Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-09-04
Evening Story
AN EVENING OFF.
1y Louise oliver.
Copyright, 1915, by the Mcclure News
paper Syndicate.

Priscilla laid Gerald Junior in hit
crib. tilted the bottle to just the proper
angle and snatched a soft little hand
kerchief out Of her belt Just In time
to prevent very bitter tear from drop
ping down on to the wee pink cheek on
the pillow.
Gerald senior had just gone out,
slamming the door as most males 40,
considering the same fitting finale
for q marital row. This was their first
quarrel, and Priscilla felt that the
earth was shaking under her feet.
She slipped into kimono and sat
down by the window. 1t was not
quite dark, but the street below was
very quiet; so was the little nat - just
a soft, contented sound from the crib
In the corner The silence added to
her loneliness. OF course little Gerald
was the dearest, sweetest, most pre-
cious darling In the wide world, but
after she had cooed and kissed and
patted and rocked all day, to say moth:
ing of the ceremonious bath and airing
in the perambulator, she felt 1t her prl-
vilege to associate with people OF ner
own age. after baby had settled him
self to sleep all night; preferably Ger.
aid senior, but = and this was what
the trouble was all about - he had
drug store. and no one could be trusted
with the precious prescription factory
from a. m. until II p. m. daily put
himself. Priscilla was left to amuse
herself as best she could.
The evenings had passed In dull
procession. The lonely little mother
tried everything she knew OF to while
away empty hours, reading, man1cur-
ing. attempting new coiffures for no.
body to see and sleeping. From pure
loneliness she had taken to retiring at
8.
The little handkerchief was getting
quite wet. The twilight deepened into
darkness and the street below began
to show signs of life. A taxicab drew
up to the entrance Of the tall building
next door and g couple got out. the wo-
man with velvet evening cloak thrown
over a light gown of some sort. The
entrance light fell upon them and Pr1s-
ella saw that the gown was OF SOFT
plated chiffon of pale yellow, and that
the satin slippers and stockings match
ed. She sighed. How many ages Ead
It been since she had dressed like that!
Others came, some walking and some
in automobiles. Priscilla watched
eagerly for glimpses of fluffy gowns
Her own face began to reflect some OF
the eagerness and brightness OF those
below.
Suddenly some one threw up win
dow in the building next door and
strains of music came floating over to
her. She raised her own window IN
order to hear better. 1t was waltz,
and loking up, she caught glimpse
now and then of passing dancers.
Gerald Junior was sleeping now. She
took away the bottle. covered him
snugly - and then she went 20 her
desk. Long ago she had tucked away
an engraved card somewhere in a
Digeonhole. She found it under a
babv's weight chart.
Mr., and Mrs. Reginald st. Clair,
STUDIO DANCING.
Classes Tuesday and Friday. t.
From until II.
Private lessons as arranged.
Nestor Building. Philadelnhia.
How she had coaxed Gerald to so!
He used to love dancing! How mar
r,age changed men! It was different
with women. They didn't lose all TO-
nance in two short years.
Then she thought OF something. Why
not 20 to dancing school alone? Many
women did! But. pshaw! There was
no use trying to make excuses for her
self. Either she was going or she was
not! Which? She stood an instant IT.
resolute, then Strengthened perceptibly.
She was!
She rolled baby's bed as quietly as
she could to the window and pulled the
shade to the top If she left bright
light burning in the room she could
look over at him after every dance to
make sure he was all right.
In few minutes she was dressed in
a year old white gown and black slip
pers and stockings, but she felt like
Cinderella i~ ATTN and crystal going
to her first ball {