Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-01-27

&Se4N EsAg
- - W
HEsToR WAS DELIGHTED TO HEAR
FROM SIDNEY.
compelled to make western trip on
important business. Hestor was de-
lighted to hear from Sidney Ham
mond, and at once arranged theater
and supper party in his honor.
A party of eight occupied the Hes
tor box at the opera and thoroughly
enjoyed ia Boheme.' Walter b.
Hestor and Miss Edith LIE Roy; Sid
ney Hammond and Miss Olive, his
sister; Mr.. Converse and Miss De
Neuville; Mr.. Blake and Miss Mere
dith, constituted the merry group,
which at the conclusion of the opera,
mingled in the fashionable mob, and
after the usual delays and annoy
ances found themselves in carriages
speeding toward Fifth avenue.
There was crush of carriages in
front of Delmonicos. 1t was the
night hour when New York attains
the height of its feverish activity.
The avenue was alive with swift-mov-
ing equipages. An army of lackeys
was busy receiving the arriving
guests. Inside the massive doors, the
strains of an orchestra throbbed in
an air of heavy perfume. The glare
of light from thousands of electric
globes was reflected from glass and
marble, but subdued by palms and
masses of roses.
| A table had been reserved for Mr..
Hestor and his guests--brave in its
array of linen and flowers, and its
glitter of cut glass. As Mr.. Hestor
entered the hall he was recognized
by scores of friends and for a few
moments held an impromptu recep-
ton.
When this social duty was ended,
Miss Edith lie Roy took prompt
charge of certain details-as was the
wont of this vivacious young woman.
Mr.. Hestor had seated himself next
to Sidney Hammond. Miss LIE Roy
| had no idea of consenting to such an
arrangement.
"You are the host, Mr.. Hestor,'
she said, ''and you must take the
head of the table. Miss Meredith
will sit at your right, and Mr. Ham
mond will take his place next to her
| am not going to permit you and
Mr.. Hammond to monopolize each
others conversation. / can trust you
Miss Meredith, to keep Sidney and
| Walter from entering into any dis.
cussion of their dreary schemes fol
reconstructing the universe"
The dinner went on merrily amid
| a general conversation in which q
limitless number of topics were in,
| troduced, discussed, and dismissed
| Terrapin followed bouillon, and can
vas back ducks were served with some
rare old Burgundy. The spacious
dining halls had in the meantime be
come crowded, and the orchestra en-
countered noisy rival in the laugh
ter and conversation which mingled
in a harmonious blend from hun
dreds of tables. Dainty preparations
of shell fish gave place to salad
followed by a glace, which Miss III
Roy pronounced ''a dream in ole
| rose" While the ladies discussed
bonbons, the gentlemen lit cigars o.
cigarettes, and wooed the god Of Mic
otine with all the ardor which fol
lows the enjoyment of so sumptuou
q repast.
While Miss LIE Roy was energeti
cally defending her favorite Frencl
. author from an attack unwittingl.
made by Mr.. Blake. her plans so care
fully arranged at the opening of TIN
dinner We're disrupted by Sidne,
Hammond, who readily persuade'
Miss Meredith to change places witt
him. Miss lie Roy smiled her scorl
when she discovered this duplicit.
and PROMPTLY announced a socia
boycott against the ungallant Hesto
and Hammond, who already were All
sorbed in a quiet conversation on
topic which seemed of special inter
est to them.
Sidney Hammond was colleg
mate of Walter Hestor. He was tn
stroke oar in the famous crew whic
humbled the pride of the rival UNI
versity. Unlike many of the athleti
: heroes of the institutions of Learn
ing, Hammond combined the frame o
, a muscular Apollo with the brain o
the scholar. He was even more a her
3 with the professors than on the can
pus. The text and reference book
J prescribed in the curriculum serve
but to stimulate his thirst for ne