Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-02-09
pired IN the life of her erstwhile init

pired IN the life of her erstwhile init
mate friend.
The two girls were often in the same
ballroom attending the same ds noes,
yet neither seemed so much as to know
that the other was there and never by
word or look conveyed the secret
knowledge that each bore knaWlng
pain-the pain of severed friendship.
Jane tried desperately to conceal her
interest in John Guthrie. but her eyes
followed his every movement. He flirt-
ed lazily and mildly with most OF the
girls, but most Of all he lowered over
the old.fa shioned, soft-eyed Polly.
And Polly, looking swiftly across at
Jane, smiled in such way as to make
James blood stand STILL Polly was going
to break her lifelong habit of demure,
maidenly modesty and flirt openly and
shamelessly with the Scotchman.
James lips curled in scorn in spite of
the fear and pain that was gripping
her. She knew that Polly with her abb
surdly trusting eyes Of blue and her
gentle, persuasive manner, together
with the touch Of alluring coequetry
she was now employing, would break
the heart Of any man.
However, Jane had sufficient Of pride
and self-control to carry on her own
y
of blindness to Polly's maneuver. Her
smiles were plentiful, and no one in the
ballroom suspected that her heart was
we'll night breaking. She not only re-
GREETED the fact that Guthrie found in
terest in other women, but more than
that she lamented the fallen idol that
Polly represented.
ut Is all right for me toto flirt,"
Jane told herself. But Polly is differ
ent. Polly is far too precious type
nowadays to lose sight Of She simply
must not be allowed to smear her
beauty with such modern Characters
tics" Jane smiled wistfully at her own
shortcomings, and sent swift glance
Of something akin to love into Polly's
eyes. Jane was frightfully hurt, and
she wanted Polly to know it.
Polly was obvious, however and
continued her tactics with renewed
VIM Guthrie followed her lead until the
entire number Of dancers in the room
realized that something unusual was
in the air. For the most part they
were Of the opinion that it was Will
lard Wright who was suffering by the
Irritation so clever was Jane at Jug
Cling with her emotions. She had at
least concealed her hurt from the pub
lie.
Sne spent n SleSpleSS IlSIlt, llo"SNCl,
thinking Of the lost ideal in Polly.
The next morning, true to the in
born beauty Of character that lay
deeply hidden beneath the surface OF
lightness,, Jane went into the garden
and selected a wonderful cluster OF
pink roses. Having arranged them to
her satisfaction she donned her most
lovely frock and went forth to Polly's
cottage.
Polly, peering from behind the case
ment curtains to see who entered her
garden path, caught a swift breath and
smiled a wondrous smile. She flew
down the stairs and precipitated her
self into James arms. Neither girl
spoke for a few seconds. Polly was the
first to smother her emotion and find
voice.
"You are my darling old Jane, after
all-arent you?"
mot If you are going to turn flirt,
Jane said quickly, with soft glance
into Polly's blue eyes. II can't stand 1t
to see you making Willard miserable"
: Polly laughed softly and together