Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-07-06

Copyright, 1915, by the Mcclure
| Newspaper Syndicate).
BE good, sweet maid, and let who
will be clever" Davis half chanted,
nodding significantly at Elise.
She blushed family, frowned and
turned her back.
1T is nice to be good-even for
revenue. Don't think blame you,
dear girl--serious minded young men
with money in both pockets are not to
be despised"
mo! Rather light minded ones who
have nothing of any Sort" Elise flung
back with immense scorn.
Davis chuckled. I'm worth as much
as seven dollars, actual cash. Poten-
tially-just wait till the royalties begin
rolling IN"
"Why not say till the Greek calends
AS you generally do?" Elise came
back at him, her voice choking. ''Tm
not INVITING you with poverty-don't
you dare say 1t. It's being poor with
malice aforethought that sets me wild.
That's your sort"
"Will plaintiff state her case? De-
tense reserved" Davis laughed, yet
not quite easily. He had sensed the
choking voice.
Elise turned upon him, her dropped
hands clenching hard. III you starved
for an ideal, disdaining to work un.
worthily. could love you, starve with
you joyously," she said, but when you
let weak pride and pure vanity stand
in the way"
II don't, understand" Davis inter
rupted. now looking uncomfortable.
"You do understand" Elise retorted.
l"You think 1t reason. Graham wanted
to rewrite an act. You put the play
lin a drawer and have not looked at 1t
since. Because, forsooth, he's an ass
oft the stage. know it-everybody
does. But he has the instinct that tells
him what will get over. You lack It.
Your way may be ever 80 much finer
| Thanks for them kind words"
Davis tried to say with merry scorn,
but hurt and angry in spite of himself.
Elsie went on pitilessly: 1T was
so with your book-frst half Is ador-
able fresh and witty and clean.
Everybody says so-but you will lug
in dirt all through the last half. Need
less dirt! Yes, you shall hear the
truth. II your soul wore dirty gar
ment could understand your sticking
by 1t. It doesn't. You are clean
your uncleanness 10 Just an affecta-
tion-no matter how you prate about
strength
| This grows monotonous." Davis
broke In, like the Mona Lisa smile.
I'd rather be sworn at than have you
SO perfectly reasonable. Maybe
ought to let impotence do her perfect
work. Still it occurs to me you are
perhaps more acutely aware Of my
shortcomings from viewing them
through the lens of another mans
PROJECTIONS"
only partly right" Elsie answered.
"rve felt this coming all along-but
, until you brought in Maginn /
wouldn't let myself say it--sven to my.
self. H.
$50 fetched stick to break my
own head. Well, 1t shall be bless you,
my children!" Davis interrupted sup
erbly. "Maginn, the little busy bee.
improves the shining hour. Naturally
he hovers over all sweets"
"Maginn has just this to do with it, .
she cried, her nails dug into her palms.
Hes below you-worlds beneath you
lin every way except one-he does
, what he can and does 1t with q SIN
cerity Of belief in himself that quite
redeems his conceit. II you tried only
half SO hard"
"You forget. am not bankers
son." Davis cried, now thoroughly
angry. Don't waste more breath, my
dear. understand. You are tired Of
waiting, of hoping, Of believing. Mag
inn, with his expectations, his sweetly
solemn mind, tempts you sadly. Take
him and welcome. offer you my fell
citation and wish you q very good ev-
ening"
AS you will, but take this" Elsie
answered, slipping of his ring, mere
thread Of gold with winking fire opal
on top. Her hand trembled. Was it
|, for this she had but half an hour
earlier sent Maginn away with mo-
80 kind it was irrevocable? She knew
, 1t was wicked, but she had been kind
AZ q penance for hating poor Maginn
because of his humble projections.
} They were bearing him 80 much farth-
or and higher than Lynn Davis better
parts were ever likely to carry him.
i Now, Lynn was jealous. She would
condone that in no man. She all but
flung the ring ut him. He let it fall