Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-02-23

nor that he wished with all his heart
that she could meet the actor. Per-
haps the establishment would follow,
and if not then certainly his rate
would be sealed in regard to Martina S
affections.
But meeting did not come about
even in the atmosphere Of the studio.
Martha worshiped in secret and IN
secret Alan grieved. He felt, as time
Of the interest his sweetheart was
showing regarding the actor; that ne
must do something to precipitate an
outcome to the situation.
Alan had never from the beginning
taken the position Of adviser to Martha,
nor had he felt called upon to dictate
her actions Perhaps had he been more
strict, in a sense, Martha's affections
would have been secure. She might
have feared to arouse jealousy in the
bosom Of her easy going Alan. AS 1t
was she went her way flirting where
she chose and only feeling a certain
sense Of security about Alan and her
future She did not trouble especially
to weigh her emotions nor to speculate
as to what another day might bring
forth
Through genuine talent Martha had
made for herself an enyiable position
among miniature painters. Had she
been mere nobody in the intellectual
world Alan would have considered him
self capable Of guiding her, but she,
having won success entirely unaided,
he felt it unnecessary to advise her,
much as he thought she needed it.
Alan realized, with sinking of the
heart, that Martha's interest In John
Ward was developing rather than wan
ing. A crisis was surely at hand. Alan
was not the man to marry girl VINO
only half loved him. He must either
break with Martha Or win her entire
SELF
It was during one Of Martha's popu-
lar Sunday afternoon teas that she
first discovered the loss of her priced
locket with the miniature of John Ward
in 1t. Her heart pounded against her
side when she discovered that it was
gone, and in imagination she saw her
self tainted by her secret adminrat1o
for an actor. All Of her friends would
learn Of her infatuation for no one
could fail to know that the miniature
was her own. Her famous touch was
not to be denied. For once In her life
Martha shrank from the fame that was
hers and the disclosures following In
the wake Of the finding of her loclet.
Instinctively she realized that Alan
Dobie would not want to take up his
! life path with q girl who wore anotner
mans picture. She shrank too from his
scorn and for second blamed John
Ward for the entirely unconscious part
he was playing in her life maneuvers.
Martha refrained from making In
quiry about her locket, but after her
guests had departed made minute
search in every remote corner Of the
studio The locket however, was lost
and with It had gone Martha's peace OF
mind. The fear grlpped her that it
might fall into the hands Of John Ward
and Marthas shame would know no
end. Naturally, one finding it and rec
ognizing the well known actor, the first
impulse would be to dispatch 1T to him.
It was with no little misgiivngs that
Martha waited the turn of events. OF
course, she could, if John Ward receiv-
ed the locket and in turn brought it to
her. having recognized her touch, dis
claim any knowledge Of it.
| At the thought Of her idol making
himself known to her, Martha quite
reconciled herself to the loss Of the
miniature, and her heart lost beat as
she anticipated the prospect of being in
the same room with him and perhaps
shaking his hand. For the time being
Alan was forgotten. She thought only