Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-09-21
Evening Story
THE FATE OF THE FOUR.
Hy Louise Oliver.
Copyright, 1915, by the Mcclure
Newspaper Syrdicate.)

Copyright, 1915, by the Mcclure
Newspaper Syrdicate)
Lily was a peach. Not only on &C.
count of her creamy complexion and
violet eyes with extremely long lashes,
but she had a way with her, a way
that made every n in the world,
especially each Of her %suitors, feel that
he was the only person upon the globe
who amounted to much.
The suitors just mentioned consisted
of Tom, Dick and Harry. 1 could say
Harry, Dick and Tom just as we'll, for
it really happened that Harry Hamp-
den, Richard Ingraham and Thomas
| Perrine were the names Of the favored
ones. Then there was Monsieur Beau
caire.
Probably 1t was the nickname by
which her intimates referred to her
frayed friend that appealed to Lily's
c%ontrariness Cor PITY to the extent
that she always stanchly stood up for
him.
, They called him that because he was
q mystery. Not only was his immacu-
late linen fringed and his n suit and
topcoat visibly mended, but he had pre-
scented a card bearing the remarkable
name of Stuart Remark Dryton Semi
ly to the family the day he brought
Lily home after a fall on the ice.
"Some day he'll come in gold buck
les and ermine, and flap his ~feathered
hat at the rest Of US fellows" leased
Tom Perrine, "and say, Here, you lit
tie shrimps and tadpoles, all OF you
must scoot now. I'm the Knight OF
Ump-de-Ump, the Prince of $3.50, and
also Lord Helpus. Git! The fair
Lillian is nine"
Lily's sister laughed. II don't be-
lieve he would talk that much in a
wear. When he comes, Lillian has to
get out all her overtures, etudes and
n%octurnes and play for him all even
ing. He just sits and eats her up
with his eyes,"
II think you are all hateful. He is
smart and we'll educated, n It's a
shame to make fun OF hin because ne
is poor"
subject was dropped.
Lilly, I want to talk to you seri.
ously." It had come. The orner OF
her mouth went up for an instant:
Then she lowered them hastily and
looked thoughtful.
"~Seriously?"
Eyes, Lily. It's time we had an IN
derstanding. Don't put me on any
longer. just can't stand it. You
know I love you madly. There isn't
any reason that we can't get married
right away if you will only say, Yes.
You know they gave me q boost at the
bank and we can get along in great
shape. You are the only girl in the
world for mel ;.
Lily puckered her brows. II can't
tell you today, Tom. I must have a
while to think"
well: All right. guess III have
to wait"
That night much the same converse
ton took place with Dick Ingraham'
Only Dick had prospects of losing a
rich uncle. He had a nice, gentleman
" position as clerk in the water office.
He knew he could not undertake Lilly
on that, and he put it as delicately as
he could about his uncle. Lily was
very kind.
You are a dear boy, Dick, but really
I'd like you as we'll without the money.
But can't you wait a little while?
Really I don't know
Thus encouraged, Dick promised to
wait.
Then came Harry, who also agreed
to wait.
It was really time she decided on
which one of the three it was to be.
She liked them all. Did she love one
Of them enough to marry him? There
were times she was sure it was each
in turn. They were all dear boys.
But there was something-she could
not tell just what it was. In the last
few weeks it had seemed harder than
! ever to make up her mind. Gould it be
one Of the others? For there were
others, dozens who had offered them
selves as candidates. She thought
them all over. No 1t must be either
Tom, Dick, Harry, or-She flushed
and looked into her startled eyes in
! the mirror.
Then she turned out the light and
jumped into bed.
The next day Lily crushed her hand
It was all very terrible and she had
to have anaesthetics and doctors and a
trained nurse. When she began to
realize what had happened, her room