Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-06-26

| ly remark, but his usually agile
tongue remained silent. What was
the matter with him? Why should
this girl seem different, somehow
from all the other girls he had evel
met? When he looked into her eyes
flood of memories-a little sad-o1
all the happy times he had evel
known overwhelmed him. Memories
of a starlit seattle red and white
awnings of yacht-the wind wins
pering through the trees on hillside
an orchestra playing in the distance
memories OF old and happy, far-of1
things-of times when he was even
Younger, even more in love with life
Why should this be? He wondered
And the girl, looking at him, won
dered too-was he suddenly bereft
of his tongue?
81 haven't asked you the conven
tjonal question:" she said at last
Glow do you like Florida?"
OTIS wonderful, isn't it?'' Minot re-
n1ied coming to with a start. II can
speak of 1t even more enthusiastically
than any of the railroad folders 40
And yet, it's only recent-my d1scov'
erv of it's charms"
Really"
eyes When was surveying it on
that stopwatch of a train, my impress
eion Of It was quite unfavorable. 1t
seemed so monotonous. | told myself
nothing exciting could ever happen
here" 49,.
"And-something has happened?"
"Yes-something certainly has hap.
pened."
She blushed little at his tone.
Young men usually proposed to her
the first time they saw her. Why
shouldn't she blush-a little?
something very fine Minot went
m "And I am surely very grateful
to fate
"Would you mind looking at your
,watch-please"
Certainly. quarter after twelve.
AS was saying
do you think we can make it?'
81 am sure of it,
you see, 1t is so very important.
want so very much to be there by one
o'clock"
"And I want you to-
81 wonder-if you really knew
knew what?"
Nothing. l wish you would, please
but you just did look at your watch,
didn't you ?"
They ratified on down that road that
was so sandy, so uninteresting, SO
lonely, with only a garage advertise.
ment here and there to suggest a
world outside. Suddenly the driver
ventured word over his shoulder.
Don't worry. lady he said. We'll
get there sure.
And even as he spoke the car gave
a roar of rage and came to dead
stop.
ooh dear-what is it now?" cried
the girl.
ACTS like the train," commented
Minot.
The driver got out and surveyed
the car without enthusiasm.
81 wonder what she's up to now?''
he remarked. Fifteen years I drove
horses. which are supposed to have
brains, but this machine can think
of things to do to me that the mean
est horse never could
you promised, driver" pleaded the
girl "We must reach San Marco on
time. Mr.-er-your watch?"
"Twenty-five past twelve smiled
Minot.
The native descended to the dust
and slid under the car. In moment
he emerged, triumphant.
"All o. K" he announced. Don't
you worry, lady. It's San Marco OF
bust"
Minot said
Again they were blowing through
the sand. The girl sat anXiously on
the edge of the seat, her cheeks fam
ing. her eyes alight. Minot watched
her. And suddenly all the happy, SAD
little memories melted into golden
gIow-the glow Of being alive-on this
lonesome road-with her! Then sud
denly he knew! This was the one
girl the girl of all the world. the CIR
he should love while the memory Of
her lasted, which would be until the
eyes that looked upon her now were
dust. A great exultation swept
through him
"What did you mean he asked
"when you said you were always 90
Ing things like this?"
II meant" she answered. that In
silly little fool Oh, II you could
know me we'll and her eyes seemed
tn question the future-"you'd see fo1
yourself. Never looking ahead to cal
culate the consequences. It's the oil