Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-02-08

/ nave D06n aIrdlu.
ASK mel"
do you love me?" his heart mis-.
sing beat. ....-
She leaned toward him swiftly.
Here is my answer" pursuing her
lips. 49,
"Fortune!"
BE careful. I've terrible tenn.
per-"
But she was not quite prepared for
such roughness. She could not stir,
so strongly did he hold her to his
heart. Not only her lips, but her eyes,
her cheeks, her throat, and again her
lips. He hurt her. but her heart sang.
No man could initiate love like that:
and doubt spread it's dark pinions and
went winging out to sea-
"That is the way want to be loved.
Always love me like that Never wait
for me to ask. Come to me at all
times. no matter how am engaged,
and take me in your arms, roughly like
this. Then shall know. have been
so lonely; my heart has been SO filed
with love and none to receive It!
love you. I haven't asked why;
don't care. When it began I do not
know either. But 1t is in my heart,
strong and for ever"
Heart o'mine, I'm going to be the
finest lover there ever was!"
The great ship came up the bay
slowly. It was clear, sparkling,
winter day, and the towering minarets
Of business stood limned against the
pale-blue sky with a delicacy not un-
like Japanese shell-carving. A thou
sand, thousand ribbons Of CHEEKY steam
wavered and slanted and dartled;
the river swarmed with bustling fer
ries and eager tugs; and great floats OF
ice bumped and damned about the in
visible highways.
This is where live" said George.
running his arm under hers. THE
greatest country in the world, with the
greatest number Of mistaken ideas"
he added humorously.
What is 1t about the native land
that clutches at our hearts so? l am
an American, and yet I was born In
the south of France. I went to
school for q time near Philadelphia.
America, America. Can't I be an
American, even If was born else
where?"
"You can never be president" he
said gravely.
"I don't want to be PRESIDENT" She
Struggled closer to him. "All l want
to be is a good mans wife; to watch
the kitchen to see that he gets good
things to eat; to guard his comforts;
to laugh when he laughs; to be gentle
when he is sad; to nurse him when he
is i'll; to be all and everything to him
in adversely as we'll as in prosperity;
a true wife" She touched his sleeve
with her cheek. And l don't want
him to think that he must always be
with me; if he belongs to a man-club,
he must go there once in a while"
81 am very happy" was all the
could say.
George, am uneasy. l don't know
why It's my mother, my uncle, and
Horace. I am going to meet them
somewhere. l know It, And I worry
about you"
"About me?. That's foolish" He
smiled down at her.
"Ah, why did my mother seek to
renew the acquaintance with you?
Why did Horace have you kidnapped
into the desert? There can be no such
a thing as the United Romance and
Adventure Company. 1t is a cloak for
something more sinister"
"PshaW! What's the use Of worry
ing, little woman? Whatever schemes
they had must be out of joint by now
Sometimes l think I must be dream
ing, little girl"
81 am not little. I'm almost as tall
as you are"
"You are vastly taller in many
ways"
Don't be too sure. I am human;
I have my moods. I am sometimes
crotchetty; sometimes unjust and
quick of temper"
all, just the same
But will they like me? Won't they
think I'm an adventures, or some
thing like that?"
"Bless your heart. not in thou.
sand years! I'm pretty wise man in
some ways, and they know It,"
And so it proved to be. Both Mr..
and Mrs. Mortimer greeted them at
the pier in Hoboken. One glance at
the face Of the girl was sufficient. Mrs.
Mortimer held out her arms. 1t was
a very fine thing to do.
Il was IN QOuDC at HrSL, sHe Salu
frankly. George is SO guileless. But
to look at you, my child, would scatter
the doubts of a Thomas. Will you let
me be your mother, If only for little
while?" with a wise and tender smile.
Shyly Fortune accepted the en-
brace. Never had she been so happy.
Never had she felt arms like these
about her.
what did he cable you?" she asked
in whisper. .I..
"That he loved you and wanted me
to mother you against that time when
he might have the right to take you as
his own. Has he that right?'
Eyes. And oh! he Is the bravest
and tenderest man know; and below
it all he is only boy"
Mrs. Mortimer patted her hand. A
little while later all four went over
to the city and drove uptown to the
Mortimer home On the way Fortune
told her story, simply, without avoiding
: any essential detail. And all her new
mother did was to put an arm about