Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-02-12
Evening Story
THE WAYFARER

Cecily was born for romance. She
hated anything that smacked of the
commonplace. Hence when she saw
Bruce Esmond for the first time,
she believed herself madly in love
with him.
Bruce was an artist with lean
ing toward illustration. He set up
his easel one April day on the edge
Of newly plowed field and pro-
ceeded to make a sketch Of Cecfly's
father. ...
Mr.. Drake resented not only the
impertinence of having himself put
in a picture-but in being put in one
when he was not dressed in his Sun
day best. So he told Bruce Esmond
to go elsewhere for his inspiration.
Then Cecily interfered.
"Why, father, he paints such lovely
things" she said, "just look at those
horses"
Drake grudgingly admitted that
Remus and Romulus looked we'll and
compromised on a sketch in which
he should be left out.
"You can put in the field and the
sky and the horses" he stated gen.
erously, but not me-"
Cecily and Bruce Esmond proceeded
to get acquainted.
Bruce said the conventional
things: that Cecily was too pretty to
be buried in the country; that he
was tired Of city women with their
feathers and furbelows, that Cecily
rested him and pleased him-all the
fascinating compliments that men
Of his class use to turn the heads Of
the unsophisticated. .=
Thus, Cecily believed herself mad
ly in love with him and if it had
not been for the Wayfarer she
would either have married Bruce
to live unhappily ever after, or she
would not have married him and
would have felt herself broken
hearted.
The Wayfarer came slouching
along the road in old clothes, with
fishing creel slung over his shoulder
and a rod in his hand. He did not
com pliment Cecily at all. He simply
asked for a glass of water and sat on
the stone bench and drank it. He
looked very tired and Cecily invited
him in when father comes home
we'll have supper" she said, "and he's
always glad to have company"
The Wayfarer. thanked her and, for
the first time. he smiled,
Cecily liked his smile It lighted
up his tired face, and seemed to
warm the observer.
Cecily sat by him. on the stone
bench and chatted of many things.
She talked most Of Bruce Esmond.
You've heard of him, Of course?"
Yes. He has a promising career
before him."
ooh, I hope so,' said Cecily, ar
IDENTITY
The Wayfarer said nothing
"How long has he been here?" he
asked at last.
"A month"; said happy Cecily,
"and he's going to stay another
month He wanted to get the light OF
the May moon on the apple bios
sons"
"Humph!' said the Wayfarer.
Mr.. Drake was very enthusiastic
about the Wayfarer that night.
"He wants to board here through
the fishing season." said the farmer
TO Cecily 81 don't know but VIC
might as we'll let him."
"Of course said Cecily But wher
she told Esmond, he ragged.
"How can I have any inspiration
with him around? ! want only you.
Cecily."
"But you see father needs the
money" said Cecily, gravely. There's
the interest on the mortgages to be
met"
Esmond looked at her keenly. 81
thought your father owned the farm,
he said.
"He does. But there's one mort
gage And times are bad and the
crops have failed"
Two weeks later, the Wayfarer.
coming up from the stream, stopped
behind Esmonds easel. There are
just two things you should not try t.
do" he said quietly: you shouldn't
try to paint sunlight on that silver
pool, or to make love to girl like
Cecily."
Esmond turned an angry face up
to him what have you to say about
it?'' he snarled.
/ Something said the Wayfarer.