Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-03-01

Hamilton Gregory left his house re-
solved, at any cost--save that OF ex
posure--to experience once more the
only pleasure life held In reserve foi
him: nearness to Grace NOR. She
might be at the store, since all shops
were to remain open late, In hopes OF
reaping sordid advantages from the
gaiety Of mankind. In word. Little
burg was in the grip Of its frst street
fair.
Before going downtown, Gregory
strolled casually within sight OF the
Clinton boarding house. Only Miss
Sapphire was on the green veranda
She had watched the ceasless streams
of humanity pouring along either side
walk destined for the heart Of the
small town,--countless hordes reen
forced from rural districts by excur
sion trains. From the very ground
they seemed to spring, these autoch
thones Of confetti and side-shows. ON
they flo"ed. stormy with horn and
whistle and hideous balloons whose
horrid pipes sQuealed the music o,
modern Pan; they overwhelmed the
native population with elusive ticker
and rubber-stringed ball; here were
to be seen weary mothers reaching
forth for greater weariness; JOY
scourged fathers driven to the money
changers: frenzied children at last IN
Fairyland.
Miss Sapphire, recognizing Gregory
waved a solemn greeting, and he felt
reassured-for he was always afraid
Robert would "tell". He pushed his
way nearer. Miss Sapphire sat in the
huge chair not az II unable to rise
but as tangible rebuke to carnal
amusements. She spoke to Gregory
on the subject Of which she was full
to the brim--and Miss Sapphira was
of generous capacity
mo wonder 80 few go to church,
SIS Miss Noir here?" Gregory asked
In a strained voice; tho confusion hid
the odd catch his voice had suffered IN
getting yer the name.
mo She's down-town-but not
at am show, You may be sure. She's
lef. late at the store because guess
you've heard Abobtt Ashton has been
away a long time
81 have heard nothing Of the young
man." Gregody replied stitfly.
well, he's been OF two or three
weeks somewhere, nobody knows un,
less It's Bob, and Bob won't tell any
thing any more. Abbott wrote he'd be
home tonight, and Bob drove over to
Simmtown to meet him in the surrey
so Miss Grace is alone down there
She nodded ponderously.
"Alone!" he exclaimed involuntarily
"Yes-I look for Bob and Abbott now
Just any minute She added, eying
the crowd-"I saw Fran on the street
long and merry ago." Her accent
was that of condemnation. Like rock
she sat, letting the tickle populace drift
Iby to minstrel show and snake den
The severity of her double chin said
they might all go thither-she would
not; let them be swallowed up by
that gigantic seprent whose tail, toe
long for billboard illustration, must
ne IDS be left to coil In the magma
tion-but the world should see that
Miss Sapphire was safe from degluti
jtion, either of frivolity or anaconda.
| That was also Gregory's point o.
view; and even in his Joy at finding
the coast clear, he paused to say, :"
am sorry that Fran seems to have LOS
all reason over this carnival com
pany. ii she would show half as much
interest in her soul's welfare
He left the sentence unfinished
The thought Of Grace had grown su
preme-it seemed to illuminate some
wide and splendid road into glorious
future.
The bookkeeper's desk was in
gallery near - ceiling OF the clinton
grocery store; one looked thence
through picLet-fence, down upon the
" floor. Doubtless Grace, thus look
ling, saw him coming. When he reached
side, he was GREATNESS, partly from
his struggle through the masses, prin
cipally from excitement OF fancied
security.
She was posting up the ledger, and
made no sign Of recognition until ne
called her name.
"Mr. Clinton Is not here she said
remotely. "Can do anything fol
your" ;,
He admired her calm courtesy. II
at the same tine she could have been
re .eryed and yielding he would have
found the impossible combination
feet. Because 1t was impossible, ne
was determined to preserve hei
angelic purity in imagination. and tc
restore her womanly charm to actual
b.:ng. :,
How can you receive me so coldly,'
he said impulsively, when I've not
seen you for weeks"
"You see me at church." she an
swered impersona1ly.
But have been dying to be neal
you, to talk to you
"Stop!" she held up her hand. "You
should know that Mr.. Clinton and
are"
"Grace!" he groaned.
She whispered. her, face suddenly
growing pale. "Are engaged" The
tete-a-tete was beyond her supposed
strength. His melodous voice. asso
ciated in her mind with divine wor
ship: the burning OF those beautiful
eyes in which she seemed to see hel
own love; the attitude OF his arms a.
II. not knowing it, he were reaching
out for her-all this was hard for he1
to resist