Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-12-31
Evening Story
THE LOST PRlMA DONNA.
By A. Maria Crawford.
Copyright, 1913, by the Mcclure News,
paper Syndicate.

wer to a question put by one of his sis
ter Carolines dinner guests. There
is always a girl, you know"
"Does the fact that you acknowledge
there was such girl explain your long
absence from here, Tom?" asked
Louise Mcmillan curiously, Fancy a
man nowadays having so much senti-
ment! It's wonderful"
"Not il you really know Tom! We
are going to hear La Boheme' tonight,
Caroline announced, hoping to steer
the conversation away from personal
channels"
''The music of La Boheme' invari-
ably makes me sentimental. You can
Just close your eyes, Tom, and see the
girl that you loved before you went to
Alaska if the opera affects you as it
does me. Do any of us know her? Has
she married." questioned Margaret
Simmonds, who prided herself on keep
ing up with the news.
81 don't know, Margaret, I only
wish that could tell YOU
Perhaps we can tell you something
about her! Who was she?"
"You mustn't ask that" said Thrane
with one of his boyish smiles that had
won him as many friends in the far dis
tant north as he had in the polite So
ciety of home. ut wouldn't be fair to
her, Margaret. You understand, don't
you?"
When the women had left the men
Margaret Simmond's husband laid his
hand on Thrane's shoulder. margaret
doesn't mean to be unkind, Tom. She's
just like a lot of women who can scent
a romance for mile. They must have
something to think about beside meals
and milliners, you know.
"That's all right, my dear fellow.
am not sensitive" But little later in
a box at the opera he managed to sit
as far as possible from Margaret Sim
monds.
The lights, the soft, plaintive music
and the fair women about him, recalled
other days when at the opera. in ball
rooms and at various social functions,
his eyes had been quick to see GER
tain slender girl with a mass of golden
brown hair and the deepest blue eyes
in the world. He remembered the last
time they were together 1t was New
Years eve and he prided himself that
she was the most beautiful girl in the
gay restaurant. She had worn Curl
GUS blue frock, all flimsy and soft, and
the Jewels at her throat and on her
breast flashed like stars in a summer
sky. He had leaned toward her and
told her that she held the happiness of
his New Year and of all his future life, |
and asked her to marry him. But the
smile had faded swiftly from her eyes
and lips and she had shaken her head !
sadly. telling him that he must forget
her He had been fairly stunned at the
to him, and within twenty-four hours ,
uous new life that held no haunting
memories.
A tender minor strain from the or
chestra smote his inner consciousness
and touched some hidden chord that !
flooding his heart with ten |
derness. Seven years had come and .
gone, and yet he knew that he had not
found the land of forget in his trav-
els and the dream of her was as vitality .
real as ever. /
He spent restless night.\ The cid !
time places and the sight Of mutual
friends brought her constantly to his
mind. He wondered why nobody men,
toned her name. She had been the
most popular member of his particular |
set.
After an early breakfast he started
out walking briskly along with no des-
tination in view. He was so absorbed
In his own thoughts that he was not !
conscious Of time or distance until he !
reached the suburbs Of the city. Then
the sound of voice singing half for !
gotten love song brought him to a
standstill on the pavement. 1t was
Anne Trayner's voice and he opened
gate and went up little path bordered |
with lockwood to a tiny cottage. almost |,
hidden with the vines. An old turban- !
ed nanny who had cared for Anne .
when she was baby, answered his !
ring.
''Fo' de Lawd's sake, Mis- Anne, !
come and see who's here. If it amt .
Mr.. Tom hisself!" she exclaimed,
throwing wide the door.
Anne came quickly into the little !
hall. IT am glad to see you again" she !
said, cordially. "How did you find me?
I thought that none of the old crowd |
rem embered me or knew where I live
now"
DlO you w dllJ W NC lOISOlLcu, AAuc! |
81 had to be-" she answered quietly. |
do you mind telling me what you
mean? I have only been home since
Yesterday"
'swhere have you been, Tom, since
since the last time saw you?"
TN Alaska. I thought you knew that
I never could take defeat gracefully.
/ haven't been able to forget you, even
there. I could not possibly have stay
ed here as things were. Are you-are
you married?"
mo, Tom. I'm quite an old maid"
She smiled when she said it, and Tom
crossed the room in three strides.
"Anne, tell me what all this means.
for you to be here in this tiny cottage?
Tell mel"
The door bell rang vigorously and
Thrane Strengthened up from where
he leaned Owe: Anne's chair. A big,
good looking blon;l came in without |
waiting for nanny to open the door.
II nave such fine news, | couldn't
stand on ceremony, my dear An1e," he