Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-03-28
Eve,,;,,g Story
sERENA's HAPPY DAY.
BY VIRGINIA BLAIR.

said Serena. bz
From the couch her mother said
family, "They will miss their pretty
cottage"
"They are going to Europe" Serena
told her. .'When they get away l
shall 20 and look at their bungalow.
i've never seen inside"
Such people seem to have every
thing" she went on. Nov IL you
and / had such pretty place to live
we would be perfectly contented.'
Her mother smiled at her. II
think we are contented as it isl she
said. "In spite of our poverty we are
happy that we have each other"
eyes,. said Serena bravely.
She did not dare tell her mother
how she was oppressed by a sense OF
responsibiEty-their little bank &C.
count was so low, the few music les
sons that she could get paid SO poor
ly, and her mothers long illness had
been expensive.
81 am going to give you your
BROTH" she remarked little later,
"and go and look at that house. The
people across the way left in their
motor car about five minutes ago.
When she came back she had u
letter in her hand. II wish you could
see inside of that lovely place. she
said. Everything is SO artistic. The
living room is in brown with touches of
blue, and there are brass bowls and a
few good pictures and deep wicker
chairs, and it Is as coy and comfort
able as anything"
She tore open her letter as she
spoke, and read few lines and gave
gasp "Why, mother" she said, 1T
is from lawyer. My great-uncle Jo-
seph is dead and has left me 100000
What" Mrs. Carter exclaimed.
"Why, Serena, it can't be true. Itshas
been years since we heard from Uncle
Joseph
Z He has divided his, fortune among
his great-nieces and nephews." Sere-
ma read isn't it lovely. m .ther?"
IA After few minutes they calmed
down and Serena said soberly. This
will be a chance for my year in Eu-
rope We will go as soon as you are
well enough and can study music
and come back and be ready 20
teach"
who's going to Europe?" asked 4
voice from the door.
A tall young man stood in the
doorway. who's going to Europe 2"
he repeated. @
ooh; Richard, Richard Serena
flew toward him. This is such happy
day. have just received legacy OF
$40, 900 and mother and I are going
abroad"
There was no Joy in Richards
countenance. Il congratulate YOU,
he said stiffly.
"..Why, Richard Serena reproachedi
him, aren't you glad II
ooh, of course" he said hurriedly.
He didn't stay, long after that, and,
as he took up his hat he said to Sc
rena, Come and take walk
AS they walked along Richard had
very little. to say.
you're grumpy and growly bear,
Dizzy" said Serena, as they left the
public highway and entered into 2
little lane where the wild roses ana
blackberry vines struggled over the
fences. ".You act as if ] had receiver
bad news instead of good news,
Richard sat down on great gra"
rock at the turn Of the lane.
sLet us talk about IT." he said. MAY.
be you'll understand then why I'm no.
jubilant.'
Her eye. questioned him. .
"You see" he said slowly, lit VIII
take you away from me. Serena"
"Oh,' she gasped, "but am COM
ing back"
ut will be different Richard said;
"You will come back a travelled
young lady, and YOU will have see1,
other men, and will have slipped
out of your life. haven't told you
how much love you, because l have
been waiting until had home to Of
fer you. | haven't asked you to marry
me. because felt that | must prove
myself man, but your going away
will hit me hard. Serena.
Don't you think Il owe 1t to my
SELF" she asked Her ewes were
troubled Don't you think ought
to 20 when all my life I've wished
for q chance to study more and make
my music something more than an
accomplishment"
II don't want to be mean and self
ish." he said 81 think it is the right
thing for you to do, and I'm not going
to try to hold you back. but you
mustn't expect me to smile over IT,
Serena
The Serena who came slowly into
her mothers room was a very dfffer-
ent girl from the radiant one who
had left. =,
"Why, what's the matter, dear"
her mother demanded.
Serena threw herself on the moor
beside the couch. Il don't want
uncle's old money she replied. i
wish he hadn't left it to me-"
Hush" her mother warned. what
makes you act this Way?"
at will take me away from Rich:
ard and he wants me to marry him,
mother, only he isn't asking me now
because he thinks it is best for me
to CO."
asked. enough to stay here, dear?"
ooh, l don't know" Serena an
swered. "But wish he hadn't said
anything about it. He has spoiled
my happy day.
The next morning Serena sailed
forth and took a car to the city.
There she accumulated folders and
information with regard to sailing OF
ships, the prices at hotels and all the
- H.