Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-04-01
with a dozen interesting people pres

with a dozen interesting people pres
ent.-,5 rs r- .-.s
! Mrs. Marlow's party arrived early
at the club meeting Amy looked about
in wid&-eyed interest at the handsome
! ly gowned women, the sleekly groom
! ed men and the soft footed attendants
of the fashionable hotel in whose gild-
, ed parlors the gathering was held.
Suddenly her eyes filled with a look
of panied surprise as she saw John
enter with a handsome woman in an
ultra-decollete gown of black satin
which simmered but little more than
did her smooth. black hair. She car
ried crimson roses. Amy found her
self wondering if it could be night
mare instead of reality. The gentle
man who was presiding rose to pre-
sent the guest of the evening just in
time to make impossible any attempt
ed explanation by Amy, but Mrs. Mar.
low looked with disapproval toward
John and the languidly smiling woman
at his side.
In voice full Of deep melody the
poet read his verses-poems Of patriot
| ism, of childhood, of love. Amy kept
watch on John and his companion,
who had taken seats half facing her
With Mrs. Marlow's motherly bigness
between them, Amy could see without
being seen by John.
"By George! This is surprise,
John. We were wishing for you at
dinner. and Amy said she was sure
I you'd come out if you got the note she
| left for you in time" In his enthus1-
asm Mr.. NARROW did not notice that
his words seemed to bring a look OF
perplexity into his face.
"Amy?" he asked absently. "Where
lis she?'
! ooh in that maelstrom Of hero wor-
shippers and sycophants,' indicating
the throng pressing about the poet
Then, with sudden seriousness, ne
added: "Old boy, you're lucky man
to possess just Jewel Of wife IN
these days when truly balanced
woman is distinct rarity. There's
more than one woman in this very
crowd whose husband neither knows
nor cares where she is, and it's fake
marriages like theirs that seriously
undermine society You stay mere ana
I'm get our wives and we'll make
quick get away ,.
The handsome woman's expression
changed from Indifference to interest
and from interest to enthusiasm as the
poet's musical voice filled the room.
John seemed discounted, though Amy
III oth hanQ11GQ
of the womans forgetfulness OF MS
presence or from desire to escape
the whole thing. a. /
AS the poets voice died away,
babel of voices rose in delighted COM
ment. He was surrounded and lion
lied by many. prominent and persls-
tent among them being johns com
panion. Bored by the whole proceed
ing, John stepped into an adjoining
room and, as he would have 1t, walked
right into ponderous Cyrus NARROW.
who had been detained in commit
tee meeting.
Half an hour later, John and Amy
were on their way to the hotel alone
in the Marlows' limousine. Amy held
her head high and her lips shut tight,
and John stared grimly ahead for some
minutes before he spoke.
amy" his voice was hoarse, his
sentences abbreviated, "of course |
deserve to be thrown off forever, but
don't do it without hearing me- I've
learned tonight what real values are.
Most of all I've learned the value OF
woman like you That woman is the
wife of a railroad official who is much
away from home. She was amused
with my admiration until she caught
that poets eye. While NARROW was
looking for you she passed out and
babe me good night, saying that
friends who live in the same apart
ment she does had just room enough
in their car for her and would not let
her say no to their invitation. When
| saw that the poet was also of the
party | understood, but didn't care.
She had passed out of my life before
that for as sat there and faced that
crowd and thought of you left alone
at that hotel, l was ready, to fight my
way out of that room"
Il was watching you, john said
the now relenting Amy, land half way
hoping that your discontinue was not
jealousy over her forgetfulness OF
you. I was hoping too that I might
grow until I could fill your heart, for
I've found today what sorry, stupid
companion I've become"
mot word like that" said John
| Nobody, not even you, can mallsn
i the dearest woman on earth in my
nraSanceo a.. ~ y ~