Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-07-24
"Yes. Did it look the part?"


with miracles, and ! had no idea
could get on with them SO WE'LL" He
was saying to himself that Nell her
and his eyes gave out so much Of Mis-
thoughts that Nell was glad the
waiter reappeared then to finish TAX
ing her interrupted order
She decided afterward that silence
would be more embarrassing than
conversation, so, as they ate their ices
they chatted and enjoyed the music
together.
THAT music certainly strikes my
ear Pleasantly said the young man
"for I've been four months in min.
ing camp where metallic graphic
phone grinding out ragtime was the
only thing that even pretended to be
music"
Immediately Nell attributed the
sunburn to the outdoor life Of min
| ing engineer and\ drew pleasant
mental picture of the young man op.
fposite in corduroy and puttees. And,
as other women have done, she had
/ jumped to the right conclusion.
] "Of course one would miss much in
such life" she said, yet it must be
heavenly to miss many OF the compli.
cations Of a more formal life-I mean
the things that are little"
You're right about that" His eyes
flashed Respectively my aunt, who
kindly assumed charge Of me when
my parents died, was disappointed
that i didn't take to one Of the learned
professions. Maybe It's my tendency
to be little that makes me want to
dodge the little chickering's and irri-
tating details of complex life, but
I've found out this II fellow can t
grow big in an outdoor life he hasn't
the capacity for bigness."
Nell was sure now that she had met
the man OF her dreams and she could
have wept because her ice cream was
all gone and she had no further ex-
cuse for remaining, as the musicians
were silent for the moment.
you shouldn't even think the word
maybe when speaking Of man who
surmounts miracles She smiled as
she said this and the man smiled
back, but back OF both smiles was a
yearning look that told Of regret that
the time for parting had come. When
they rose from the table Nell extend
ed her hand to the young man as a
gentle way Of saying that their ac-
quaintance was at an end
II shall not forget your coming to
my rescue she said sweetly.
And shall not forget you" he
said. Her eyes fell before the wist
fulness in his and she withdrew her
hand and left the place without either
of them speaking another word.
When she reached her aunt's cot
tage Mrs. Ames was enthusiastic over
a telephone call just received from
Wilbur Kirk saying that he and his
mother would motor out that evening
instead of waiting until Saturday
morning Nell couldn't even manage
polite interest in Wilbur Kirk now.
and throughout the dinner hour and
the two hours that followed when
they sat on the front porch awaiting
their guests, she was so silent that
Mrs. Ames finally gave up trying to
carry on conversation with her.
Nell, looking at the moonlight on
the water, was dreamily going over In
her mind every glance Of the eyes and
every tone Of the voice that had come
to her that afternoon from the young
man who seemed the embodiment Of
her idea. 80
"There they are!" exclaimed Mrs
Ames delightedly, as car drew up
at the curb.
I'm afraid we're dreadfully late"
said Mrs. Kirk, when they we're all in
side the drawing room, but we stop
ped at the hotel for a little visit with
my nephew, Jack Ainslee who is just
in from South America. Jack insisted
upon being mining engineer instead
of lawyer or minister, as | wanted
him to be. and when l see his fine
physique and his tremendous manli-
ness I'm glad he had his way about 1t.
BY the way, Mrs. Ames, I've asked
him TO call tomorrow"
so glad you did," said Mrs, Ames
effusisely, and Wilbur wondered why
Nell turned suddenly to the window
just then and gazed outside. He would
have wondered even more IL he had
heard her ecstaically murmuring
something about another miracle"