Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-04-27
Epening Story
THE VISITING SPEAKER.

BY EARL REED srLvERs.
Copyright, 1917, by the Mcclure
Newspaper Syndicate.)
The dignified principal Of the Mill
town High school cleared his throat
importantly.
II have the pleasure OF announcing
that on Friday afternoon we shall be
honored by visit from the assistant
to the president of Belmont College,
he advised the school body, "who will
deliver a lecture upon College Days"
The students took the announce
ment philosophicaliy. Friday afternoon
lectures failed to thrill them to any
onsiderable extent; the speakers
were generally bearded professors who
reeled of page after page Of uninter-
esting statistics while the pupils
yawned openly or read forbidden
novels under the cover Of their desks.
But to Little Miss Browne, the
youngest member OF the faculty, the
announcement was Of surprising i'm
portance. It caused slight gasp to is
sue from between her crimson lips,
and light Of "Reminiscences to shine
from her sky-blue eyes. For the men,
ton of Belmont College brought back
memories-the most cherished men,
cries she had ever known.
Through the long day the reminis-
cent light continued in her eyes, and
when school was dismissed she walked
rather hastily to her small room in a
large boarding house and closed the
door leading to the hall. She wanted
to be alone.
Belmont College. 1t was long time
since she had permitted herself the
repetition of that name, but the men,
ton of it by the pompous principal had
suddenly broken her long-nurtured
resolution never to think of Belmont
again. And now, In the seclusion Of
her room she left her thoughts dwell
upon 1t longingly. lovingly. For there
she had met Bob Prentiss.
She remembered it all as II were
yesterday. She had gone to the junior
prom and its attendant festivities with
her cousin Budd Sands. who had ask
ed her because he couldn't think Of
any one else to take, and who. having
given the invitation, considered his OBJ.
legation at an end. But little Miss
Browne hadn't minded at all, for on
the very first evening she had been in
troduced to Bob Prentiss. The name Of
Bob's guest was Belle Bentley. and I'M
til Bob's eyes had rested upon those
Of little Miss Browne he had been
rather attentive to Belle. After that
there had been noticeable difference
until, by the time the house party was
two days old, casual observer would
have supposed that Bob had invited
Miss Browne and Budd Miss Bentley
Everybody seemed perfectly we'll salts
fed except the last mentioned young
lady, who, although she laughed more
loudly than any of the others, spent A
good part Of the time watching Miss
Browne from beneath half-closed eye
lids. The expression in her eyes chang
ed gradually from resentment to
jealousy.
But little Miss Browne was oblivious
to everything except the lightness Of
Bob Premises Taught and the droning
softness of his deep voice. When the
final day of the house party arrived
Bob Prentiss and the girl Budd Sands
had invited found them selves hope
lessly, helplessly in love. Neither
seemed to care a whit what the others
thought about it; they escaped from
the crowd whenever they could, to sit
in the corner and look at each other
and say meaningless things. Both
agreed that it was the most wonder
full house party that was ever con-
ceived
There was one person, however. who
thought differently. That person was
Belle Bentley, who, as the time for the
conclusion of the prom drew near, re-
solved to speak kindly but plainly to
little Miss Browne. The opportunity
came on the night before the breaking
up of the house party. BY some whim
OF fate the two girls had been assign
ed to the same room for the final even
ing. 1t was while they were dressing
for the farewell dance that Miss Bent.
ley delivered what she considered
masterpiece OF sarcastic eloquence.
Bob Prentiss and I are practically
engaged she informed the other girl
in the course of her remarks. and he
is only playing with you for this one
dance You're something new, and you
amuse him"
Little Miss Browne hadn't said
much, except to assure her wrathful
companion that she lad no intention
of being plaything for any one. And
when. Bob had come shyly forward 4
short time later to claim the first
dance Miss Browne had told him firm
ly, but with the hint of tears In her
eyes, that she did not want him to
dance with her ever again.
And he. puzzled and slightly resent
full. had demanded to know the reason
for the sudden change in her attitude
toward him. But the girl had only men,
toned something about being play
thing, and had advised him rather bit
terly that 1t might be good thing If
he paid more attention to the girl he
had brought to the dance.
The next morning little Miss
Browne left for home. and the three
letters which Bob had sent her during
the two days following her departure
had been returned unopened.
That was two years before the dig
nifled principal OF the Midtown High
School had made the announcement
that the assistant to the president OF
Relmont College would speak upon