Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-04-02

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and the color in my cheeks is-well
it's the sort that Norton likes. And
my hair-but-Im thinking Of him
! of Norton. He's told me he wants to
make me happy for life, and I've about
decided I'll let him try. / see him
coming up our front walk. Coming to
call on me-have | mentioned I've got
a figure-a real sweet figure? That's
about what romance means to me.
Youth, dear?" asked Miss Norton
gently.
That's it, <dearie." answered the
older woman dreamily. Youth
For time those about the table sat
in silence picturing no doubt the slen.
der figure on the steps of that porch
long ago. Not without humorous
sort of pity did they glance occasion
ally toward the woman whom Norton
had begged to make hippy. The prof
essor of Comparative Literature was
! the first to break the silence.
"The dictionary" he remarked
accidentally, would define romance
as a species Of fictitious writing
originally composed in the Romance
dialects, and afterward in prose. But
--lIc Is pLOSe1AS ~ AA'&o AAo
soul. Shall I tell you what romance
means to me? will. | see man
toiling in dim laboratory, where there
are strange fires and stranger odors.
Night and day he experiments, the love
of his kind in his eyes, a desire to help
in his heart. And then-the golden
moment-tbe great moment in that
quiet dreary cell--the moment OF the
discovery A serum, formula-what
not. He gives it to the world, and a
few Of the sick are well again, and a
few of the sorrowful are glad. Ro-
nance means neither youth nor power
to me. It means-service.'
He bent his dim old eyes on his food.
and Mr.. Magee gazed at him with a
new wonder. Odd sentiments these
from an old man who robbed fireplaces
held up hermits. and engaged in mid
night conferences by the annex door.
More than ever Magee was baff1ed, en-
thrilled. amused. Now Mr.. Max leered
about the table and contributed his
unsavory bit
Funny. amt it, he remarked, "the
different things the same word means
to a bunch of folks. Say romance to
me, and I don't see no dim laboratory.
I don't see nothing dim. l see the
brightest lights in the world, and the
best food and somebody, maybe. dane
ing the latest freak dance in between
the tables. And an 2orchestra playing in
the distance-classy danes all about
"a taxi clipping at the door. And me
sending word to the chauffeur Let her
click till the milk carts rumble can
pay Say-that sure is romance to
me-"
"Mr Hayden" remarked Magee,
"are we to hear from you?"
Hayden hesitated. and looked for a
moment into the black eyes of Myra
Thornhill.
my idea has often been contradict
ed he said, keeping his gaze on the
girl lit may be again. But to me the
greatest romance in the world is the
romance Of money making-dollar
piling on dollar in the vaults Of the
man who started with shoe-string,
and hope, and nerve. I see him fight
ing for the first thousand--and then |
see his pile growing, slowly at first
faster-faster- faster-until motor
car brings him to his office, and men
speak his name with awe in the
streets
Money" commented Miss Thorn
hill contemptuously. What an idea
of romance for a man.
81 did not expect" replied Hayden,
that my definition would pass unchal-
lenged. My past experiences" he
looked meaningly at the girl-"had led
me to be prepared for that. But it is
my definition-I spoke the truth. You
must give me credit for that
81 amt one to blame you" sneered
Cargan, ''for wanting it noticed when
you to side-step lie. Yes, I GER
tainly-"
"See here, Cargen,' blazed Hayden.
eyes, you did speak the truth" put
in Miss Thornhill hastily. "You
mentioned one word in your definition
it was a Dissertation to drag it in
hope. For me romance means only
hope. And I'm afraid there are pitt
full number in the world to whom it
means the same"
1--WE amt heard from the young
woman who started all this fuss over
little word" Mr.. Cargan reminded
them.