Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-05-08
Evening Story
HEROES AND OTHERS.
BY Clarissa Mackie.

BY Clarissa Mackie.
Copyright, 1915, by the Mcclure News
paper Syndicate.
"A clod - cumberer of the earth!
Will Linscott stared grimly at his pale
reflection in the hall mirror before he
pulled on his cap and went limpine
painfully away from the house.
Mrs. Frake, the housekeeper. who
had known him from frail boyhood
looked from her window
Poor Master Will" she murmured
"What a pity, after all his years OF
} suffering and all the operations, THAT
he can't be cured! There's his Cousin
Daniel = a big, strong man, like an
iox. and not needing SO much - why
couldn't Master Will have had just a
wee bit Of that strength"
Some one else was thinking the
very same thing at the very moment
when Will limped along the path that
bordered the golf course and disappear.
ed in the south meadow.
Alice Long, waiting while Dan Lin
scott executed one of his brilliant
strokes, drew a soft breath of pity as
Wills tall, gaunt form disappeared
from view. Not once had he turned
toward them, although he must have
heard her CHEEKY call must have re-
cognized the piercing whistle that Dan
sent after him.
Hes all in this morning" said Dan
carelessly. Its q deuced shame that
DR.. Hardness failed to help him.
:, Its more of blow to Will than we
can imagine" said Alice quietly. Fan
cy having all the money one wants and
able to buy everything save health.
Health - and a woman's love.
amended DAN with meaning glance
at the girls lovely face.
Money never bought the love OF
woman who was really worth while,
remarked Alice, flushing under his ar.
dent glance.
i Dan Linscott had plenty of money
of his own, so he felt no jealousy OF
Willis handsome, delicate beauty. Dan
was sure of himself = of his good
looks, his ability to please, his success
at all athletic sports, his power to win
any woman he wanted for his wife.
He was even sure Of Alice Long
whose people were victims Of genteel
poverty: sure of her love and sure OF
her good sense in marrying such an
embodiment Of everything desirable as
represented by Mr.. Daniel Linscott.
So he was in no great haste to put
! the important question to the girl. His
week end visits at his cousins hand
some country home afforded him an op
portunity to see her frequently, and he
felt sure that she was only waiting for
him to make forma declaration OF
his love- Then there remained only to
slip ring on her finger - such a
ring 1t would be as she never had seen
before - never dreamed of wearing!
Alice glanced at her watch and
pleaded an engagement. She declined
Dams offer to accompany her across
the fields toward home. Nothing 10th
he remained behind He could walk
with Alice any time. and the course
was In perfect shape, thanks to Wits
lthoughtfulness for, of course, the poor
chap couldn't play stroke himself.
At the piano or violin he was wiz
ard: but as for sports one remem
bered he was no invalid and expected
nothing of that sort.
! Alice struck into the path and fol
| lowed it to the south meadow where
will had disappeared. At the stlle
/ she paused and, bending her hand
above her tranquil blue eyes, she look
! ed for some glimpses of his gray clad
| form,
But he was nowhere visible. The
meadow waved like the sea, knee high
with daisies and buttercups. Meander
ing among the flowers ran narrow
path. Trees were scattered here and
| there. and over in the northeast cor
ner little group of red-brown cattle
were grazing.
Alice crossed the stile and entered
the narrow path. She was strong
athletic young figure, clad in spotless
white linen, with a red sweater, making
brilliant splash of color on the land,
,scape. A little song trembled on her
lips as she went along, but all the
while her blue eyes searched the field
for Will Linscott.
She came upon him suddenly lying
prone in the grass, his face buried in
his hands, the picture of despair.
Alice dropped down beside him
and put hand on his dark hair. Don't
Will" she whispered.
A dull red surged into his cheeks
and left them drawn and white. Even
his lips paled and his eyes were depths
Of agony and shame.
Don't mind me, WILL she soothed
him softly. "Why, we've been play
mates and friends for years and years!
I'm = Will. cried myself to sleep
last night when heard DR.. HARNESS.
decision"
you're an angel, Alice" he mutter
ed with downcast eyes. Then he add
ed. with grim defiance. $50 did Cry
myself to sleep like baby just be
icause couldn't have health. I'm sc
| Jealous of Dan and his strength and his
good looks that am beastly cross tc
him. I'm in the deuce of temper
dear. There's only one thing want in
this world - it's the love of certain
woman and don't dare ask her - tc