Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-04-24
Evening Story
PASTEL SHADES.
BY Harmony Weller.

l
Copyright, 1915. by the Mcclure News
paper Syndicate.
| Priscilla Walker was not exactly
dull, but she never sparkled. She was
not exactly homely, but she was not
pretty. -,
"If should try to describe her."
one man in her set was heard to say
in speaking of Priscilla, she has 9.
personality that Ia Of pastel shades.
why, Jinks, you're waxing almost
poetic. That's one Of the best things
Il ever heard you say laughed Tom
Royden, slapping him on the back.
Eyes, Priscilla is made up Of pastel
shades, now that think of It."
Thus, since the artistic mind al
ways favors the soft tones In nature,
the half shades of life, Priscilla was
most popular with the more artistic
clique of her social set.
"You can stand such lot Of Pris-
ella Walker" another man had said
OF her. "She never bores you with
brilliance nor lulls you to sleep with
her lack of presence. She is just COM
Portable; the more you know of her the
better you like her"
Hire a hall and make speech
about her, why don't you?" asked Tom
Royden again; for 1t was to him that
the second remark also was made. 20
write her about it, never heard so
many eloquent compliments about any
one little drab colored girl" he said,
with some heat.
Never drab colored, Tom. Any.
thing but that"
That's so, Bill; old maids are drab
aren't they"
And, thereafter, In spite of himself.
he was drawn toward Priscilla. He
told himself it was only to find out
what 1t was that Bill Hayden and Bon
links were always talking about. But
the more he was thrown with her-the
more he danced with her -dined with
her, talked with her the more he had
to admit her fascination.
''Her personality seems to be always
just what I need. She invariably fits,
into my mood. Now, what bothers me
Is this; does she fit in this way to
every fellows notion? Does every one
think she's just the right girl?"
Tom pondered these questions
through more than one night. At
length he became frequent guest in
the home of Priscilla's parents In their
country place on Long Island And 1t
was during visits in her home that he
began to gather, through close intro
spection, the reasons for her personal
lity.
Her father, an unusually successful
business man, was bluff and noisy, SELF
centered and very proud of his achiev-
&. IL 81 Inv ~ nj n.
er was the antithesis of the father; she
was difldent, quiet, retiring-but
sweet. Priscilla, born unselhsh, had
tried all her life to please both par
ents She had listened to and admired
her father on all occasions, drawn him
out on his favorite topics, flattered him
little. With her mother, she tried
to be as interesting as possible; she
attempted to make the little woman
feel that she was part and parcel OF
the world instead of a retiring, almost
subdued creature. And Priscilla sue
ceeded In bringing more color into her
mothers personality than any one else
| had ever been able to do Mrs. Walker
was almost at ease when Priscilla was
about
priscilla" Tom asked one night as
rthey sat at coffee before the log fire
in the dimly lighted living room, "is
there anything you can't do anything
you are not interested in?"
Priscilla laughed softly ad studied
the black coffee in the tiny cup she
held. why yes. suppose there are
many things can't do"
For instance?"
! 81 can't VOTE" she laughed.
"And don't want to, hope added
Tom. testify.
to have the privilege of the ballot but
1t is hardly my way to- well, to get
out and fight for it," she said
Next" persisted Tom.
! ooh. don't force me to talk of my
self; 1t isn't an interesting topic"
! "Not to you, perhaps. But, Priscilla"
Tom leaned toward her., ut has be-
come the most absorbing topic for
thought, conversation and considera-
| ton = to me-"
Priscilla only smiled, sweet, non
committal sort Of smile.
| Ibid you hear what said?" he re-
Ipeated.
Priscilla nodded. why - yes,
think did, she admitted.
Girl, don't you know most girls
would have blushed - If they weren't
/ past blushing or simpered or looked
shocked? And yet you receive that re-
mark which you know very we'll is
only the forerunner of more and seri-
GUS ones as If had said 1t was a
pleasant day. Priscilla, look at me-"
| Priscilla turned her soft blue eyes
/ full upon him. Slowly smile dawned
| in them even as she looked at him.
"Well?" she asked. What them
| What then? I love you. can't
stand it to be away from you for day.
And yet I have that awful feeling that
you are all things to all men - to all
people in the world. And never could
stand that dear I'm jealous; I want
you to be mine alone"
"But - Tom," she said. calling him
by the familiar title for the first time
though he had long discarded formality
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