Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-11-26
Evening Story
CUPID'S CODE.
(By JUNE GAHANo
convrieht 1913, by the Mcclure News
paper Syndicate.

u,
paper Syndicate.
Il was the last day Of the voyage
puaseu was on deck at dayoreah ~
never missed the sunrise glory Oh ne !.
Cnl6an cate. and this time he hoped IL
might tempt her out before her mo'hei
was up. .o.,, an
twenty one days they had been on
tho same steamer and hardly SPOKEN
ta-othor half a dozen times, never
alone. ;.,, hin,
Rut he knew she felt safer with MN
there near here At least he was Wllliii
hail. even if she dared not nan. IL Was
.onoethinp TO catch the dear, sweet up
lift of her lashes as she passed MIN on
the promenade. Just the long, pleaulils
glance told him all he wanted TO klloM;
They could take her nalt W. W. ~ ~
away from him. and marry her Off to
some rich cub, but they couldn't take
her love away from his keeping. ,,
eff YOU go away from Australia, III
follow. Nita,'' he had told her. :.
"Rut 7 must go, Hal, and-and IL
~,u only make it harder, don't you
seer ,s
's1.hen don't co. He knew he had
hurt her hands, crushing them IN ms,
but he wanted her, wanted 10 take i,ei
then and throw her over his shoulder
vith her. "Surely I may dare ask the
vornan I want to be my wife. Look at
No, II were lame or blind or poor or
ev1 ir any way 1 would not dare,
.weetheart but,"-he held her from
him at arms length, laughing down at
her-"say, do l please you Tor nus
band?-
Anita flushed hotfy and tried to pull
away from this strenuous lover. Moth-
er's coming, Hal-let go my ma nus
please. Yes, of course you do. told you
20 before"
'-Then why go?"
Il gave my word"
1T was before you knew me-"
"Put it the other way. What would
YOU think Of girl who would promise
10 marry you and then come back IN
two months and say she had changed
her mind and wanted to marry some
one else?"
Release her, of course. Would l be
loving her and yet making her unhappy
for life? What sort Of men 90 they
breed in your part of the world, lazy
mine, that they call this honor?'
ooh, shall be honest with him, Hai.
and tell him." she had said, sadly. NO
fear Of that, but it won't do any sood.
You don't know mother"
Il wish you had more pluck
Anita frowned, but pondered over
the word She liked it. She had always
thought she was plucky.
Her father had jeapardized every
thing he owned that last year when ne
speculated with the silver mines at
Queredo. If Corwin had not swung ms
own money into the breech and carried
the deal through, she knew what the
end would have been. She remembered
coming down one evening unexpected
ly into the library and finding her faith
er sitting staring moodily at revolver
in front Of him. At least Corwin had
pushed aside that tragedy for them.
And later, when her father had died, he
was the only man who had stood by
them to try and save something out of
the wreck. Small wonder that she had
been acquieScent when her mother had
told her why Corwin had been so very
kind to them.
But all that seemed years ago now.
since the summer trip over southern
seas, and the meeting with Halliday
Russell. She had tried to be fair to
both men, but she knew nothing of the
Irish breed Of men they rear in the
South seas.
"rll follow you to the altar, sweet
heart he told her. And if get but
fair chance, look out! I'm after my own
until the other mans ring is safe on
her hand, and it'll never get there If I
keep awake"
There was a heavy fog: Every now
and then fishing boat sail lifted out of
the gray, slipping under the liners
bows. Russell looked at his watch 1t
was barely 4. He decided on cup Of
coffee, wheeled about, and faced Anita
as she pushed eagerly up forward, the
loose locks of hair clinging to her
cheeks.
Good morning." she said hurriedly,
what time do we make port, do you
known
His eyes twinkled. It was the first
her resolutely close to his side, and
led her over to a secluded corner
wrapped in the gray fog.
We're not going to make port" he
told her quite seriously. Now and then
the dear old gods of love still wake
from their dreams long enough to undo
the foolery Of mortals. l was just told
by the steward we were going to lie at
anchor several hours until this fog
boat and slip away with you
ooh, Hal, if such things were only
real" She could not help the swift
little bitter cry against fate. Just a few
hours and she would be at the hotel
with her mother and Corwin, and they
would be arranging everything.
Russell gathered her very close in
his arms for a few moments without
speaking
You would kiss me before, dear
heart he told her. And SO / am more
sure Of you. Are you warmly clad
Then listen The seas like a mirror
and in an hour when the mist rises, it
will be like an opal with a golden veil
laid over it, They're dropping anchor
now, but the pilot boats will be run
ming out in minute or so to see what's
wanted
He rose and suddenly she saw he was
I'm earnest.
"And will you come gently, love-" he
asked, amusedly. cor shall l take you
In my arms and dive over the side?''
Where are we goipg?' she asked
and he saw somethinsxof his reckless
ness in her eyes for the first time The
great boat had come to anchor, the
throbbing of the engines had ceased
Here and there in the fog shril
whistle called a hail. Over east a bel
buoy swung. Somewhere, it seemed il
the clouds, a foghorn doomed ever.