Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-05-20

will recall others later on she said.
1T will be pleasant to rummage
among old memories" he laughed
shortly, "but at present I am interest
ed in knowing when you received my
wedding cards.
"They never reached me. But
home suggests a wife, doesn't it,"
mot necessarily. The purchase was
the result of settled purpose. May /
trespass upon your hospitality? For
the first time in years can treat my
self to a short vacation"
"You are most welcome" she replied
cordially. "You have been sadly miss
ed
Thank you. Your voice then held
it's first note of friendliness. Twas be-
ginning to feel homesick. elizabeth,
will you let me give, you lessons IN
gardening during my stay" -,
She threw back her head and laugh
ed heartily. 1T would be wasted ef-
fort Plants never thrive for me, so
l leave the borders to Uncle Pink
Perhaps you have never tried hard
enough. It is wonderfully interesting
to watch the tiny things push them
selves through the earth; to get down
on your knees and dig your hands into
the warm soil, crumbling it SO the
tender leaves can come through quick
ly. Do sit down. This root makes
comfortable seat. want to talk and
l am curious. Are you really as in
different about that letter as you
would have me believer ...
II had forgotten It," ~.
Then. I presume, since the letter is
so easily forgotten, memory will be at
fault in regard to several things l
have been hoping>you WOULD remem-
ber.' 49, @''
Il remember you." she replied pleas
antly. "Ten years is long to keep one
in mind, especially"
"Especially?"
when one tries hard to be forgot
ten.''
do you make no allowance for cir
cumstances?"
always, when am not an interest
ed party ,..
"You-an interested party?" he
questioned.
Gould it be otherwise when you
were at the house every day and all
day?' she asked carelessly. -
81 was mistaken. Memory is rae
tor to be reckoned WITH he comment
ed dryly.
She brushed the litter from her
dress. There was flnality in the
movement that made him stretch out
OBTAINING hand.
Don't go. 1t is very pleasant here
even if l am disappointed in the
warmth Of my greeting, and | do so
wish to tell you of my garden. I
wrote you about it. It was good let
ter, although you evidence no interest
in it,"
She shook her head even as she
paused. 81 am afraid you ride an old
mans hobby. Come to the house and
tell me in the freight. The air is get.
ting frosty
He gave her quick look and HIS
voice lost it's bantering note. mo;
must tell it here" He hesitated
barely perceptible instant. 1T Is a
hobby. Dear, you should see my beds
of pansies and rosemary"
The color flared into her face. you
had prepared me for garden OF
orchids, but even old fashioned flowers
can be an outlet for surplus energy.
You always did throw yourself body
and soul into whatever you undertook
to do
why not, Elizabeth? I am in per-
feet health. I have passed the age
when one glowers at the moon because
the fair one is cruel. But all the same
l am taking this pretty hard. This
is Monday. must be in my ONCE
Thursday morning. Important business
requires my attention, else / would re-
main here and begin at the beginning
of things Ten years Is a long time,
but you have never been absent from
my thoughts. I would have written,
but there was nothing to say. l had
nothing to offer you. The best I could
do was to work for a home for you.
1t has taken me ten years. VIII you
accept 1T? Will you 60 back with me
Wednesday,
Her eyes swept the fields. From the
cover near the branch she heard the
partridge calling. She paused so long
that the man beside her caught his
breath and grasped the rail Of the
gate until his knockles showed white.
Then she turned to him.
"It will be a delight to see those old
fashioned flower borders" she said
simply.
SALEM.