Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-01-27


her eyes eagerly for the verdict Miss
Jemima took deep breath It's too
bad, Billy; I'm sorry. And YOU
Have you done anything about 1t? 70
doesn't seem to call for any reply, I'm
sure"
The letter only came yesterday"
Miss Jemima Strengthened up quito
suddenly. Her little faded blue eyes
twnkled above the coffee urn. Let
her distinctly alone, Billy. That Is
best"
A quick expression of alarm over
spread the others attentive face.
But Miss Jemima. That would
mean that I was willing"
Take my advice, boy. I'm won.
an myself. you know"
Truesdale rose. THANK YOU" he said
simply. ITS hard. but I guess you're
right. Do you-do you think she'll
come around after a bt?"
Girls are curious creatures Billy.
Let's wait and see"
He bent over her hand and kissed Il,
Miss Jemima cleared away the cups,
lifted the shades and took up her knit.
ting. She was smiling.
|
Come i'm" .-
Marcia Ainsley pushed open the door
and entered softly Miss Jemima
glanced up without curiosity Only the
beaming placid smile of welcome IRA.
dated her homely features, as always
before. But 1t was all she could do
to keep from exclaiming. The girls
face was pale and swollen and tho
eyes more pink than blue
Miss Jemima, you must help me!
I'm all broken up. I'm perfectly
wretched, miserably unhappy. But 7
must be strong-I must bear up no
matter what happens"
| Marcia, are you crazy child? What
In the world"
Just this, dearie: I've sent him
away-Billy you know. OF course
love him to death and all that. but
IL can't marry him. It would wreck
his career-drag him down to nothing.
We're both so poor, you see. I've been
reading book and in 1t the heroine"
tut, tut, Marcia! For every book
that's written there's an antidote Now
I've just finished book where the
young folks threw off the yoke and
took their future in their own hands.
They loved each other so much that
the won-together."
| LUZ Cuot 10 IhcOISLlCdl, mlSS J0s
NINA, look at poor mammal"
"And read another book. Marcia.
where they didn't throw 1t OF and the
the man found another girl. Men are
rather tickle, you know, and it want
any time before he was quite happy
and congratulating himself on having
ESCAPED making terrible mistake"
Billy is different was the some.
what defiant answer
Perhaps. And perhaps not"
And you would really advise me to
recall my letter and marry him after
all? Oh. / could never do that now.
Besides" Marcia hurried on feverish.
ly, "1've already made arrangements
to leave tonight for Chicago TOTO
take painting from a great artist. I
have talent, lots OF It, they say, and
I mean to be somebody"
Miss Jemima rolled up her knit
ting and laid it on the table. 1T might
be worth the experiment, since you've
made up your mind 50 positively. Who
knows? You might meet lots OF new
people, too; perhaps very rich young
fellow"
There never will be anybody butt
Billy. It isn't that want money, Miss
Jemima In few years Billy will be
in better position to marry"
"He will probably be a prosperous
married man-in few years-with
happy family about him"
Marcia flushed to the eyebrows.
And IL shall be q sour old maid
with--with socialistic notions!" !,
Miss Jemima laughed softly. Il
was only joking, dear. BY all means,
20 on to Chicago and make name
for yourself. Well all read about You
In the papers and be, oh, ever so
proud"
| Marcia's eyes flashed with excite
mont. 81 will, will" she said. and
now must be going. I've lots Of pack
ing to do and several people to see be-
fore catch that 7:1O train. Goodbye
Miss Jemima, and thank you so much
for understanding!
J Goodbye child--and good luck"
Marcia fluttered through the door
way like pink butterfly in her fresh
chambry dress, and ran quickly down
the steps
!, Miss Jemima sat moment in puz-
zled thought. She was all at sea and
, genuinely distressed about the whole
affair. She was devotedly attached to
both the young people, and she hoped
she had not been officious. A sharp
ring of the front door bell reused her
abruptly. She rose and opened It cur
iously. It was Judge Hardee the
smartest lawyer and the crankiest man
in Haverford Miss Jemima invited
, him in, doing her best to seem natural.
The Judge had been coming in rather
often of late.
At parting, he said to her; II may
I go to Chicago tonight on that 7:10
, train. or may send young Truesdale
It's an important business matter, and
I wouldn't trust anybody except myself
but William
"Billy's a very bright young fellow
Judge. believe you'd do we'll to en-.
trust your business to him"
; The Judge nodded. 'If you think SO.
Miss Jemima, it must be all right. And
-er-hem--I dislike to be abrupt, as
it were, but--er--would you care to
!, have me-stay?"