Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1903-12-19
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Don't you know where they've
gomez remarked Strout.
Over to the hotel, guess" said
Mandy. II heard Mr.. Sawyer tell Miss
Alice that they had good oysters over
there, and she said as how she was
dying to get some raw oysters"
Things couldn't have worked bet
ter" remarked Strout, as he rejoined
Abner. who was smoking cheap cigar :.
THE Pettengill crowd has gone owe
to the hotel to supper. You ought not
to smoke, Abner, If you are going to
kiss the girls tonight" said Strout.
Il guess | sha'n't do much kissin',"
replied Abner, except what I give my
fiddle with the bow. and that fiddle of
mine is used to smoke"
Strout looked around and saw that
the whole party had assembled. There
were about fifty in ALL very nearly
equally divided as regarded numbers
into fellows and girls.
Now I am going ahead" said Strout
to interview the old lady. before we
jump in on them. The rest of you just
follow Abner and wait at the top of
the hill. just round the corner. so that
they can't see you from the house.
have arranged with Hiram to blow his
bugle when everything is ready, and
when you hear it you just rush up the
hill, laughing and screaming and yell
ing like wild Injuns. Come in the
back door, rislst into the big kitchen,
and when Miss Hubby comes into the
room you just wait till deliver my
speech"
strout started off. and the party fol.
lowed Abner to the appointed waiting
place.
strout knocked lightly at the kitchen
door, and it was opened by Mrs. Ma
son.
''Is the Deacon at homer" inquired
he, endeavoring to disguise his voice.
No" said Mrs. Mason. che has gone
to Eastborough centre on some BUSH
ness, but told me he would be back
about $780,"
4'Is Hiram here?" asked Strout.
Hes out in the kitchen polishing
UP his bugle," said Mrs. Mason. But
come in minute, Mr.. Strout, l have
got something to tell you"
Strout stepped in and quietly closed
the door.
What's the matter. Mrs. Mason?
hope Hubby isn't sick"
NO" said she. cts unfortunate it
has happened as it has but it couldn't
be avoided. You see she invited some
company to tea, and supposed that
they would have gone home long fore
this. You see, Hubby don't suspect
nothing. and she has asked them to
spend the evening, and don't see how
in. the world am going to get rid of
them"
Don't do it," said stront. EXTEND
to them an invitation in my name to
remain and enjoy the evenings festivi-
ties with us. No doubt Miss Hubby
will be pleased to have them stay"
~ know she WILL said Mrs. Mason,
"and I'll give them your invite as soon
as you're ready"
well. Mrs. Mason" said Strout,
Just tell Hiram am ready to have
him blow that bugle. and when you
hear it you can just tell your daughter
and her friends what's up"
Hiram soon joined Strout outside the
kitchen door. The latter went out in
the road and looked up the hill to see
if his party was all ready. Abner
waved his hand, and Strout rushed
back to Hiram and cried, "Give it to
'em now, Hiram, and do your darned-
est"
Hubby and her friends were engaged
in earnest conversation, when a loud
blast burst upon the air, followed by a
succession of piercing notes from HI
rams old cracked bugle.
Hubby jumped to her feet and ex-
claimed, What does Hiram want to
blow that horrid old bugle at this time
of night for? I will tell ma to stop
him"
She started towards the parlor door,
when the whole party heard shouts of
laughter, screams from female voices,
yells from male ones that would have
done credit to a band of wild Co.
manches.
All stood still and listened. Again
the laughter, screams. and yells were
heard. This time they seemed right
under the parlor window.
A look of surprise and almost terror
passed over Alice's face, and turning
to Quincy unthinldngly she said in a
low whisper, what was that, Quin-
cy? What does 1t mean?"
Quincy's heart jumped as his Chris
tian name fell from the girls lips. He
put his left hand over his heart Cher
picture was in the pocket beneath it)
and said as naturally as he could, al
though with little tremor in his
voice, tits all right, Alice, that's Mr..
Strout's idea of surprise party"
"a surprise party!" cried Hubby,
"who for? Me?"
At this moment Mrs. Mason opened
the door and entered the room.
Hubby" said she, Professor Strout
wishes me to tell you that he and his
friends have come to give you sur
prise party, and he wished me to in
vite you." turning to the others, "as
Huldy's friends to remain and enjoy
the festivities of the evening""
Then the poor old lady, who had
been under a nervous strain for the
past ten days, and who had come
nearer telling untruths than she ever
had before in her life, began to laugh,
and then to cry, and finally sank into
chair, overcome for the moment.
II wish Abraham was here" said
she, II guess Pm getting a little bit
nervous"
Let us return to the great kitchen,
which the members of the surprise
party now had in their possession. A
dozen of the men produced lanterns,
foI, 1t4h nd ,,,I,;n