Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-06-15

path made by the moon on the water,
and wondered what James Strafford
was saying to Stella. The wonder
made him SO wretched that he began
an agonizing improvisation on the
Spanish Cavalier" with one of the
guitar strings bit fiat. Then he
noticed that Norma Main had come
near to him, the only silent one there.
sitting on the top step, her fair head
ION her hands, her elbows on her
knees.
1t struck him that Norma, poor
child, needed comfort, too. BY some
sixth sense he knew that Jimmy
should in decency be saying to her
whatever he was saying to Stella, He
pondered miserably as to the reason
Stella might have for suddenly evad.
ing him, Billy, and being ceaselessly
with the other man. She knew, too,
that Norma and Strafford were lovers,
If not actually engaged. That made
her behavior worse.
Then to relieve his own pain and
add to that of those who had to
listen, he sang "The Spanish Cava-
lier" and then "In Old Madrid" and
then "Juanita" over again. He knew
only the three songs, which was for
tunate, for had he known another he
would have rendered that also. As
it was, he finally put down the long.
suffering instrument and tried to talk
with Norma
The girl answered briefly in such a
queer, half-choked little voice that he
instinctively shielded her from the
observation Of the others by starting
great chatter of his own and asking
her to walk with him. Without a
word she ,sauntered beside him down
to the beach. He took her hand and
put 1t on his arm. He had known her
from childhood and despite his hurt
about Stella he would not see Norma
unhappy If he could help 1t. He
talked on, and until he actually heard
a distinct little sob from the girl he
ignored her evident unhappiness, as
he thought she would wish H.
Look here, Norma" he said, II
won't have you miserable. Can l do
anything? Do you mind telling me
what is the trouble?"
ooh, don't pretend you don't know.
It's dear of you, Billy, but you know
perfectly we'll how miserable l am.
And you know why. could kill
Stella Morro-I hate her as"
"As I love her, Norma She acts
as If she were bewitched. She has
not stopped flirting with Stanford
from the minute he came out here.
And I had mother ask him just for
you. meant we'll. And thought
she was beginning to care for me-
she acted as If she did What do you
suppose ails herr"
II don't like to tell you" she said
slowly, and he turned to look at her
profile in the moonlight, and at the
slim, well-carried figure. "1t's simple
cattishness. She's getting even with
me- You never knew that there's
always been a silly feeling between
us from the kindergarten up-some
childish jealousy was done with
it ages ago, but I took honors In
high school when she didn't, and it's
too foolish to tell, but I'll tell you.
Last winter Mrs. Vincent gave a
, dance for Paul Forsythe you weren't
here. You know he's sort OF
notable, English, and awfuly good.
ooking. He seemed to take a great
fancy to me-got more dances than
I should have given him. Well, he
begged to sit one out, and we did.
The awful part is that we were hav-
ing such a really jolly time that we
sat out two dances. The last hap.
pened to be Stella's. She was
furious. OF course it was awful of
him, but she never forgave me. OF
course it was my fault! She told
Maude she'd get even IL it took all
her life, but I didn't suppose she'd
try to break things up between
Jimmy and me-"
HE doesn't deserve you, Norma, "
began Billy angrily and then remem-
bered that he was criticising Stella
as we'll. He was silent awhile.
II can't understand women's vani-
ty, Norma, and l wouldn't believe this
Of her from any one but you. You're too
good a little friend and too truthful not
to be believed. Let's help each other
out. Does any one but me know how
you feel about STAFFORD? 2"
She shook her head. Not soul!
I've been so ashamed of flirting with
Jerry Peters just to hide my real feel
ings! I'll stop or go straight home
you'll stay right here! Going would
be a confession. Tell you, Normie, let's
stay right by each other. You flirt with
me-and I'll flirt with you, and we
won't mind what any one thinks. 1t
may bring these two people to time.
What do you say?" The girl nodded,
but her heart was sore that James
Stafford would yield to the aggressive,
sparkling, almost malicious fascina-
lions of Stella the moment she tried
them on him. Billy was comfort, and
she told him so They went back to the
others.
The next few weeks saw queer
change in the affairs Of the dozen
young people, most Of them out at
Billus summer home for couple OF
months Billy and Norman were al
ways together, inseparable.
AS Stanford saw Norma 80 oblivious
of him, he began to think of her more
and more. wondering If Stella was, aft
er all, the one girl for him. One morn
ing he asked Norma for walk, but
she told him sweetly enough that she