Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-09-22
Evening Story
A WIDOW FOR LOVE.
By Marian Pelham Waters.
Copyright, 1912, by the Mcclure News
paper Syndicate.

"You insufferable-" Ellaline began
emphasizing scorn with stamp of the
foot, q small foot, and light stepping
Agnew noted it approvingly. las
good q way to show it as any" nc
commented letting his eyes rest upon
It.
Ellaline snatched back the dainty
member, saying with tremor she
tried to hide: 60 on! Insult me al
much as you like-you know / have
nobody"
But me-your betrothed,' AgneW
interrupted lazily. then his eyes grow
ing grave Suppose we stop clawins
each other and talk sense for-well
say three minutes? It might be--pro
ftable."
II hate--anything profitable" Ella
line cried passionately
ME most of all, l SUPPOSE AgneW
queried.
She shook her head, painting out be-
tween set teeth "No-my name! MY
wretched, wretched name! 1t was
wickedly cruel to call any poor infant
after IN Aunt Ella and an Aunt Ada
line"
agreed, unanimously" Agnew an
swered; nodding. "But-have you
thought-since we can't change bap-
tismal registers, there may be com.
pensation In changing the other end
"O!" walled Elaine. Il have not
been allowed to think Of anything else.
Mother is at me mornin, noon and
nisht: says I shall fly in the face OF
Providence, and deserve all the bad
luck IN tho world if dare to think OF
upsetting the plan of my poor dead kin
folk"
1T was odd, both those dear women
loving and losing my father, and try
Ing In this way to give me their mon
ey," Agnew said thoughtfully. Never
heard of just such another case. Say,
though, do you hate me on general
principles, or Just as we hate the
things thct are g good for us?"
II believe ! hate you-ffty thou
sand dollars worth" Ellaline sobbed.
"You don't know how the money has
wetkhed on mellow it has put me
outside. Mother has said 80 many
times: 'Elline is going to have 80
much hereafter, she can do without
now That has made Tom and Boss,
and even little Florry, envy me. In
deed they almost hate me-because
Of the wretched money. I'd give 1t to
them-gladly--if only had the power.
sure?" Agnew asked.
She nodded. He turned away, silent.
Next minute she heard him riding
away. Unaccountably her heart sank
as she listened. If he never came.again
-good.by to all hope of ease. BY re-
fusing to marry him she would forfeit
all claim TO their joint inheritance. He
hal come for final decision--and
gone away heaped with her scorn.
She did not see him for three days.
Thou his face was very grave. I've
been looking Deep" he said. There
IL nc getting around that will. 1t was
made jointly. you know. Whoever
drew 1t left no loopholes. Unless we
marry each other we get nothing. |
thought by refusing could give you
al lof it"
"You don't think l would have let
you?" Ellaline burst in.
He smiled Even you are not proof
against-the logic of accomplished
facts" he said. Neither is that both
er OF a will My proposition is this:
Let's get married right away and
draw straws as to who shall have tho
money. II vests in US instantly. The
knot tied, we can do as we like-di-
vide, toss up, what we willard Of
course play quits. Divorce is cheap
and easy in the right state
"A grass widow! Never! Why,
think they are horrible" Ellaline be-
gan.
Agnew shrugged slightly. 81 can:
do any better" he murmured apollo
getically. "Of course-if were mad
about you'll might be willing to make
you real widow for love.
Don't say such dreadful things. AS
though would let you kill yourself
Why, would rather" stopping there,
Ellaline blushed bright poppy-scarlet
she was so amazed to find there was
an alternative more horrible than mar
riage with Agnew.
He glanced at her, narrowly but CO.
verify, and hurried on: Suppose we
toss for tiff win, it is marry me.
and divorce me, II you--well, the mon
ey will 60 straight to the missionaries.
At least---I suppose so-you could
never bring yourself to toleratee-the
other thing.?"
Let me think! Hard" Ellaline
entreated. putting her hands over her
eyes. She sat so for five minutes, then
the hands fell and she looked at Ag-
new. He was staring into the fire,
his face very white We've need
not-toss,' she began In small voice
rather tremulous. 81 agree-to-your
plan. We can tell everybody we quar-.
relied on the wedding trip--so found
out-.-our mistake"
80 we can" Agnew assented; then
rising. eve had better make haste.
Only three weeks Of grace remain
the thing has to be settled by time
you are twenty.one"
Lets get it over tomorrow" Ell.
laline said, in still that small wavery
voice. >,
Agnew nodded, and left her. Curl
ously, for the first time since she had
known the destiny she so rebelled
against Ellaline ran to the window and
watched him out OF sight.
Three days welded they were speed
ing toward their goal-the western
haven of shipwrecked matrimony.