Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-03-07
Evening Story
LITTLE BALD HEAD,
BY A. Maria Crawford

'"When a man loves woman as
well as | love you, and when you ad
nit that you love me but refuse to
marry me. | believe that | am JUS
titled in wanting to know exactly
why"
They we're having late supper at
table in an alcove in large restaur-
ant. The gold tassel at the side Ut
her little theater cap swayed slightly
as she leaned her head over, staring
at the white cloth with it's mound of
yellow roses.
Look at me, Helen! It's high time
that we threshed this thing out" con-
tinued John Halden quietly.
Helen Rayner's face flushed pain
fully. Il wish you wouldn't dis
cuss such personal things--here."
Nobody is listening to us. Dean
Sherwood is grinning his usual She'll
never have you, my boy and am
not willing to submit to expressive
public speculation any more. Youth
either have to take me now or chuck
me over for good. I won't hang fire
another day" y
mercy, john You astonish me.
You are so dramatic Be pleasant
anu l0IS ShJoy tn'o oASolioA' sup
per-" ..
"No, the worm has turned, Helen.
Anger certainly affects mans APP
petite. You laugh at me constantly.
What is your attitude? | want to
understand it perfectly" B.
"Are you jealous, my dear?" cues
toned the girl in a half hooking
way. II rode home from Ellen's
luncheon today with Freddie Ohm
stead. He has new car. beauty!
j suppose you've heard about it. Dear
me-. she sighed audibly, jealousy Ia
such stupid habit"
Helen, have put plain question
to you. I can't force you to answer,
but ask you to for the last time.
You can't play with me and my love
for you another day" -.#, t
Her eyes met his for fleeing
second and she saw a stern look on
his face that forbade further banter
ing.
what is 1t you want to know.
John?" ... ... e..
do you still admit that you love
me?"
eyes. You must know that do"
"Then why aren't you willing 20
marry me? I can offer you all thar
your father is able to give YOU
II am not ready to settle down. \
want to have good time. When q
girl is not yet twenty-five she doesn't
want to give up all her fun" .
"Granted, but why give it up? Is
| 1t because you want other men
around?'
mo. AS it is, I go practically
everywhere with you now"
"Helen, it's because of Tom Gray
|ner. You want to remain single until
after he comes home with your
brother in the spring. He has more
cenary, after all?"
eff I didn't love you, John Halden,
II would never speak to you again
I'll tell you why ! haven't wanted to
marry you. You have so many the
cries, II have been afraid ! would
fail as your wife. Now. that's the
truth"
"What do you mean, Helen?
"You believe in what you cali
brotherhood and try to help people
who are less fortunate than you are.
You believe in really doing service
for Your friends. For instance, when
Jim Thornton's trouble came and | re-
monstrated with you for giving up
your time as we'll as your money to
help him, you said, 'Anybodys money
can accomplish as much as mine, buS
nobody can do for that boy as | can,
for he loves me and has faith in me.
With little encouragement and help
from me, he will soon get on his feet
again. He will do whatever expect
of him. never forgot those words
They we're indicative of your outlook
on people in general and on me in
particular ! was afraid to fail you.
IT don't expect any help from you,
dear"
That's just it. You think you
won't, but If we ever came to mar
riage, you would be- sorry that YOU
had taken a woman who was in no
sense your helpmeet. / know, John,
II have thought about It great many
times and tried to laugh the fear OUT
iof my heart
Don't say that, Helen. It's like
a whip in my face"
"You expect SO much Of woman"
"No, you're wrong about that.
Every man has theories about the
sort of woman he ought to marry.
but it isn't necessary for him to fol-
low them. I believe that a man ought
to marry a woman who loves him
we'll enough to marry him il he needs
it, but if you just love me well enough
to marry me- that's all will ask. ]
want you. Don't you see what a
;hypocrite I am? My, theories are not
personally applicable they are for
the other people. If you are only
waiting for me when the. days work
is over. that is all I want, truly,
Helen, all ] want in the world"
y"Perhaps I am not the woman you
want to marry. l am selfish. All
my life I've been warm, silk-lined
and we'll fed. I have never thought
of anybody's comfort but my own"
"Heredity and environment have
created that attitude. When the
time comes for any service, you will
not be lacking either in Willingness
or in ability I know you better than
YOU know yourself"
"At any rate, your faith in me
'is stimulating"