Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-10-15

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Phoebe sat all day in summer ant
sewed by the open window.
what would | do without my view
from the Window" she said to Mrs
Rogers. who sold in her gift shop al
tho products of Phoebe's skilled
%stitchery.
.You ought to get out more
Phoebe" said Mrs. Rogers. Its gay
enough in summer, when all of the
people are at the hotels. You could
sit on the porch in the evening and
watch the dancing, or there's tennis
and golf, everybody is welcome to
tea-at the country club"
"Oh. but l wouldn't think of going!'
said Phoebe, shrinking. I've just
lived here in the village, Mrs. Rogers
all my life, and TA thirty-hve, anc
feel as if I were intruding, a qule'
little thing like me-"
well, you don't look thirty-fve,.
said practical Mrs. Rogers, as she lalc
in piles the delicate aprons tna1
Phoebe had embroidered. III you'd
put on one of those pretty dresses
you've made to sell. you'd look like
a different creature"
"Me?" Phoebe started in surprise.
81 don't see why you couldn't" safo
Mrs. Rogers.
ct would be terribly extravagant,'
said Phoebe. "You see since mother
died, it's all l can do to pay the taxes
on my little house. Mother a
: pension and that helped :,
"You oughtn't to live alone sale
Mrs. Rogers decidedly.
81 haven't any one to live with,
said Phoebe.
."Then get married" Mrs. Rogers's
eyes sparkled merrily.
Phoebe's little face grew scarlet
ooh, l couldn't"
Something in her voice made MRS
Rogers ask. softly. was there ever
any one Phoebe"
eyes" Phoebe whispered, but
mother didn't like him, and he-Wen1
away"
She went back to her little house
at the crossroads. From her window
She could see the wide green lawns
Of the big hotel. The tennis courts
were too far away for her to water
the ! but she liked the animated
picture Of the figures moving swiftly
in the ardor of the game. She coulc
sec the red flags which marked the
holes on the golf course, and the gay
awnings of the country club. 1t was
. life from which she was shut out
but she loved it.
AS she sewed steadily that after
noo there came often into mel
thoughts the suggestion that MRS
Rogers had made. Why not wear a
white gown? Why not be young 1oi
once?
But she put the thought from her
and sat there, stitching. Her halr
slightly gray, was stretched back
tightly from her forehead; she had
little plaid shawl about her should
ers. She sewed until the twilight be
gan to fall, then went out into her
garden. She loved to dig among he1
roses when the darkness hid her from
the passing crowd.
Az she knelt by the hundred-leaved
hush. a voice said, "She's probably
married. haven't dared ask passed
the other day and saw a stranger sew
Ing by the open window
Phoebe's hand went to her heart,
She stood up, gazing with startled
eyes into the shadows.
A man and a woman stood by the
little gate. They were summer Wis
itors-Phoebe knew that by the fash.
ionable %silhouettes against the bright
er sky beyond
But the voice which had spoken
was the voice of the man who had
loved her and who had gone away.
He had said, 81 passed the open
window-and saw a stranger sewing"
Was she so changed as that? She
wanted to cry out, 81 am the Phoebe
O once loved so well-and who is
this other woman?"
They passed on and she fled to the
shelter - her lonely little house,
There she faced a mirror. She was
old.
Phoebe snatched up from the bed
a dress which she had almost fin
ished. 1t was a soft, clinging thing