Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-05-18

good for Tom to have you there. And
think you need a change. Phil,
dear" suddenly leaning forward with
eyes full Of sympathy-"I'm sorry, so
sorry, l spoke the way l did! Now
goodby, I've an errand to do before
dinner"
1t was late in the season for Sum
mer Beach. Many Of the winter So
journers had gone north to replensh
wardrobes for the summer campaign
and arrange for the opening of sum-
mer homes on mountain and lake. But
enough of gayety remained at the
great hotel to fill the quiet moonlight
night with sounds Of laughter and
music. ..t.
Two men, Philip Mercer, and his
nephew, Tom Baldridge, had dinner on
the terrace, where a cool, soft breeze
blew in from the sea. The smoke from
their cigars was waited across the
terrace to another table, at which q
girl and an older man were finishing
their dessert. The girl turned and
Philip Mercer caught her glance. A
startled glance it was, for he was on
his feet in an instant staring as though
he had seen a ghost. Then, seeing her
amazement, he sank back to his chair.
He flung his cigar over the rail and
mopped his forehead. THAT girl,
Tom-who is she?'
Patricia Talbot"
And who is the man."
Il don't know-it's the first time
Eve seen him. don't know her very
| I,
daddy, maybe! What's the matter,
Philip"
| us her mother here?"
Il don't know anything about them.
met her on the beach and only talked
with her for little WHILE"
Something in Toms tone caught the
older man, something that conveyed to
, him that the few minutes had been
very precious, and hope that chance
might offer more opportunities.
"She is beautiful! And she is the
image of someone used to know.
don't know the name of the man she
married. The family took her to
Japan where she met an Americans
| lieutenant. in the navy-and married
him. never knew his name. 1t may
have been Talbot" l. ......y,s...s:
Philips face had gone gray. He got
up. II think I'll walk on the beach.
alone, Tom. I've headache and
don't feel like talking"
II believe I'll do the boy more good
by keeping away from him." he
thought, as he walked down the PLAN
covered path to the beach. Patricia
Patricia Talbot
The beach, hard as a stone where
the tide had receded, showed white
and glistening in the moonlight.
Philip STROBE along the edge of the wa
ter, not hearing its soft lap, regardless
Of time and distance. Thoughts and
feelings were tormenting him-just be-
cause he had seen face that remind
ed him Of his old sweetheart. He
despised himself now for fool! Why,
instead of running of, hadn't he wait
ed to meet Toms friends? That
would have ended the misery. What
was he afraid Of? Afraid to find out
that the girl he had loved was after
all but memory? Afraid the man at
the other table was her husband?
He came to the delta of samll
river. There was no bridge across so
he turned up the nearest bank, where
sandy path showed white beneath
the trees. He followed the stream
through the PLAN grove, the wonder
full beauty of the night bewitching
him. He kept on until the stream d.
vided-and in the embrace Of the two
arms was small green island and
on the island-a house. Moreover,
across the water to his side Of the
little river extended an arched bridge,
Japanese in style, and, coming nearer,
he saw that the house was a jap
anese pagoda, and the miniature
bushes in the moonlight and the paths
and tiny pools made a wonderful gar
den.
Then he heard the pumping of mo-
tor in the distance-from the direc-
tion he had come-a boat coming up
stream from the sea.
The sound grew louder, and soon
through the trees Philip saw a tiny-l
launch hung with lanterns. Two peo-
pie were in it, man and a girl, Tom
and Patricia!
But before he had quite recovered
from his surprise something happened
the unexpected, of course. A crash
like a hundred guns tore the quiet
highland there was a flash Of fame.
When Philip looked again the boat had
disappeared and there was no sign of
it's occupants.
1t took only an instant for him tt
kick off his white shoes and dive into
the water. He found Tom first-per.
fectly whole SO far as he could tell,
but unconscious-and got him to shore.
He dived twice for Patricia before he