Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-09-23

! They were engaged. Sometimes II
seemed to her that they had always
been engaged ever since she had TAX
en- the studio below his and he had
dropped roses on her window SILL
| But he would not leave her alone
| in New York while he was in Europe
and she fatty refused to be wal
bride. Either she would marry him
and 60 with him or else she would
wait until his return.
you know, Seabury, I'm bit of a
fatalist," she said. II think one dies
when his hour comes, and l don't be-
lieve you're going to topple over at
| all. We're not prepared for marriage
| 1t isn't just love that makes it sue
| cess by a long shot. You want to
build on firm, economic basis
Then go up to mothers and stay
! with her until get back. You can
write all you want to, and she'll love
to have you. She has me all dead
and buried already, and it will brace
her up to have you laugh at her. Go
along, Marian"
And Marian had gone. Up into the
heart of Vermont to great, rambling
old farmhouse perched on a spur Of
land that overlooked mountains and
valleys for miles. Seabury's mother
was darling little old lady, cheerful
and motherly-too motherly. Marian
after seven months began to feel like
a progressive duck with hen par
(; ent. She fretted after town environ
ment and the incentive to work. Her
stuff was fiat and she knew it. Sea.
bury was on the point of sailing when
! he got an offer from an English pa
months longer if she did not mind. If
she did not mind? Marian packed
furiously and sent back a cablegram:
"Going back to work"
He would understand. Yet, even
while she told herself that romance
did not attract her and that work was
the great thing even for a woman,
after three weeks in town she found
herself down around Washington
square looking up studios, and her old
one was to let.
That night she dined out with
friends of the Quarter down at little
Italian place on West Eleventh street.
And some one spoke his name.
| "You knew that Seabury was back,
didn't you, Miss Earle? Made a
smashing record for himself, too.
Looks awfully fit. I met him up at
Mamie Bells last evening at dinner
Marian smiled. No, she had not
heard of Mr.. Abbots return, but she
was so glad Of his success. He was
always such clever, nice boy.
ed like to see him marry Mamie
Bell" went on her right-hand partner
at the long table. "She's just the sort
of girl to develop and supplement the
gifts of a man like Seabury. Awfully
well balanced and optimistic, don't
you know? Got plenty of tempera'
ment but it's all in focus. Seabury
needs a restful complement to a ma
ture like his"
"Yes?" Marian's tone was sweetly
interested and impersonal. Are they
engaged?'
81 don't know, but suppose so.
He's been around everywhere with
her since he got back"
Marian slept little that night Wrap
ped in kimono, she sat by her Win
dow, thinking. And here she had
been ready to even take back the old
studio for sentiment sake. It was all
livery well to tell herself that she need.
ed the old environment. She just
wanted to be back where they mad
first met and been so happy together.
The, following morning she was
rather late, but determined. Mr.. Betz
stood on the basement steps, talking
to the janitor, when she came along.
go right up, Miss Eearle. I'll be
there in a minute" he called to her,
and she went up the long flight OF
stairs, past the little niche where
Garibaldi's bust always stood, up to
the suite at the north end Of the
house. The door was ajar. She pass
ed through the high, narrow passage
way into the studio and stopped short.
over by the window, looking down on
the little patch Of garden, stood Sea-
bury. his hands clasped behind him,
and he looked curiously disconsolate
and lonely for any blessed with the
! approval Of Mamie Bell Mcmillan.
I He turned around at her step, and
gave a quick exclamation brimful OF
the boyish, explosive happiness she
loved in him.
by jove, it dragged you back, too,
didn't it - he cried, catching her
hands in a grip that hurt. 1--WE been
trying to rent it from old Betz for a
week, but he's put me off, telling me
he had another party after it, and I'd
have to wait another day. Lord, it's
good to see you again, Marian"
You're looking well" said Marian,
trying to draw away.