Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-06-21
Evening Story.
BETH BECOMES ENGAGED.
BY CATHERINE .cooPE.

Newspaper Sy uulCdJ0. b
Later in the evening after Costello
had gone. Beth fell to wondering Just
why she had promised to marry him.
She gazed about the barren room
that was her home In the boarding
house and smile that was half w1st-
full swept over her face.
Perhaps / want home" she told
herself, and sudden resentment
against Costello took possession Of
her. Had he been one whit less at
tractive she knew that he would
have pleaded in vain for her answer.
HE has no right to be 50 good look
Ing" she decided, half angrily. II
was perfectly happy until he camc
along and now have promised to
marry him"
Beth unwound two long ropes of
golden hair from about her well.
poised little head and began brushing
them with unconscious rhythm.
She was thinking deeply and with the
soothing sweep Of tho brush Beth
mind became calm, and she went
slowly over each day Of har~ short
acquaintance with Costello.
During the weeks OF his volcanic
wooing the girl had been carried
away from her cautious, more or less
reserved pathway. So sudden and
had been the force Of HIS
that Beth scarcely knew
whether or not she loved him until
she had promised to marry him.
She glanced shyly at her reflection
in the mirror and q blush famed In.
to her cheeks. Perhaps Costello
could be forgiven for his mad wooing
Of her.
The blush died down, and again
Beth realized that her acquaintance
with the handsome Italian was
limited. She knew, too, that the
caution which had always played a
prominent part In her life since her
arrival into the working world had
failed her in this one instance.
She b raided her hair very neatly,
tied large pink bow determinedly
about the curling ends and closed her
teeth firmly.
II will go to q lawyer tomorrow
and have him look up my, future hus-
band 1t would be foolish to take 50
important a step as matrimony with.
out a little advice Tonic might be
married a dozen times for all ]
know" she told herself with half
laugh. But II there were tears to
dampen the softness Of her pillow II
was because of the loneliness that
had left her to battle for herself and
to seek lawyers when she longed for
mother or father or brother.
In the morning when she wen,
down into the business district
Beth wore the cluster Of roses that
Tonic had sent her. The tread Of
her gray clad feet was steady and
her heart was beating normally
She felt serene and rather glad that
she had the courage to 60 to q
lawyer and make Inquiries regard
ing her future husband.
When she had been left at the
door marked James O'Brian, attor.
ney at . law, by the elevator man.
Beth felt her first qualm Of ner.
vousness. What would this lawye.
be ilike-this man to whom she
would have to confide the secret Of
her engagement? Would he be
brusque and inhuman. old or young,
attractive or repellant?
Beth drew steadying breath and
opened the great door. After ali
she had liked his voice when she
had made her appointment over ths
telephone.
Miss Ladd, I suppose?" inquired
the same voice as the young lawyer
arose to greet her Come this way
Beth followed him while she sud
denly wondered why the world had
become place OF peace and content
ment. Could it be possible that the
calm, reposeful force Of James
O'Brian was already holding hel
within its circle? He led the way
into q huge library that had been di
yided into many small consulting
rooms by rows upon rows Of Law
books.
Beth felt very much like a small
child who has found it's way into {
collectors room to demand a toy L
play with. She looked across ath.
table at which she and James O'Briar
had seated themselves. and thu
childlike appeal in her eyes sent 1
wave OF sympathy over the lawyer.
"And what are your troubles, Mis-
Ladd?" he asked, and found himsel
smiling.
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