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

lance.
ooh, VIM" cried Katherine, more IL
establishment, he thought, than IL
pleasure. She quickly rose to the oc
casion presenting him to her aunt ant
friends as, "The man from home"
! They were languidly and politely pat
ronizing. and Win replied in con
strained monosyllables to their over
lures. Katherine did not come to Iii
rescue, but addressed her converse
ton for the most part to the others
His call was not prolonged. When he
rose to depart, she went with him tc
the door.
Come again, Win--tomorrow," she
said in low tone.
But he went from the house to the
station and returned to college to
plunge deeper into the study of farm.
( Ing.
Soon, there came little note from
Katherine reproaching him for not
having called again. In his delayed
answer he made no reference to his
call. Their letters grew shorter and of
! less frequent duration until they
ceased altogether.
He returned home in time for spring
planting and sought solace In plow
and burrows. Katherine did not re-
turn until haying time. The next day
after her arrival there was country
picnic given to welcome her home.
Wins father, mother and sisters
went In the old carryall, waving a
merry though quizzical farewell to the
tall, 1.-THE young farmer standing alone
on the porch. He had offered as an
excuse for his non.attendance that he
feared he would not get his hay in
before It rained.
Rain out Of clear sky" scoffed
his sister.
THAT is when It is most liable to
come" he replied.
They all laughed as they drove
away, but the mother-heart was wise
and far-seeing. She gave yearning,
backward glance at her favorite child.
When they were out Of sight, he re-
turned to the field and worked dis
piritedly until he could endure no
longer the sweet memories that came
with the upturning of the new-mown
hay. He went back to the house, ate
the cold luncheon laid out for him.
and then sought his old retreat on the
river bank. How many battles he had
fought in this spot! How often had
Katherine come here with him and to
him! ...
He told himself fieroely that 1t was
time to crush out these old memories.
A soft footfall-he looked up and saw
her standing before him.
And If the rain should come" she
said archly, "out of clear, blue sky,
as it always does, what would become
of the hay?"
This is my noon hour. I was just
going back to the f1elds.' he said
lamely.
She sat down on the big stone where
she had been wont to sit. He made
swift, comprehensive survey Of her.
She looked younger than she had look
ed when he saw her in the city:
II came here she said, ''for a
glimpse of the old house."
This was the longest way to the
house. He advised her, If she had
come by the river, to row little farth-
er to the next bend where she could
have an unobstructed view.
"You seem anxious to be rid of me"
she said deprecatingly, but then you
always did prefer to be alone-in this
place." -
''You know better" he cried. You
know how we came here together, and
that Is why the place is so dear to me
or was until you went away and
changed everything" 90.
"Win," she said gently after mo-
ment's pause, lin the old days when
we came here, we never 0uarreled. II
there was q misunderstanding, we
talked 1t over"
Well" he said, the words coming
with an effort, what is your side?"
win, do you remember, I wonder,
what friends we we're, and how told
you over and over that this visit of
mine was to make no difference In me
lin u.s." -. ,.-
Yes, I remember" he admitted sui
lenly.
when came home last night I
looked in vain for you. Everyone l
used to know came to my picnic save
you-you who stayed at home to get
in hay!' Do you think that was nice "
His lips made straight line. rs
It my turn now?" he asked.
Just one question, Win: why didn't
you come to see me last winter IN the
city,"
Then you have forgotten that did
CALI" ..- ........ ...
THAT CALI! she said disdainfully.
"In drawing room filled with arti-
fetal people, and my aunt burning with
curiosity to learn our relations, and
every one watching. Did that count?
That was why asked you to come
again when we would be alone"
His mask of constraint lifted.
"Oh, mol" she cried at the thought
in his eyes. "You couldn't have
thought that! That had forgotten
that | didn't care! How could I be
natural before them all! l was over
come by the thought of old times when
you appeared so unexpectedly and l
was scarcely conscious what l said. l
thought you understood and would call
again. was afraid l would let them
all see that"
His heart was doubling in its beats,
his thoughts running riot.
you say, Kathie-you would let
them all know-what, dear?'
"Win," she said TREMENDOUSLY, you
must not make me say it first"