Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-02-28
Evening Story
IN A SURGEONS COAT.
BY A. Maria Crawford.

BY A. Maria Crawford.
Copyright, 1912. by the Associated
Literary Press) s 80
The cotillion was over and they
found a table cozily screened with
palms and orange trees In full bios.
som. There was mound OF lilies OF
the valley on the white cloth.
ut looks as If we must be filching
somebody's happiness" exclaimed
Betty, "for the decorations around
here certainly indicate the expecta-
ton OF bride and groom" y
!. Gossip. that thing we all despise,
yet to which We all listen, maintains
that you are cast for the role and
that Gregory Rhodes is to be your
leading man"
81 know it," laughed Betty slipping
a spray of the lilies through the tur-
quoise and diamonds that held the
laces at her breast. ats a funny
thing how anxious people are to
marry me off to somebody. You re-
member how Aunt Martha tried to
persuade me to take the honorable
Charles in the mountains two years
ago" -
Indeed do, and since that time
have never cherished any love for
her. You and I had such great times
together that summer Lucky thing
for me that you found my coat yes
terday!" .-
"It was curious incident didn't
have time to tell you all about it.
was running sister Helens electric
| to 49, tn
of me, saw box. stopped, picked
it up and imagine my surprise when
read DR.. Robert Latimer, Townsend
building @ 8s
'"The messenger must have dropped
it. God bless HIM"
"Of course 7 don't know thing
about this town, so l asked police
man to direct me to your Office build
ing. I was curious to know whether
or not You were the DR.. Latimer I
knew. Why don't you eat?' demand
ed the girl. See all these good things
that footman brought"
i II am so glad to look at you again
and to hear the sound Of your voice
that have forgotten my hunger"
when I went into your Office aud
saw all those patients lined up I
knew that couldn't wait my time,
for ! was due at luncheon In less
than an hour. so when your attendant
opened the door and called Next I
gave him my card and asked If
might see you for just a minute"
"And heard your voice and came
out in hurry. It was a great thing
for me to have, you Of all people find
that surgeons coat"
What is surgeons coat?'
"a white coat I. wear when ope-
rate in my Office. dare say I look
like a butcher
Helen says you are eminently
successful and rank with the best old
surgeons here, I am so glad. l have
so often wondered about you
! II wrote to you several times after
left the mountains"
81 never received the letters"
NO" he said, because was
afraid to post them. Your sister had
married and come here to live, and
everywhere turned heard that
you and Gregory were engaged, and
knowing that broken hearts are be-
yond my skill to mend, I tried to for
get YOU"
Betty looked pensive and the young
surgeon resumed: 1T It had not
been for my worldly knowledge Of
what girl in your position wants
these days, would have asked you
to marry me that last night in the
mountains. You remember how we
walked up to Paradise Rock and a
sudden storm came on and We took
refuge under big tree?"
The jewels on Betty's breast
, flashed as the laces rose and fell
with her uneven breathing Eyes, "
, she answered softly.
when the lightning played about
US and the thunder doomed like
giant cannons through the mountains,
you were frightened and II held
, you in my arms"
"I was not frightened then"
He looked at her curiously. Betty"
he said, 'if you had only known how
much greater was the storm going
on in my breast. wanted you so,
and now"
~ wish I had known" whispered
the girl just as Gregory Rhodes came
through the opening in the palms.
"Well, you gave me deuce of a
| slip tonight, Betty, but I see you
found the place intended for you
anyway"
DR.. Latimer pushed back his chair.
ooh, sit down, Doc, I'm not stop
ping. I was just looking around to
/ find out if Betty had what she want
!, ed. I'll be around to your Office to.
morrow to interview you profession.
| ally. I need treatment. Betty Tilted
me- this afternoon"
) "Why, Gregory, you have always
| known that IL" stammered the
embarrassed girl.