Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-08-25

rich"
She sank down on the sand, pulling
her skirts away from the over.affec.
tionate dog and making room for AL
gernon beside her. Il love to play the
grand dame. For four years l have
struggled and struggled, typist. steno-
grapher, housekeeper. Now have my
chance and am going to make the
most of it, She nodded and her mouth
closed FIRMLY. She jabbed hole in the
sand at her feet and then turnd to him
suddenly. Tell me, ice, what have
you done?"
To-day, yesterday or last year," ask.
ed Algernon.
"Why did you leave New York? You
said something about confession
when I was foolish enough to give you
mine, that day on the sloop."
Lets talk about you" hedged AL
gernon. Its more interesting"
mot to me. know all about my.
self--and so do you. You have the ad.
vantage Of me. do not know any.
thing about you at ALL
There Is nothing to know. Nothing
but the same old story in the same old
way. I am not original. You are.
Let's talk about you
She leaned over and gave his arm
tender little pat, a world OF kindness IN
her changeable eyes. Poor old Joe.
know. It is something bigger, stronger
than ourselves that makes US all go
wrong. 1t Is life. Joe, that's what 1t
Is. The man who is strong enough to
resist life Is saint. We others
are like you and me-" She threw out
her hand with the little gesture he
had grown to look-for.
Algernon turned sidewise, his elbow
on rock, his head on his hand, and
picking up stick, drew fignro in the
sand between them. Her tender SYM
pathy was sweet. but he could not
meet her eyes. He felt too much like
sneak. She looked wistfully at tina
bent head with the sandy hair. smooth,
save where his fingers ran through it
and rumpled it up as he supported
his head, and wished, she knew not
why, that he respected her more. Then
she smiled, a tiny flicker of amuse-
ment understanding and compassion.
"Wait until | am Mrs. John Han
cock and then see what do for you,
said she.
Algernon looked up and in his mild
gray eyes was an expression she in her
turn could not meet. Steadily he look
ed at her and she slowly turned her
head and gazed seward the distant
buoy, rising and falling, a more sreck
on the water.
"Well?" caid she.
Don't sell yourself, Molly" said he
quietly. He reached over ind laid his
hand gently on the two hands she had
clasped over the stick Of her parasol.
What have I done for tho last four
years." she asked coldly. Have not
practically sold myself? Was any mo-
ment of my waking hours mine? And
think of the wages got! In my new
Job. at least, I shall receive my
moneys worth" She shrugged her
shoulders and jabbed angrily at tho
sand with the point OF her .parasol.
eve have all got to work In this
world" said Algernon; some for daily
bread and some for amusement. Work
Is Ian kof the universe and not.asHgn
of bondage
"Folderol, Joe. You don't believe
that yourself. Algernon Van Rem
sellear Todd never did any work. !"
Eyes, he did," said Algernon, turn
ing his attention quickly to tie sand
again.
What do you know about him? I
only saw him once in the dark, and you
make me think Of him, Joe; don't
know why But I have heard things
about him and know he never worked
not even for amusement. Amusement
was amusement to him and not work.
"You don't know what he Is doing
now"
mo, but know that whatever 1t Is
It Is not work Believe me-
ooh, rot"
"rve got you there, joe" She laugh
ed gaily and held out slim hand,
white and well-cared for. Help me
up please. It is nearly dinner time.
We have dinner at six, you know, so
the servants can have their evenings.
Such bore!" she drawled with gentle
affectation.
He helped her to her feet and picked
up his hat shaking the sand from 1t,
while she shook her skirts and the dog
rushed around them joyously, glad to
be going again.
"Do you really think act as If I
were used to money!" she asked, as
they started up the beach together.
"I shall practice on you the airs and
graces of the coming Mrs. John"
For goodness sake, Molly don't
call yourself that" he begged.
"And why not?" she asked. Don't
you think I am worthy of being his
wife,"
mo Molly, for you don't care for
him. If you did, I wouldn't say
word"
"How do you know I dont?' she
asked.
II hope you don't he muttered,
standing aside to hold back the low
branches that she might enter the
path through the woods Molly blushed
but said nothing, nor did she look at
him.
The path was too narrow for them
to walk side by side. In silence she
lead the way and he followed. He
noted the way she carried her head,
the ease and grace with which she
walked, and he told himself that she
was all he knew her to be, no matter