Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-11-11
Evening Story.
ou,Nr,N's cHRIsrMAs QUEST

Evening Story.
ou,Nr,N's cHRIsrMAs QUEST.
BY A. Maria Crawford.
Copyright. 1912, by the Mcclure
Newspaper Syndicata.)
"Your unole has left you hts entire
estate, valued ut figures exceeding
Ave million dollars" said the lawyer.
cooley surveying his well groomad
young client, provided that you are
married by the twenty-ifth Of this
month. That, believe, Is tomor-
row."
"A matrimonial string to his bow.
eh, Mr.. Randolph Quintin Nc
Gowan laughed. big. ringing. boyish
laugh that made the older man smile
at him. THAT little clause In Uncle
Joe's will makes It , bit awkward for
me. Now, who will have me on such
short notice? It IL problem for .
wiser head than mine"
Then you don't expect to forfeit
the money for the benefit Of tho
charitable institutions which he
namesf'
mot II l can help 1t. At any rate,
/ purpose putting up pretty strong
nght.','
You viii pardon me, Quintin, for
the personal reference, but why 90
on quest for q wife when Julie
Moore Is still single. Weren't you
two in love before you went on that
trip to Africa or Australia? had
a hard time locating you. As =
matter of fact feel fatherly In
terest in you, my boy. and more In
terest in Julie. She is my. ward"
The laughter that had wrinkled
the corners of Quintin's eyes died
suddenly. He stared moodily through
the western window of the ONCE
where tho setting sun shone red--as
rcd as the holly berries in the wreath
OF evergreens that lay on Randolph's
desk.
Julie was here few minutes be-
fore you came"
"Quintin looked up quickly. The
knuckles on his right hand showed
white over his cane head. Julie
hcre?"
Yes. She brought me one of her
new pictures. Pretty, isn't IT."
He handed the silver frame across
the desk. Quintin slipped OF his left
glove and held the picture carefully.
His eyes took in every line Of the
slender white throat and the delicate
beauty of the girls face.
"She Is the most beautiful woman
the world" he said, more to him
self than to the keen, observant law
yer behind the desk. AZ
Call her up, my boy, ana tell her
that you are home again.
II can't do that. Mr.. Randolph. She
told me-"
"Never mind what she told you q
year ago Somebody has wisely said
OF being taken ut her word"
Julie did quite right to dismiss
me. She said that I was just typ
ical rich mans son with no particu-
lar aim and ambition. That is all
very true. have knocked around
BIT"
That's all right. You have seen
the world now and can settle down
and develop into q first class business
nan. With your Uncle Joe's fortune
and your own
'I'll never get Uncle Joe's money.
for can't marry woman on days
notice. only landed this morning.
Fact is, Mr.. Randolph, and don't
mind telling you. can't take the
sham for the real nor make farce
OF any matrimonial venture OF mine.
Not Quintin McGowan! The wander
lust has called and have gone; but
the home love Is even stronger in my
heart and am foolish, perhaps, but
! want to remain true to my vision.
'"Julie?" asked Randolph softly.
Guile" said Quintin and smiled SO
sadly that something, long dormant,
stirred in the lawyers heart like q
tiny seed under the MOSES that
qnivers with life at the call OF the
early spring. He forgot that he was
serving two young people profession
ally. He thought only OF their per-
sonal happiness"
"Quintin." he leaned over and laid
his hand affectionately on the young
er mans arm. Julie loves you. She
told me so today"
'.You-you wouldn't lie to me about
her, would you?" cried Quintin, catch
ing up his hat.
\ ,"No, boy. You'll find her near the
flower shops, fancy"
Thanks A merry Christmas to
you!"
Out in the snow covered streets he
sought the most beautiful woman in
the world. a child held up tray OF
fragrant violets. Wont you buy some
for your sweetheart"
"I'll take them ALL" he answered,
dropping her piece OF gold.
AS he walked along. searching for
one face in the happy, surgtng crowd
Of shoppers, the vioIets seemed to
breath to him OF Julie. Then doubt as
sailed him. Randolph, he thought, had
probably told him to go and find Julie
not because she wanted him, but be-
cause the lawyer himself wanted to re-
tain the vast business interests of his
Uncle Joe's estate After all, he. would
have to be gay bachelor and some
what poor one when one reflected that
he was allowing five million dollars tc
slip through his fingers because OF q
boyish dream.
a tiny figure gripped him around the
knees. Say daddy, daddy" piped q
childish treble, tell Santa Claus tc
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