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

Of finest embroidered white. The
| girdle was of rose color. There was
a round. low neck, and the sleeves
were short. She held it up to her
and, liking the effect, laid it down
and began feverishly to comb her
hair. 1t was long and shining. She
piled it high as she had seen the
women from the hotel wear theirs.
The little curls fell down on her fore
head and over her ears, giving the
up-to-date oval to her face. She
bathed her face and arms in warm
water, and then came forth rosy. Then
she donned the gown.
The girl who looked back at her
was a radiant vision. "Oh," she said,
and laughed at her reflection in the
glass. "Oh, Phoebe-you're a dar-
ling!"
Upstairs in the attic were her
mothers wedding slippers. They had
| grown yellow with age, but they fit
ted perfectly.
Then with a lace scarf I'VE her
arm, Phoebe flew up the road to Mrs.
Rogers. Are you going to watch the
dancing?" she asked, as she peeped
into the shop.
"Phoebe?' Mrs. Rogers held up her
hands in amazement. 81 hardly knew
you, you look twenty years younger"
I'm going to be young-just for
tonight"
"I1l be ready in a minute" said
busy Mrs. Rogers.
Much to Mrs. Rogers's surprise,
Phoebe took a conspicuous seat in
the wide corridor of the hotel, lead
ing to the ballroom. The chair that
she chose was a high curved one, and
made a picturesque setting for her
beauty. They could see into the ball.
room, and suddenly Phoebe caught
her breath. DO you know-that
man?' she asked Mrs. Rogers.
Mrs. Rogers nodded. Hes very
rich, and a bachelor. They say he's
engaged to the girl he's dancing with"
1t was the girl with whom he had
stood at Phoebe's gate. She was very
handsome, but there was something
hard about her face.
Phoebe s%huddered. II wonder IT he
Lis really in love with herr"
Mrs. Rogers shrugged. "She has
as much money as he"
Marriage did not have a mercenary
meaning to little Phoebe. The boy
she remembered had believed in love.
ooh, let's go home" she said, sud
denly.
Mrs. Rogers stared at her in sur
prise. 81 thought you liked it," she
said. ''but, of course, we can CO.
Phoebe stood up. The couple she
had been watching stopped dancing,
left the floor and came down the
corridor. Phoebe caught Mrs. Rog-
ers's arm. Come" she said, come
quickly"
"My dear child, are you liz" Mrs.
Rogers's tone was solicitous.
But Phoebe lever answered that
question.
The man had left the other wom-
an alone and was holding both OF
Phoebe's hands in his own
Phoebe" he said, phoebe! Why
you aren't a day older-you darlng!'
Don't" Phoebe warned; mot here
81 will" he said; then he called the
other girl. Gloria, I want you to
meet my old friend, Phoebe Bliss, the
one I told you about the other night.
| want you two to be friends
But there was no frlendllness IN the
eyes of the other girl. She knew she
had lost the richest, most eligible man
of the season.
Later Howard Graves told Phoebe
all about it. II intended to hunt you
up tomorrow. l have put 1t OFF, be
cause l was afraid you might be dead
or married, Phoebe"
"Just think" Phoebe told Mrs. Rog-
ers, later, eff he had come that day
when my hair was twisted in a tight
knot and I had on mothers plaid
shawl-wasn't it lovely he saw me
again for the first time when | was
pretty?'
and now you're going to marry
him" asked Mrs. Rogers.
YES, and after that love Will be
nv open window, from which | shall