Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-11-15

I1Clcu, III yVu OWL oCC LAG AotsAue HAAy
man take my arm, you can Just know
I'm engaged to him" So said In
dependent Catherine Potter to her
chum Helen Wild. Il know We live
In sleepy, backwoods, old-fashioned
town. but the way the girls here let
the men pilot them from one end Of
the town to the other, just as II they
couldn't walk quite as we'll by them
selves, think Is ridiculous! And
now you, Of all people. followed
you for eleven blocks on my way up
here today, and I do believe Billy
Lands had his hand on your elbow
half the way. think it's awfully
silly"
"But can't help it," Helen de-
Tended herself. III z man says May
II when you come to crowded
crossing, and then forgets to take his
hand away, what can do? don't
know"
well, I do" said Catherine,
herself up to the full
ness, Of her five-feet-two. "You can
say that you don't like to be led
about like q baby. You can say
Please don't"
But don't like being disagree
able" Helen went on.
"l'm not disagreeable. I've just got
some sense"
Inwardly Helen acknowledged the
truth of the statement. Certainly
men did not find Catherine Potter
They seemed to like her
independence. But although Helen
did Justice to GATHERINGS powers Of
she would not admit openly
the right Of GATHERINGS point of view.
Anyway, Catherine Potter" she
Lontended, "rll wager you q pound
of chocolates that within week
you'll forget yourself and some of us
will see you calmly letting man
steer you about this old town of War
rem"
mo, indeed" reiterated Catherine.
III you. or anybody else, ever sees
me letting any man pilot me around
by the arm unless, OF course, It's
night in a big crowd, where just
can't get along by myself, you can
just know I'm engaged to him. And
then, even, I won't like it,
Helen chuckled to herselv over her
friends explosive declaration of her
beliefs and privileges. And before
the day was over sha had passed on
the story of GATHERINGS declaration
to many Of the young people who
made up what was called the younger
set OF Warren's socially elect. These
in turn, had passed 1t on to their
elders, and soon all Warren was
smiling to itself at GATHERINGS ex-
rense.
So it was that William Lands. one
of the men who found GATHERINGS in
irresistible. hit upon a
plan.
II know that Catherine likes me,
at least" he mused to himself, think
ing of the time, week or so ago,
when the spirited Catherine had re-
fused to listen to his plea of love on
the ground that he was talking non
sense "She is just afraid to let
herself 60. She's so used to being
independent, she doesn't know how to
be anything else. It may be mean,
hut I'll put her In a position where
she has to explain things, and then
we'll see what will happen
William kept his plans to himself,
not even confiding it to bis good
friend, Helen Wild. who had told him
of GATHERINGS declaration.
Warren boasted Of one business
street of Importance called Main
street It was necessary that all the
town. when 1t went shopping or visit
ing or to it's work, should at some
time or other cross or traverse this
One day, a few days after Gather
II e's call upon Helen, William Lands.
returning to his office after luncheon,
suddenly saw Catherine coming I'M
toward him down Main
street. He quickly prepared to put
his carefully formed plan into prac-
tice.
Just as Catherine caught sight OF
him. when she was only few feet
away. William skilfully shook his
eyeglasses from his nose. Both
lenses shattered themselves on the
stone sidewalk In apparent conster-
nation he stopped and groped about
the sidewalk, finally picking up as
pocketing the gold nosepiece. He
squinted his eye up and stared at
Catherine as she stopped in front OF
him.
3"Oh, that is you. Catherine.
couldn't quite make you out. am In
an awful hole" he lied glibly. Glasses
broken and I can't see three feet
away. suppose I will have to stag
gel home the best way can" Will.
liam smiled, sighed, lifted his hat, and
started to walk away. He carefully
collided with a lamp post.
Billy" said Catherine, forgetting
Ter prejudices in moment, II just
can't let you go running into things
like that. Here" she said, putting
her hand on his arm, couldn't
guide you?"
why, you are awfully good. II
you don't mind, just to my office
door; or just till we see some little
boy that would take poor old beg.
gar like me for quarter"
mo. indeed said Catherine decid.
eddy. II can just as well walk home
By way Of your Office as not, and no.
body'll notice that I'm leading you;
they'll think you are just helping me,
I'm not going to have any little raga,
muffin leading you around like a
blind beggar; why, you'd be getting