Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1903-12-10

~ "A4 Avn O6coAE, DIN SA1Ds H.
her cape Gnugly about her and sat
swaying slightly with the movement Of
the boat, her feet dangling, her eyes ON
the waves, the clouds, the sea gulls
swooping through rainbows of mist
and out again. while he, pacing the
deck before her back and forth and
back and fostn again, eyed her furtive-
ly.
Others paced the deck. Some, en-.
tering the dining room. sat pale faced
before various and sundry eatables
brought by alert and black cosred
walters. Some stood at the ratings,
looking back at the fine roseate hue of
the receding coast Of France.
Her belongings had been placed by a
porter on the long seat at the side. BY
and by. leapfng down, she went,t to look
after them. Upon her return she found
him comfortably ensconced in her vi
entity, with a soft Scotch rug well
wrapped about his knees and a soft
felt hat drawn down.
For awhile, after the manner of two
oyergrown children, they eyed each
other. Then:
'I nave met you before" she said,
with a lighting up of eyes in a smile.
Yes" be assented; Eat the studio OF
Nine. INmnire in Paris. 1 recognized
you instantly"
With that they talked for an hour or
SO of things Of no earthly consequence.
as is customary in such Ell SEES, after
which they drifted into topics more
deep.
DO you believe" he asked. "in the
supernatural?
Sometimes" she answered. 1T think
I don't believe in much of anything
else"
Then I have a story to tell. 1t is
the story of a bag Of bones. had an
uncle in the diplomatic corps In China.
While there he came across the bones
Of a Chlnaman. Whether he Just
found the bones Or
Perhaps" with a quick, bright
glance, .he killed him. This begins to
be interesting"
Maybe. At any rate, with much
pains and a good deal Of expense. he
brought this bag Of bones over the seas
with him to his country house in Scot
land and, having brought them there.
put them away and forgot all about
them"
1T Is the way of the world" sh.
nodded. I'VE go to every sort OF
trouble and expense doing things we
think we want to do. then wonder why
in the name of common sense we ever
went to the trouble of doing them"
Just Sc. In due course of time he
gave Il house party, this uncle of
mine, inviting some friends up from
London for n week or two. He filled
the house. as a matter of fact, from
garnet to cellar. But. first, / forgot to
say that the servants had put the bag
of bones in a box and the box III one
of the spare rooms upstairs under the
bed"
He shrugged his shoulders.
THAT was the pith of the story" he
said disgustedly.
Never mind" encouragingly. "Ill
imagine you told it where it ought to
have come in. Go on"
"The house was 40 filed" he went
on. that upon the arrival of the last
guest it was found necessary to put
him in the spare room. which for some
reason Or other-yon will pardon this
story ifsft isn't very clear-was seldom
used. Then the fun began. There were
dancing and music and frolicking TIL
all hours OF the night. till 4 or there
about in the morning, when. n by
one, they commenced to go to bed. The
guest Of whom ] spoke was the last tc
go. The rest had Just about dozed OF
when he rCused them by dazzling Gus