Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-02-08
Euening Story
THY NEiGhBO r.
~ IGVuN Y VT'SSNS'' T. IT
Copyright, 1916. by the Mcclure
Newspaper Syndicate.)
BY lzola Forester.

ANCWoV0ROA Ny ANASsssS''
Perhaps the fault which led Eliza
beth into the most perplexing situa.
tions was her habit of jumping at con.
illusions. It had done SO before, often
and often, yet the lessons of the past
had the most fascinating way or van
ishing utterly when they were most
needed, leaving her defenseless, VIC
tim of her fancies and impulses.
So now as she was mounting the
stairs to her studio suite and heard
decided moaning behind the doors OF
No. 8, she went straight UP the hall
way and tapped on the door.
please, please go away came a
smothered. fearful sore OF voice from
within. Whereupon Elizabeth felt cap
able and protecting, and she spread
her wings at once in brOoding fashion
over the unknown neighbor in evident
distress. :,
81 live over you. Let me come in,
she urged Il can't go away ana leave
you crying like that"
But I'm not ill at ali. I'm only
only wretched You can't help; truly
you can't.
But Elizabeth was gently, firmly
insistent, and finally the door opened
and she faced most peculiar ana IN
yolved situation On the couch, race
down in it's pillows, was her girl nelsh'
Dor. Beside her on table lay many
parcels, Enthusiastically store parcels
unopened, and standing by the door
which he had just opened was young
man, gloomy and thoroughly resent1ul
of the intrusion.
why. I'm sorry thought you were
alone,' faltered Elizabeth. She was
so large and dimpled and amlable II
was impossible to be cross with ner.
mo. I'm with her." returned the
young man grimly. But she does not
approve of me. If you're her neigh
Dor why have-No, know the way she
does. No one man can get acquainted
with her She has lived alone IN th's
Internal little dumping ground OF art
and starved. said it-starved!
Elizabeth looked at him tixedly, as
she would have at any strang new
specimen. He evidently was not Ia
miliar with the spirit of let-aloneness
that pervaded this corner OF the
square. She had not even known tnere
was a girl student in the room Deneath
her until she had happened TO see ner
at the door one day. Life was TOO
full of endeavor to waste on cultlvat-
ing ordinary social amenities. Inc
voung man went an, almost saVagely
appealing to Elizabeth:
81 knew there was something Wrohs'
and I came up to see how she was get
ting along. When found out she
hadn't eaten in two days
"Reast!" came from the pillows,
with thoroughly indicative uncuon
Elizabeth's mobile mouth had dlmcui
itv in retaining it's pleasant curves az
she heard it.
{ aAnd she refused to let me take her
out and feed her up or lend her any
money, So went out and bought up
things and brought them back and now
she's insulted." -,
at was brutal of you" The girl
sat up, and pushed backed ner chalr.
Really, she was awfully pretty q,
short range. Her hair was falr ano
tangled as sleepy child's, ana ner
ewes were very dark. She fairy gar
ed at the young man. did over give
YOU the least reason even to imagine
YOU could buy me groceries.
Molly"
or had wanted help, I would have
found it.
"Where? /,
with my neighbor upstairs,
hauahtily, but with little smile AT
Elizabeth. who stood completely bal'
ned at the turn of things. Il know
Miss dunbar would have helped me
to tide over temporarily. ;,
ooh. gladly" exclaimed Elizabeth.
"WeIl. that's all right, too" return
cd the Young man. But what | want
to know is this-where do ] stand :"
"On your own feet, just as intend
tn stand on mine," came back his an
swer swiftly "You told me you wou!o
never allow wife of yours to peddle
mixtures around magazine of1ces-
Neither would l." came back the
decided answer Even Elizabeth real
ICED it was a masterful tone too.
"Why should you? have plenty for
MS both, more than plenty. You may
paint and exhibit if you like. You
don't have to peddle." =,
"I prefer Independence In matr1:
mony. So long as I have special
gift"
"But you haven't. appeal to this
lady. your neighbor. Look at her pic
tures!' he pointed around the studio:
"Look at them. Seventeen thousand
other girls all over the civilized world
could paint just as we'll as she can
That may be exaggerated-slightly-
but it is partly true. She is not
genius. Is she?"
Elizabeth felt delightfully."- inclined to
laugh and agree with him. The paint
ings and sketches around the studio
were lacking in everything that went
for success. And the girl was so pref
ty and so fearfully sure of herself.
Cant you COMPROMISED" she asked
eagerly. That is, if you care for him
at ALL
ooh, care for him. retorted the
girl scornfully. THAT is why ne
knows he can come here and worry
me. I'm engaged to be married to
him. 1 can't escape him"
why not break the engagement?
She looked at the young man
thoughtfully. He stood with both
bands in his pockets, hopeful, but ag.
greSsive