Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-04-21
Evening Story
THE COUPLE NEXT DOOR,.
Copyright. 1912, by the Associated
Literary Press,)
BY Joanna Single.

Miss Cornelia, wedding her pansy
bed in the early May evening, turned
her back on the couple next door.
The Towards somehow embarrassed
her. Not that their behavior was ever
out of good taste, but their very
glances we're caresses, their house
keeping progress of cooling and
nest-building that made their neigh
boris face bit more grim than tho
softness of young summer would seem
to warrant. She was finding that she
could not get away from love. Also
that the great passion ignores the
small matter of age. So, at nearly
forty, and after the lapse of nearly
twenty years, she found herself fond
ling a pansy plant-and wondering
what had become of Steven Stratton
Years do not sweeten the bitterness OF
a woman deserted without explanation
by her lover.
She weeded on, and heard young
Howard bid his wife goodnight as he
started on an errand downtown. Then
she looked up to see the girl wife
coming toward her, and wished she
did not make herself so unapproach-
able to people.
Good evening-what lovely. gar
den you will have before June Is out!
| wish I could make things grow"
Eugenia Towards very voice was
winning.
Miss Cornelia smiled and removed
her wedding gloves. She wore white
dress with touches of black on it, be-
ing in half mourning still for the old
father for whom she had cared SO
many years. Any one who had known
the rigid, stern, peevish old man
would not have wondered at his daugh-
ter's leaving the place where she was
brought up, and buying cottage in
town where she could begin life of
her own anew.
She lead the way to the porch,
seated her visitor, and sat in silence,
but it was pleasant silence. She
was not without sense of grim hui
NOR and read the question in the
young wife's eyes.
You are wondering why-I have
not married. Married women always
wonder that about unmarried ones.
They are sorry for US, too-which they
needn't be, by any means!"
Young Mrs. Howard blushed Grim
sou, WSHL Hue AGAIN, aAu saw q AIllc
gasp.
Don't mind my bluntness,' con.
tinued Miss Cornelia, 1T is my way.
And like you, and have never told
living soul why I am single. At the
same time, before I tell you why 1t is,
let me tell you that happiness does not
depend on others, but on ourselves
am not unhappy. have known dozens
of married women whose lives were
burdens. But. all the same, was
once terribly in love-terribly is the
right word. When things went wrong
| it nearly killed me, and if my mother
hadn't suddenly died and left me to
the daily necessary care of an invalid
father, | am sure should have gone
half insane She paused, and the
young wife reached out for her neigh
boris hand and gave it a squeeze.
There was no sickly weakness in Miss
Cornelia-she Strengthened as she
talked.
! I've always wanted to tell some.
; body. was only twenty, and loved
man few years older than I, a
childhood friend, very sensitive and
naughty He was the son Of the vii.
lage rich man. Father did not like
him, but that did not change me. We
had never spoken our love-but one
night stole out to meet him and-he
kissed me- We didn't need words. The
next day had letter from him for
mally asking me to marry him. He
knew my answer, but wrote it, new.
ertheless told him about a little SILLY
half affair l had had with another
man, and that never cared for soul
but him, and asked him to answer i'm
mediately and say it made no differ.
ence. | also told him my father OBJ.
jected because of the difference in re.
ligion and fortune. Well days passed
and did not hear from him.
Then I found he had gone on a
business trip for his father waited
for his return, and still had no word
from him Finally. | wrote him an