Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-10-09

His address was printed under one
of them and Willy Ben could now
easily understand why the landlady
had sent for him. But he had never
seen the girl on the bed, he was sure
OF that, and why had she lined her
walls with his photograph ?There could
be only one explanation. Willy Ben
was strong. well-built, six-footer, but
he was not handsome, and to find his
rough-hewn, freckled countenance had
appealed to one feminine heart was q
wonderful thing. A deep crimson dyed
his tanned cheeks.
The stairs began to creak and
wheezing sounded regularly from be-
low. Mrs. Lorgey and the doctor, he
supposed it must be. They pulled
into the room. large oily woman and
large untidy man. While the doctor
examined the girl, Mrs. Lorgey sank
into a chair, oozing over,the sides and
began grumbling explanation.
She come yesterday, and twas bad
luck took her In. give her the
room most reasonable, and this morn
ing she goes and gifts run into BY 4
cab"
"A concussion," murmured the doc
tor, soothingly, "only slight concus-
SION
The landlady pointed to the picture
Of the young man. II don't know
where she come from nor anything
about her but l seen you was q friend
of hern, 80 sent for you on guess"
Willy Ben was about to admit his
ignorance, but he looked at the pic
lures of himself and then at the pretty
little girl on the bed Beneath his
tailor.made New York clothes his
homemade Bologee heart swelled with
pride.
"She is very dear friend Of mine"
he answered tenderly, "and intend
to have her moved to the hospital ct
once
At the hospital, Emily Walton came
back to consciousness to find q clean
looking, red-headed young man sitting
patiently beside her. For long time
she regarded him In silence, then she
spoke wonderingly.
william BENJAMIN Bib, the tennis
champion, however did you come
here?"
Never mind,' answered Willy Ben,
for the doctor had said she must not
talk. 'I'll tell you tomorrow. We're
playing that I'm your big brother
She was asleep when he left. and
like big brother, he kissed her-a
friendly, respectful kiss-just AZ II she
were Bess or Evelyn. But all the
time he knew that she was not; he
knew she was the ideal come to life.
Tomorrow came, and for the two .
great many tomorrows. She told him
all her sorry story, how she had run
away from home to go on the stage.
and how though she could cook and
sew and recite Hamlet's soliloquy bot
ter than any girl In boarding school
she could not act. Having stubborn
kind of pride which took the place OF
courage, she had gone on trying and
trying. "And when the cab struck me.
she told him, II was glad to think tho
] fight was over"
| He in turn told her about his homo,
his mother, his brothers and sisters,
how he used to steal away from
school to visit the swimming pool,
how mad dog came through town
and he had to kill his faithful hound,
how rattlnesnake bit him in the leg
one day He told it all 80 fervently
that little Emily, who was born In
a boarding house and brought up In
hotels, grew homesick.
| When the wound on her forehead
was we'll and the time came for her
to leave the hospital the young man
made brilliant suggestion.
"Why 60 back to that horrid place!
Let's go right out and be married.
"And spend the honeymoon In Bolo-
gee" she added.
So 1t was settled and Willy Ben,
who knew that marriages are made
| in heaven. fell to wondering TO
think, he cried rapturously that you
fell in love with my picture before you
ever saw me-"
But the little Emily was truthful
and practical II didn't" she answer
ed, leaning fondly against him. Il
cut your picture out OF the paper be-
cause you looked like man used 10
be in love with out West"