Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-08-27

b, seven, WOMEN SJlIl IIleduL HOIHlHH pu'
a possible danger to him. They
spoiled careers and made staid fam
lily men out Of young fellows that
!otherwise might have forged unin
numbered to the front. He had
lsteered clear of pretty girls. save az
a sort Of transient escort. But An
gelica was different.
For the first time in his life he had
nothing to do, and his restles So inter
est was held and fed. The pretty
southerner was the most finished CO
quette in the world-so finished that
she seemed actually an unconscious
rose of child. He was wary, but
fascinated. And she kept him from
worrying about certain sales that
Jones and Robinson and the rest
could not, he was sure, put through.
His heart was with the big deals the
] firm should be making and the
growth and booming Of Des Moines.
Iowa. His ambition was to head In
that city the Greater Des Moines
committee and to make "fur fly" gen.
orally for It's benefit.
| Angelica often made him walt, and
one hot afternoon as he lay on the
grass, his mind on the home office.
| he wondered If they had raised
| Mary's salary. They ought to.
Mary" was young Peters secretary,
and kept that rather chimerical gen.
| tleman from making many tempera-
mental mistakes.a For three years
Philip had watched and respected the
tall, silent, dark-haired young girl,
whose poise and dignity nothing
seemed to ruffle.
Lying on the June grass. Philip,
waiting for Angelica, hoped the
younger Peters would not succeed In
marrying Mary she deserved bet
ter fate. His reason for this hope
was glance he had once caught the
junior partner launch at the uncon-
scious girl. It was a glance OF affec.
ton, respect-and intention. Philip
was judge of glances. He controlled
his own, being young man unwlil-
ing to court Dame Trouble. :,
If Angelica hadn't made him walt
so long while she made herself so
unnecessarily lovely for their pro-
posed mountain walk, he would have
bad less time to remember Mary.
Also the afternoon mail would not
have reached him until their return.
And that summer ramble might have
brought about many things. Mrs.
Broussard, who had suggested it,
counted on It for affecting an en-
gagement.
AS it was, the mail came. and let
tiers for Philip from Des Moines. One
was from Jones, one Of the managers
at Peters & Peters. It wished him
we'll. sent his his weekly check.
hoped he would soon be back. Some
news of the office followed, ending
with this:
miss Mount you remember that
good-looking secretary Of the junior
partners? = is leaving next week.
Don't know what's up. She couldn't
have been fired = is too perfect IN
every way, at work and personality.
"The young boss wears long face.
Do you suppose she's going to get
| married.? Robinson says good.
looking man came for her one rainy
day, Well. suppose, you vii will be back
soon" 49,
| Philip dropped the letter. Jones
was an old gossip-a veritable village
auntie in his relish for news~-but all
the same! Philip stared-Mary leav'
| ing! He could hardly believe it.
Then. at one leap, his heart was
back in his home city. He wanted
to be there. His strength seemed to
return with a rush, and all his old
energy and decision. And Mary
leaving! The phrase kept recurring.
| Philip saw Mrs. Broussard come
out, white-gowned, black-haired and
smiling, and he sprang up and went
| to her on the veranda. His face was
eager and shining. He flourished the
letter from Jones, and Des Moines
Iowa.
"I'll have to catch the O'Clock
back to Iowa. am needed there -
business"
| She interrupted him, laughing for
all her vexation "How impolite OF
you to be so glad! Can't business
wait day longer? What about your
walk?"
He shook his head, and then
turned to see Angelica, her most al
Turing, pink as rose, in pinker
dress-a most silly dress for a noun
tain walk. Her eyes were blue and
angry, for she saw his Joy.
|
she said, not dreaming that he would
let her excuse him. II am sorry he
must CO." she smiled conventionally
at him.
"You are very good" he said eve
would have had to hurry. 1t is quite
three, and shall need time to pack
will you forgive me il I get at it
Mrs. Broussard?"
! Murmuring sympathy. fear that he
| was not yet strong enough for work
she followed him into the hall, but he
finally got safely to his room.
Both the women gave him chance
to say good-by to Angelica alone, but
he neither saw the chance nor took it
He would not have dreamed that she
might care, and he had not observed
the subtle widows tactics. He had
before him Peters & Peters, the city
of Des Moines and Mary
| To the slight CONSERVATION o.
everybody but his unconscious self
Philip Bowen actually made tina,
6 o'clock through train. He settled
himself In his section, had his berth