Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-06-24

answered quickly. I'm awfully fond
of the Arabian Nights I'm fond of
Conrad, too. Stories OF the eastern
seas, you know. And all that sort of
thing. Remember what you said
about the reincarnation of the Hin
du"
AS she touched the book he went
on:
mo, thanks; don't read. Just talk
to me. I'm always glad to have you
with me-" 49,.
She dropped her eyes and struggled
with button OF her glove. Behind
her Larry's sister moved about the
room. Celia glanced at Larry. who
just then was staring at the ceiling.
Her breath quickened. Larry's eyes
roved to the Japanese garden. To
herself, Celia Darrow now repeated
over and over his words, I'm always
glad to have you with me-" They did
not speak. It seemed to her that
something within her forbade many
words. Every time Larry looked TO-
ward her she smiled and when 1t was
time to 60 she rose in flutter, taking
his hand, blush spreading over her
pale, oval face.
Thanks again, Celia" he murmur-
ed. DO come in tomorrow"
She dropped his hand and hurried
out, saying to herself: HE loves
me; he loves mot" His eyes followed
her through the door and came to rest
on the garden by his side.
She returned to him almost every
day till he was we'll. and at every
leavetaking she said to herself. HE
loves met"
her open window She was reading
with her eyes alone. Her thoughts
were with Larry Holden. Suddenly.
as II the thoughts had summoned him
to her by their longing, she heard
Larry's own voice in tho hall. She
leaped from her chair, pressing q hand
to her heart, waiting. It was tho first
time Larry had ever been In her home.
AS he entered the room she totered,
going toward him, and at the same
time she smiled.
"Celia!" he cried. .#
He kissed her Her face famed and
her eyes closed He made a dashing
figure, In stream Of sunlight, his
golden hair flashing around his brow
like halo. He spoke squickly and
his eyes sparkled with excitement.
Dear Celia!' he cried, looking
straight into her eyes. 1--WE some
thing to say to you. I'm going on
a journey! Isn't 1t splendid? Awfully
good Of old dad! I'm going to the
orient, Celia! I've been wanting to
ever since I read the first word about
1t, in some tale or other, years ago!
Blue seas, blue skies, jungles and
brown faces! just had to come right
over and tell you. Know why? Be-
cause it wasn't SO much the Arabian
Nights nor Joseph Conrad, but your
Japanese garden that set me of this
way. BY George, looking at those
bridges! The pagodas! It's to be
japan first, Celia! Your little garden
did It! Wish me luck. Lots of luck"
His outburst stopped abruptly and he
added In sudden awe: You're awfully
pale, Celia. Why"
She smiled. Then, taking his boyish
face between her hands, she drew him
toward her and kissed him twice on
the forehead.
Take care Of yourself, child, and
write to me-spmetimes-"
A moment he looked wonderingly
into her eyes. He kissed her again,
solemnly. without understanding in
the least. And the next moment he
was of, with great, boyish shout.
She sank into q chair, her eyes
fixed on the door through which he
had gone. She wondered would he
ever return and she knew that even
were he to return it could make no
,difference-no difference!