Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-09-26
BY TEMPLE BAILEY.

II was Just Whisper.
| Elliott"
Yes"
{"But--hes engaged. There's girl in
the city--he's only waiting for another
call to a place where he can support a
| WIFE"
II know all that she spoke rapidly.
| But he's different from anybody
ever met--you know that. He's better
dressed and has better manners-and
| shown me what want My heart has
| never been satisfied--here."
| f"Well, call 1t that II you will" Her
head was up. But I haven't found the
man ! want to marry UP here in the
| mountains"
| hand to her.
Jim where arc YOU going?s Az
"To the city" he said, ITO get city
| ways. That Is what you wantyou
shall have IT.
For moment she looked at him
with frightened eyes, "But--why. J 1t
won't seem like living without you
! around III
The man blaxed al. that Do you
think" he demanded hoarsely, that
you can keep me dangling? And then
| tell me that ain't--good enough?'
ooh, JIM" her eyes filled with tears
you are good--but--I don't love YOU
And you don't love the minister,
only he's the kind you want: well I'm
going where can learn to be that
| kind"
He started up the mountain path, but
she called after him. "Oh, you haven't
any right to go this way"
He, stood looking down at her. II
have a mans PRIDE" he said; that
constitutes my right to get away from
girl who thinks I'nA mother kind"
| He was gone before she, could protest
and she turned and went slowly down
| looking farmhouse which was a con-
trast to most Of the cabins on the
Imountain.
The next day she went to church.
| Jim was not there, and she heard the
| whisper. He's gone to work in the
! city" There were glances cast in her
direction which seemed to connect her
1 with her lovers disappearance.
| The week that followed was full of
loneliness. Jim had been her near
neighbor and close companion since
! childhood. He had always been on hand
ms escort, and on Saturday nights had
/ given her the little treats Of candy and
| of new magazines which her own pros
porous but somewhat parsimonious
father denied her. $50
ed On the following Sunday he called
again. A month later he asked Mary to
marry him There had been no engage
n1ent. with. another girl. he said. He was
simply an old school friend whom he
had hoped might care, but she would
| not live in the mountains. He felt that
q minister should marry, and he had
chosen Mary.
! There was nothing Of alteration or
Of worship in his statement. Mary
L El,st hA q
tered by the thought Of the honor that
he had paid her. She said Yes" and
| wondered why, her heart felt SO heavy.
The marriage was to take place as
soon as possible. Mary, little In in
awe OF her future husband. felt sense
OF bewilderment. He made demands
upon her which she, hardly knew how
to meet II want you to study with
nne,','y he said. as they made their plans.
"a minister's wife should be ready to
teach and to preside at meetings. You
you are dear girl, Mary but you
haven't had the advantages you are en-
titled to-. You are not to blame. fancy
it was your fathers fault. But as my
wife you will 60 out Into the world.
and will be Judged more critically than
you would be among your own people"
| Mary felt a sense Of revolt. Wasn't
she good enough for him? Then there
! came to her, suddenly. the memory Of
similar things she had said to Jim, dear
Jim, who had loved her.
On the minister's next visit he spoke
somewhat hesitatingly about her we'd
ding dress. my people will be here he
| said. II wish you might have your gown
made in the city--first impressions
mean so much, and these dressmakers
here haven't an idea how to set of
your beauty"
so Mary went to the city to have
her dress made. And the first person
she met on the platform was Jim.
| He stared at her, as one who sees a
vision. How in the world did you
happen to come? ?" he said. RI rushed
down to the station to send some
things out to mother by one OF the
boys, but guess It was fate. Mary,
you're the lovliest thing I've seen for
months. Come and have lunch with
i me-"
] She went and confded to him the
I, fact Of her approaching marriage to
the minister.
II knew it, he said, but this day
| Is ours"
! AS they ate lunch she noticed that
Jim had changed little. He had. 1t Is
true, taken on a certain easiness Of
manner, but the strength and rugged
ness that had made him a noticeable
| figure on the mountain. made him con-
spicuous In the up-to-date dining room
| where he ordered soup and salad and
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