Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-08-15

before John. had come to call on ner;
then they had gone out into the bright
winter and down town for some tea
she was always kind to Lee; he
did nicely for company when John was
too busy to be with her. When they
reached the tea room and were seated
she remembered having queer, sink
ing feeling. She looked up and saw
who but John Morrison at little
table alone. He looked at her and
she smiled brightly. Then he rose and
walked over to her. She would never
forget his words:
Gust why did you come here?
"Why-because Lee asked me to-"
she had said.
Then John laughed strange little
laugh, and bowed to Lee.
"You are sure you didn't come be-
cause asked your" She thought It
must BE- one OF his jokes, and tried to
laugh.
came with Lee $500
John bowed again and walked away.
| 1t was queer, but after that he had
never come near her. She recalled the
awful sinking Of the heart, the wretch
ed days and nights that followed.
| Later, Nellie came to the door and
called her to dinner but she said she
| had a headache and would not go
down. The good little sister wanted to
come in but was not admitted. She
chatted moment, then called out:
sylvia got your coat out OF cold
storage with mine today-though you
might like to have it made over. It's
on your couch--look 1t over, and II
you don't want 1t fixed will have It
sent back Now go to sleep for your
poor head.
But Sylvia sprang up, turned on the
lights and dragged the fur coat rom
It's box. 1t smelled horribly Of moth
balls. And she both loved and hated
the sight of it-poor old coat! She
picked 1t up, put her cheek to 1t, ana
began to handle it.
Halt mechanically her hand slid into
an outside pocket-and touched some
thing stiff. Wondering, she drew out
an envelope. 1t was still white and
fresh, and-her heart stopped. 1t was
addressed to her, and-in Johns bold
handwriting. Still as In dream, she
tore it open and stood reading, while
a food OF warm Joy came over her.
Oh. he had-he had loved her--even
though 1t was too late now! She saw
why he had never come to her again,
why he had acted 80 Queerly at the
tea room She saw 1t all She could
not cease reading the letter:
dearest Sylvia
you're always so surrounded that
l, can't get word with you, SO am
writing how love you. ! have loved
you from the first minute, believe.
/ 1t takes few words to tell the real
thing. But love you. am rushed to
death at the office, but II you can care.
IL you do care, come to the tea-room
and meet me tomorrow afternoon at
rthree, and / shall at least see you and
know, and be able to wait until can
get to you in the blessed evening.
Somehow do. feel that / am to be-
how happy! Will you come? Write me
note and say you will, but come any
way. John"
That was all. He had slipped 1t into
her pocket, sure that she would IND
it--and she never had.
After standing for a long while in
the glazing light, a sort OF cold white
decision CHLuS ,OtCI Llo Bill. IL woSS
| too late now. but anyhow John Nor
trison should not think her guilty OF
such feartlessness as she had ap-
peared to show. She would write a
note to him. She sat down and wrote:
Dear john
an looking over my old fur coat I
just found the letter you wrote me
last March had not seen 1t before.
l know you will believe me and for
give me. BY tomorrow / shall have
promised to marry Lee Stevens. Syl-
via Morrison"
1t was horrid note, but she could
not help it. 1t was bare truth. Il
killed her pride to write 1t at all, but
he should know how 1t was He
should not think she still cared, but
he should know that she had been
fair. She finished the note, sealed 1t.
and slipped down into the twilight and
found boy who gladly ran the dozen
blocks to Johns house for the dollar
she offered
| Then she went upstairs again wear.
| lily and turned out the liahts. She la.
! face down on the couch, rumpling he