Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-10-01
EVENING STORY.
By A. Maria Crawford.

ey A. Maria Crawford.
Copyright, 1912, by tho Mcclure
Newspaper Syndicate.)
Anne" he urged as the big iimou-
sine carried them swiftly to his
mothers for dinner, why won't you
marry me? Was l just q fool last
night to fancy you cared for me?"
mo, | do care for you. Tom" said
the girl quietly, "but the attitude Of
YOU family"
II don't want you to marry my
family" He voiced the thought of
thousands Of other men pleading I'M
der the same adverse circumstances
to the women Of their hearts. DO
you love me, Anne"
III l do, I can't marry you. Your
mother and sister Jane would make
me miserable"
Jane has acted abominably.: She
has Influenced mother, too, but when
they realize that my happiness ID at
stake they'll come over soon
enough
Your sister certainly has IN III
conceived idea Of a~ristocracy. When
I met her at the. Cations last week
and was mentioned as the guest of
Mrs. silvyn, she scorned being ven
pleasant to me. Why7 Because
Edith Silvyn married q poor man and
does her own work and has no motor
car, therefore your sister does not
care to know the poverty-stricken
couples friends. Now the truth of
the matter is, that Edith's father IL
able to give her anything In the
world she wants, but she has agreed
to live on her husbands income for
Ave years."
Lucky fellow, silvyn. to get a girl
like that"
your sister only estimates ones
gentility by ones apparent wealth.
I would like to teach her a lesson"
Jane has always tried to be snob-
bish, especially lately since she has
hope Of landing Lord Percy Bradner.
Mother is giving this dinner for
him."
Lord Bradner? That's too good
to be true"
do you know him?"
Indeed I do. I visited his sister
Betty for months at q time"
When will you marry me?" ques-
toned the man az the a slowed
down before the big stone house.
"Wait until l decide whether or
not I am going to marry you at all,
SIR" laughed Anne daringly as the
footman opened the door.
Mother and daughter were distant
ly cordial to the beautiful southern
girl, who responded to their greet
ings with a charm and graciousness
that made Tom love her all the
more.
AS live, Anne" cried the dis
tinguished guest Of honor, this Is
the best luck I have had In America.
I have been trying to get into COM
m%unication with you for weeks. l
hoped to go south TO- see you. Mother
wants you to visit us again in the
fall. Betty has ~capitulated at last,
and will be Z duchess by Christmas.
Anne has visited my sister Betty
several times" he said to the two
astonished women beside him.
Indeed, we are hoping that she
will honor us with a visit soon," an
swered Toms mother. beaming on
the girl.
why didn't you tell me that?'
pouted Jane j~ealously. II never
dreamed you we're a friend of Lord
BradneTs sister. What ia she like -"
Gracious, unaffected and cordial
to everybody. She is a real gentle
woman, just like a princess out of a
fairy story"
with her equal before you in
Anne" cried the son of a hundred
noble lords. my / see you in the
morning, You know why I came to
America" Jane heard him whisper to
Anne.
Are you really in love with that
girl?' Jane demanded of her brother.
"Yes," said Tom emphatically.
Then monopolize her marry her,
do anything, only. keep her away
from Lord Bradner."
I'm sorry, my dear Jane, not to
be able to accommodate you. l don't
have. to guard the woman / love. L
trust her."
There was a dance on that evening
at Toms club, where the whole party
went after dinner. Lord Bradner
stayed beside Anne until Jane was
wrathful and Tom found himself try
ing to fight down the jealous pangs
that would tug at his heart. At the
supper hour he hid Anne away at a.
little rose-covered table, almost
screamed in with palms and jackson
vine.
Your mother has asked me to
spend next month at her country
place." confided Anne, smiling.
Good" cried Tom. II knew she
would love you"
Jane insists on my accepting the
invitation, but Of course it is lmpos-
sible."'
"Why?"
Lord Bradner is on his way south
to visit US, and I must return home
and plan to return his many cour-
tesies.'
THE odds are against me. A lord
against plain Tom Carter. It doesn't
require much imaginative effort to
see the end, Annie, does it,"
Not for me-" answered Anne look
ing down at Toms violets fastened
in the laces Of her gown.
Curious thing how every woman
loves ,pomp and glory! Bradner is