Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-08-03

He was only twenty-one, but no nad
a mans discernment OF a woman
need Of protection.
"You oughtn't to be running around
these streets Alone" he said eravely;
you'd better let me take you Dack 10
your boarding house right now.
1T is not q clearinghouse" she an
formed him. II Just have room there
and take my meals out"
"Have you had your dinner!" no de-
manded.
She flushed. MO-" she STAN
mered.
"You come right In ana have some
thing to eat" he commanded.
She would let Billy order nothing
for her but q glass of milk and some
crusty rolls He urged upon her
more elaborate feast, but her indepen-
dence made 1t impossible for her to
accept too much Of the boy who had
been only a casual acquaintance in her
home town.
what are you doing?" she asked
him. He had fairly good position In
the packing department OF big store.
Some day. want to go back home
and have store Of my own" he SAID.
81 don't care much about living IN the
city"
ut would be lovely here II only
had money" Virginia said, but Billy
shook his head.
at amt any place for people like US.
We, are better off in small places.
Virginia did not dare tell him how
homesick she had been.
&c! have just got to find work. she
said desperately. Then her eyes bright
ened. II believe you have brought me
luck" she exclaimed. 81
How" Billy demanded.
She pointed to a sign on the wall
Waitress wanted
Billy. remembering her refined home
surroundings. expostulated. "Oh, you
wouldn't take position here, would
you
But she did take it. There was
head waiter, young man OF some.
what sporty appearance. who passed
her on. when she questioned him. to
the woman at the desk. Arrangements
were made for Virginia to come the
next morning, so Billy took her mono
promising to see her soon.
Every day after that he sat at the
table where she served, and every day
he begged her to let him write to MS
people and make arrangements TOR her
to 20 home "It makes me sick TO see
you working here he said. .'
ut needn't" she told him. I'VE get
good things to eat, and have COM
Portable room, and tomorrow l am
goingjto buy myself a new dress and
a hat.
She hoped when she told him that,
that he would ask her to go out with
him to the theater or to some OF the
restaurants where some of the other
girls went.
But he did not do anything so daz-
zline. He blushed and whispered, "Will
YOU walk in the park with me on sun"
day
She consented, wondering II ne
were stingy. He surely made as much
money as the head.waiter who invited
her to 20 with him on Saturday night
to see play at nearby theater.
This was the kind of invitation she
crayed and she accepted gladly.
On their way to the theater they
nassed Billy Locke. He bowed. and
Virginia saw the establishment In his
eyes. Serves him right for not tax
ing me himself" was her thought as
she tossed her head, but all the even
Ing his miserable face haunted her.
The head-waiter proved to be poor
company. He was not in Virginia,s
class and his conversation was limited
Virginia. however. made another
enga cement with him for the follow
ing Saturday. and the next day when
she went with Billy Locke to the park,
she told him OF It.
Hes awfully nice. he is so geren-
ous.' was her statement.
Perhaps he's generous. poor Billy
said. "because he hasn't anything
ahead of him to save for
81 should think man who cared
for girl would want to give her
good time" said Virginia.
For moment Billy was silent. Then
he faced her. "Look here. Virginia"
he said, II want to take you back
home and put you in little house OF
your own, and care for you Sr the
rest Of your life. And / cant 40 1t II
spend money on you now. | cannot
bear to see you in a place that you
don't belong. like that lunchroom. 1t
is not the place for lady. like you,
and that head waiter Is not gentle
man. don't think you ought to go
with him. Virginia"
He spoke with vehemence that as
tonished Virginia. She had not dream
ed that Billy had it in him. why
Billy Locke" she gasped, II didn't sup
pose you thought about me that way.
well I do said Billy, earnestly,
81 love you. and want to marry you.
Virginia, and by fall shall have
enough to take lis both back where we
want to be. Will you wait till then,
Virginia?
She hesitated. "Oh, can't say what
/ will do right now, Billy
She thought it over and the vision OF
the little home among the lilacs came
to her when, on the hot days, sne
served luncheons to ravenous popu-
lace.
In vain did the head-waiter whisper
in her ears dreams Of future delights.
What had he to offer her that could