Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-06-18

strangely light-hearted, like gay, IT.
responsible truant In all the years
Of patient drudgery since his father
died Tobin had taken no holidays. and
now he reveled In the joys Of antic-
ipation He looked at the tickets
every morning to be sure that they
were SAFE but he said nothing to
Diana, for 1t was to be a great sur
prise. Every Wednesday night Diana
went with Tobin's rival. William HUT.
to a moving picture show, and every
Saturday afternoon she walked with
Tobin through the park. He knew
just how she would smile when he
told her that instead of walking in
the park, they we're to go to the circus
together Diana had a funny. sweet
little smile that drove away the pucker
from her brow.
So pleasant was this thought that
Tobin forgot all about Clarissa until
the end Of the week. On Friday night
he worked late at downtown art ex-
hibit. but on his way home he stopped
! to buy bag Of peanuts for the little
girl. Clarissa could not 60 to the cir
Gus, but she could feed the squirrels in
the park. III
| The house was in inky darkness
when he reached home, for Mrs. Bosey
wasted no gas en- late arrivals, and it
was only by groping cautiously along
that Tobin mounted to the fourth
floor All was blackness there except
where faint stream. of light shone
beneath Diana's door He was watch
| ing that light and wondering why
Diana was up so late when the door
opened and girl crept out into the
hall. She closed the door behind her
and again the hall was absolutely dark,
but Tobin knew that she was coming
toward him. He stood still, fascinated,
and his heart began to pound loudly.
] ALTHOUGH he could see nothing, he
could hear the soft swish of her gar.
ments as she approached He felt
that he should go, but his strength
seemed to have deserted him. Then
in the darkness his hand touched hers.
She drew away, but Tobin held her
and spoke quickly: s=
Diana, dearest. it's only Tobin.
Don't be frightened" H..
The girl stood still, they were alone
| in the darkness, the other boarders
were peacefully snoring. and somehow
Tobin's arms went around her She
leaned abainst him with her face hid
den In his coat, and Tobin, who had
fought against his love SO long and
bravely, lost his senses for time and
began to tell her hurriedly, holly, all
his longing for her.
| If she made no answer she made no
resistance, and rapturously he stopped
and kissed her hair and forehead.
Diana, darling he begged, "say that
you love me. l hav no right to ask
you, but say that you love me little. "
! He held her against his heart, but
with sudden movement she leaned
away from him, and match flared
out in the darkness. Across It's cir
Gle of light Tobin looked at the girl,
and his arms slowly fell to his side.
It was Clarissa, her face all drawn up
with suppressed giggles and in her
eyes the scornful, unsympathetic glare
Of twelve-year-old.
~ went to Diana's room to get some
Matches" she explained in whisper
II think there's mouse in our ward
robe
Then as the light flickered out she
leaned toward him eagerly, insistent.
ly. "Tobin, If promise not to tell
the boarders will you take me to see
the circus?"
.Tobin shook his head. II don't
care" he said doggedly, "who knows
that love Diana
Maybe not" continued Cdarissa
shrewdly, "but if the boarders know
this they'll laugh at Diana"
So Clarissa saw the circus.