Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-03-11
Evening Story.
BY A. Maria Crawford.
Copyright, 1913, by the Mcclure
Newspaper Syndicate.)

StltcneS In my JrOuSSedu lung cHoush
to meet Toms friend who Is stopping
over here between trains today, Julie.
He Is rather an elderly person. 1
Judge he is thirty-five or forty" said
Marion, to whom age seemed terri
BILE monster. EA
THAT isn't old, my DEAR" said Julie
Tom didn't tell him his name.
thoughtfully.. His heart may be very
young"
Impossible! He has lived in some
heathenish place out west for years
and years. That would take all the
youth out of any man. Dear Julie, you
have made me such beautiful things"
Marion lovingly touched the soft white
garments piled on the table beside
them. Never mind! I'll help make
your trousseau when the time comes"
That's safe promise, little sister.
Your fingers will never be pricked
with love stitches for me-"
II wish they could be, for your sake,
Julie. It's such wonderful thing to
belong" she said softly, looking down
at the clear white stone that symbol
lied her betrothal. You've had SO
many sweethearts. Why didn't you
marry one Of them?"
jules eyes were tender and visit.
full as she lifted her head and looked
beyond Marion to where the lilacs
bloomed beside the old fashioned gate.
"I've been too busy" she said quiet
,ly, spinning a fairy tale"
You could have been the princess
in real fairy tale If you had married
John Trayner and his millions. He
could have made all the beautiful
things you have ever dreamed come
true"
No, he couldn't have made my fairy
tale come true
WAS there ever-anybody-who
could?"
Once upon time" said Julie, and
tried to smile but failed and lowered
her eyes to the laces in her lap.
Go on" begged Marion like an
eager, impulsive child. What was he
like? Did I know him."
Yes. but you don't remember him,
l am sure. It has been such long,
long time ago."
How long?"
II was eighteen, now am twenty.
eighteen years.
Tell me about him. Could you,
"Of course will tell you about him.
love to talk of him as he was. We
were children together and shared our
griefs, joys and gingerbread. How we'll
| remember! Later we wen to the same
college and one night we walked down
shaded driveway where the moon
light through the trees made fan
tastic carpet under our feet. The
river wound it's way at the foot Of the
campus"
Il remember the very place. Tom
used to make love to me right there"
interrupted Marion.
1--WE were quiet for time. The old
river ran by, singing the same song
lovers have heard from it's waters for
centuries. From somewhere across the
campus came the sweet melody OF a
guitar. A boy was playing and singing
a love song popular In the theaters
then" Julie hummed it reminiscently.
And there with the song OF the river
blending with the song Of the boy from
over the hill, we plighted our troth and
the moon and the stars beamed their
blessing
Dear juliet" breathed Marion soft
ly, what then?"
He went away to make his fortune.
Once he came back, big and brown and
splendid. After year or two his let
tiers began to come irregularly and then
one day he wrote me that he loved
somebody else. remember how my
heart ached as l folded that letter.
knowing that it was the very last one
should ever read. Music seemed to
die in the world. 1t was long time
before could put my heart in tune
for the minor strain life meant for me
to play. When had put that last let
ter with the others I took from my
desk little picture of him, taken
when he played basketball on the
sophomore team and put 1t away, a
little sprig Of rosemary to grow In
my garden of remembered things.
Now you know why none Of the ships,
though some were white winged and
splendid, have dropped anchor In the
quiet little harbor of my Dreams
1T isn't fair for me to have every
thing and you to have only memories"
cried Marion
They are not bad friends, my dear.
You asked me the other day why had
that old-fashioned blue dress tied up
oO S0lC III OlO VI Aly lIuuho. Ilc
loved that dress, so have kept It in
lavender all these years. wore it the
last night he was here"
put it on now, Julie. want to see
you in it, too"
Julie took the girls face between
her two hands Just to please you and
because am in the mood, l will"
Pm wishing for him." whispered
Marion when Julie had gone. I'm
wishing for him with all my heart.
There are those who say that wishes
come true when one wishes hard
enough. Maybe he will hear and come
across world-to her."
A maid appeared and said that Mr..
Tom and his friend were below, and
would like to see Miss Julie and Miss
Marion Immediately.
Marion ran into jules room. In the
sbft clinging blue satin with forget
me-nots caught in the coil Of brown
hair on her neck, Julie was girlishly
young. Dreams reawakened by her
story to Marion lay in her clear eyes
How lovely you are, Julie! Tom is
here and his friend leaves tonight, 50