Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-11-07

W pl0y IdIc.
The next night Agatha carried her
friend up to Florence's room. II want
you to see her." she said. go softly.
she's asleep"
Florence lay with all her brown
;curled hair straying over the pillow.
Her flushed cheeks showed rose-pink
against the sheets Wilderness. One
small hand held red rose.
Cyril gave her that" whispered
Agatha, then her voice wavered, but
how can Bruce help loving her?
She's so dear and young. Oh. youth,
youth, is there anything like it in
the whole wide world?"
A weeks cruise on Cyrils yacht
brought the young people close to-
gether. and one night Bruce came to
Agatha, a great light shining in his
face.
Dear friend" he said, lis fate
really going to release me from de-
spair?"
They were alone on deck. Cyril
and Florence had gone ashore with
Cynthia as chaperon to dance at
the clubhouse. Cynthia's mother was
mapping in the cabin. rs fate going
to be good to me?" Bruce said again.
Agatha turned and looked at him.
"Why?" she demanded, and knew the
answer. .....
is Cyril falling in love with Flo
is Flo turning to Cyril? wouldn't
it be solution of this miserable
tangle in which I have tied MYSELF"
Agatt as eyes were again on the
star-powdered sky. 81 don't dare
believe it don't dare" her voice
trembled. don't let's be sure until
the moment comes. Bruce
Out Of long silence he spoke.
This one thing ask of the gods,
that they will let Florence see that
in the youth and the strength Of
Cyril's manhood she may find love-
Only thus can the web be broken,
Agatha"
II know she said "but II she does
not love Cyril, you must marry her,
Bruce"
yet, you know-dear heart" he
-'.lispered.
81 know" she whispered back. Then
she stood up. Lets take the motor
boat and go to meet them. It's per-
feet night on the water. Bruce"
Coming across the country house
lawn toward the pier, little Flo in
silver-spangled net looked like fairy
spirit. Cyril strong as a young god,
stepped lightly beside her.
"Oh. you beauties, you beauties"
murmured Agatha, wouldn't 1t be an
ideal thing, Bruce?"
Cynthia, little in advance of the
others, was helped into the boat by
Bruce. When Florence came she
chung to Agatha. Please" she said,
may I talk to you when we get back
on the big boat?"
Agatha kissed her Come into my
cabin" she said, "after the others are
settled for the night"
In Agatha's loving arms Florence
lay and sobbed out her story. cyril
says he loves me, and that there's
never been any other woman for him.
That you've been like dear sister,
and that youth responds to youth.
But I can't bear to hurt Bruce-he's
so e. 'd-so good" .-'
And you love-Cyril?" Agatha's
heart was pounding.
ooh, yes-yes." .-
Then suppose I should tell you"
Agatha's voice shook a little, "sup-
pose I should tell you that once upon
a time Bruce loved woman who
thought she didn't love him and that
through a dreadful mistake he be-
came engaged to you, but now the
other woman cares, and he feels in
honor bound to you?"
"Oh," Florence sat up, radiant
figure in the shining moonlight, lis
it really true-and who is the other
woman?' >,
Behind the screen of her own fair
hair, Agatha murmured, Cant you
guess?"
"You?" Florence's laugh rippled
like music ooh, you darling, you
you-and we'll live hap
py ever after"
But Bruce said deeper things than
this when Agatha told him. "Those
two young things think they know
he said, and drew q long
breath, ,"but you and l., why the SUI
fering, the agony-because Of these
things we shall appreciate the full
ness of our richer joys, sweetheart"