and sat
down in chair. It had grown dark
but she would not make a light Pres
emily through the open window she
heard their voices, not distinctly, for
they were talking again in confidential
tones. Amy felt her cheeks burn like
fire.
IT think it will come out all right"
Gerald voice came clearly to her ears.
What were they plotting there before
her very eyes?
eyes, you predicted that in Boston, y
said Annabel, and Amy almost
screamed.
They had met then in Boston. This
solved part of the mystery. This was
the reason she had come and through
all her own misery and self pity she
felt a burning contempt for the girl.
Zone more sentence burned itself
into her heart as she sat at the win
dow, her fearful eyes staring out into
the night, Annabel's soft voice reached
her on the evening air. Love is the
only thing in the world that matters,
Gerald" Annabel was saying.
After that their voices grew lower
still and later her mothers voice
called her from her room. Amy would
not answer and after while she saw
them both go slowly down the path,
Annabel's roses nodding in the breeze.
The next afternoon Farmer Crosby
himself saw Gerald leaving the Leigh
ton home That night he called on
Amy and she refused to see him. After
that on several occasions Gossip told
the same story. He had been seen
with Annabel but the worst was that
Annabel would see no one else. There
was mystery in her visit to her child
hoods home, said Gossip, but to Amy
1t was all as clear as day.
She returned to Gerald the engage
ment ring; she sent back his letters
unopened and steadfastly refused to
see him. It was a month of torture but
she tried to face her duty bravely. To-
day she brought her book out to the
back orchard, sat down under tree
and tried to read. The sun was going
down and the words were jumping
in understandable fashion when she
looked up and saw him coming. In an
other moment she would have been
safe beyond his reach but he caught
her Just in time.
''This won't do. Amy" Geralds
words were brave. but he nearly
uuailed before the look of scorn in
her eyes
"Why do you come here?" the angry
voice was cutting and she held her
head high.
what is the matter. dear?"
"Stop. won't be second fiddle. Ger
aid Blake, am through with You. Let
me 60"
"If you mean Annabel-"
81 don't care anything about Anna
bel" said Amy scornfully. "A girl
Who"
Gerald understood Eyes, she did
come here to see me- he said. "but
it was necessary. Now listen. Amy.
II will not stormed Amy. "You
met her in the east and her eyes
blazed as she thought Of his deceit.
EYES," he answered.
"She arrived here and came straight
RI nv home tn see yOu YOu did not