Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-03-22
more resumed its peregrinations.

by planting his elbows on the table
and firmly clamping his Jaws between
| both hands he secured the attention of
those useful organs and put them en-
tlrely at his guardians service. But
his heart and brains were another mat
ter. Both played truant and absolutely
refused to be drawn into consideration
of this proposed tour of foreign parts.
His day was proving distinctly disap-
| pointing, but he need not advertise that
! fact to all the world. With dull ears
| he heard his guardians voice.
| Now, when your dear father and
projected this identical tour our inten-
ton was to go directly to Paris"-the
paper cutter halted directly over the
black spot standing for that fascinat-
ing metropolis-"and from there
| With rebellion in his heart Tom was
summing up his grievances. Olivia
had not emerged promptly on his ar
rival. Her long delay had the effect Of
making him feel crudely premature
and not eagerly welcome All the
sparkle had been blown off the day by
| her tarrying. Her father excused her
on the score Of headache, superin-
duced by loss of rest. When she did
appear, however cool and fresh in her
crisp, pretty house gown, with shining
eyes and red ripe lips, it was impossi-
BILE to accept that fiction Of a headache.
I'VE planned to remain in Paris six
weeks on our first visit, combining our
selves principally to the art galleries
and the places Of historic interest. You
see that was or would have been just
after the days of the commune"
Toms ears reported his guardians
words, and when Olivia did come his
heart complained. He had gone for
ward eagerly to meet her, almost ar
IDENTIFY. She must have read all his
adoring thoughts in his burning eyes
and flushing cheeks. His telltale cheeks
had gone flaming hot at sight of her.
She had smiled at him as indulgently
as If he had been young spaniel frisk-
ing DIT her heels, and for the brief space
OF time lapsing between his coming
and the summons to dinner she had
patronized him so openly that she had
successfully imposed upon him an I'M
comfortable sense of extreme juvenil-
lty. He gnawed his budding mustache
in impotent rage.
Poor, dear Rufus' his guardian
droned. He had the making of fine
artist in him. Doubtless that six weeks
in Paris would have been most profit
ably spent by u.s.. From Paris we
meant to go by easy stages"-here the
paper cutter ambled erratically over
the map, descriptive Of the easy stages
until we, reached Florence Flor;
+ ence, the, home Of classic art. the
scene Of immortal Savonarola's unap-
preciated efforts and martyrdom.''
| What a finished young lady the pref
ty little thing had blossomed. into on
the strength of a debut! He had tried
to talk to her of the future, giving it
tinge Of common interest-hers, his,
theirs. She had persisted in question
ing him, with matronly air of supe-
rior age, about his studies and his
wardrobe and his physical condition.
He had alluded to his guardians wish
that he should travel and intimated
that half dozen words from her adj
verse to the project would settle his
mind permanently. No power on earth
could make him put the sea between
her and him If she would bid him stay.
Instead she had wrinkIed her pretty
brows sagely and said: Eyes; papa and
l talked all that over before you came
home, Tom, dear. 1t is really the right
thing for you to do. A man is so
crude, so incomplete, you know, until
he has seen something of the world,
until he has measured himself by 9TH
er standards. Now, there is Mr.. West
over
| Tom stared at the map Of Europe
with hot cheeks. Reason convicted
him of having acted very like fool
at that juncture.
Father or son?" he asked bluntly.
"Son, Of course, collie had answered
sWeetly. He is only three years older
than you, Tom, dear, but he is so pol
ished, so cultivated, so broad, entirely
owing to travel, you see''
II admit his perfections," Tom had
snapped with the rudeness Of an un-
travelled donkey.
Il like him immensely" Ollie had re-
torted, with arched eyebrows and
frosty emphasis, which had made Tom
rejoice in the summons to the dining
room. He had followed his lofty young
hostess in meek silence.
He wondered if she would pin nap
kin about his neck and cut up his food
Tor him. She was assuming such vast
ly superior airs he, was prepared for
anything, everything. He was ready
to snarl at everybody. His lovely vision
was fading behind bank of dark,
leaden clouds.
4 Olivia looked at him furtively once
or twice during the rather constrained
meal. She wished her father had not
thought it necessary to warn her
against Toms 'boyish foolishness." 1t
had made everything SO difficult, SO
awkward, and it was "spoiling the
poor dears holiday" But papa had
said" he would be seriously angered
If she allowed Tom to pay her any
sort of loverlike attentions.
And SO the awkward dinner had