Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-03-10
CHAPTER I.
"Weep no More, My Lady"

York.
A beautiful younng woman? That
Is exactly what Billy Magee wanted
TO know as, closing the waiting-room
door behind him, he stood staring just
inside. Were the features against
which that frail bit of cambria was
agonizingly pressed of pleasing con-
tour? The girls neatly tailored COR
duroy suit and her flippant but charm
ing millinery augured we'll. Should
he step gallantly forward and inquire
in sympathetic tones as to the cause
of her woe? Should he carry chival-
ry even to the lengths OF Upper
Asquewan Falls?
No, Mr.. Magee decided he would
not. The train that had just roared
away into the dusk had not brought
him from the region OF skyscrapers
and derby hats for deeds OF knight er
rantry UP state. Anyhow. the girls
tears were none of his business. A
railway station was natural place
for grief-a field of many partings,
upon whose floor fell often in torrents
the tears of those left behind. A
friend, mayhap lover. had been
whisked off into the night by the re-
lentless FIVE thirty-four local. why
NOT a lovero Surely about such
dainty trim figure as this courtiers
lowered as moths about flame.
Upon a tender intimate sorrow 1t was
not the place of an unknown Magee
to intrude. He put his hand gently
upon the latch of the door.
And yet-dim and heartless and cold
was the interior of that waitlng'room.
No place. surely for a gentleman 10
leave a lady sorrowful. particularly
when the lady was so alluring. on,
bevond question, she was most al
hiring. Mr.. Magee stepped softly to
the ticket window and made low
voiced inquiry Of the man inside.
whats she crying aoout! ne
asked
A thin sallow face. on the forehead
of which mop of ginger-colored mar
lay listlessly, was pressed against the
bars.
"I get asked the same old questions
so often, one like yours sort of breaks
the monotony. Sorry I can't nelp
Won. She's a woman, and the LORD
only knows why women cry. Ana
sometimes reckon even he mus.
be little puzzled. Now, my Wiie-
~ think ri ask her." confided Mr..
Maeee in hoarse whisper.
ooh. wouldn't advised the man
behind the bars. ."Its best to let EN-
alone. They stop quicker II they amt
noticed" n,u.,
Magee. ,,
"And SOIL you be, most likely. re-
snonded the cynic, eff you interfere.
NJ stree! Take my advice. Shoot
o,d Asouewan's rapids in barrel II
YOU want to. but keep away from cry
ing women
The needless Billy Magee, however,
was already moving across the I'M
scrubbed floor with chivalrous IN
tention.
The girls trim shoulders no longer
heaved so unhappily. Mr.. Magee, ap-
proa ching, thought himself again IN
the college yard at dusk, with the
Great elms signing overhead. and the
fresh Young voices of the glee CLUB
ringing out from the steps OF cen
tnrv.old building. What were the
words they sang so many times!
"weep no more, my lady,
Oh, ween no more today.
He regretted that he coult. not make
1850 If them. They had always seemed
70 him so sad and beautiful. But
trouha dours. he knew. went out OF
"a shion long before railway stations
came in So his remark to the young
woman was not at all melodlous:
"Can I do anything?'
portion of the handkerchief was
removed. and an eye which, Mr.. Ma
geo noted. was Of an admirable Diue,
neeped out at him. To the gaze OF
even solitary eye. Mr.. Magees as
meet was decidedly pleasing. Young
Williams who posed at the club as
wit had once said that Billy Magee
came as near to being a magazine
artists idea of the proper hero or
story as any man could, and at the
same time retain the respect and al
lection of his fellows. Mr.. Magee
thought he read approval in the lone
eve of blue. When the lady spoke,
however he hastily revised his
opinion.
eyes" she said. "you can DO some
thing. You can go away-1ar, Tar
away
Mr. Magee stiffened. Thus chivalry
Jared in Upper Asquewan Falls in the
year 1911.
~ beg your pardon" he remarked:
"You seemed to be in trouble, and
thought I might possibly be OF some
assistance"
The girl removed the entire hand
kerchief. The other eye proved to be
the same admirable blue-a blue half
way between the shade of her cordu.
row suit and that of the jacky's cos.
tune in the "See the World-Join the
Navy" poster that served as back
ground to her woe.
81 don't mean to be rude she ex'
plained more gently, "but-1'm crying
YOU see. and girl simply can't look
attractive when she cries.
IF I had only been regularly in
troduced to you, and all that" re-
sponded Mr.. Magee, 81 could make a
very flattering reply" And true
one. he added to himself. For even in
the faint pickering light Of the station