Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-02-09
p@o.o.oso.o.oo .o.o.o.o.o.,
; FOR THE SAKE OF
) APPEARANCE
BY Hubert Mclean johnson

I M ! LHlNHlNUL {.
) BY Hubert Mclean johnson 8
70 Copyright, 1908, buT. G. Mcclure q
o.o.o.o.o.o.oo.o-o.o.o.o.ol
"NIayI not have this one?" said l.
"For the sake Of appearance, you.
know" added, noting her hesitation.
"yvell," replied Phyllis in an uncer-
tain way, "for the sake of appearance.
then"
| The room was hot and stuffy, and
dancing is warm work anyhow.
"The yeranda is lot cooler" sug-
gested.
"For the sake of appearance also?"
questioned Phyllis, eleyating her eye
brows.
Certainly" I answered, glancing in
the direction of Mrs. Gillespie. ut
might look strange If we didn't, you
know"
st has one advantage" said Phyl-
lis--"one does not need to, talk out
there"
Phyllis laughed. 1t sounded kind Of
good to hear it. Phyllis has pretty
laugh and particularly so when one
has not heard 1T for whole month.
Ibid you hear the latest?" asked
by way of changing the subject.
(Which is"- questioned Phyllis apa-
thetically.
"Of my engagement I finished. 81
Phyllis was interested. She leaned
forward in her chair and rested her
chin on her palms.
"This time to- she pursued.
But I was not going to commit my
self.
"What do you think of Oracle Raw
shawl" said I.
II thought you preferred taller girls
and blonds," commented Phyllis.
'Beauty is only skin Deep" quoted
sententiously.
Phyllis herself is exceptionally pref
ty.
II suppose so," she said dreamily,
taking no notice Of my remark. But
it's awfully funny" she concluded,
with little laugh.
II fail to see the humor of the sit
uation," l replied stinly. "This is not
exactly testing matter with me-"
II should not imagine So" said Phyl-
lis dryly. But I'll apologize. I used
the wrong word. ought to have said,
what coincidence"
coincidence? Howl" / queried in
CONSERVATION.
l anticipated something, but don't
think Phyllis knew it, I fatter my
self that my cigarette never trembled
i have always prided myself on my
I nerve.
II might, make a little announce
ment myself" said Phyllis quietly
with just the faintest suspicion of O
laugh in her voice.
I flicked off sixteenth Of an inch
, of ash. Ashes are SO liable to fall on
ones clothes, you know.
"And the manY It's remarkable how
tobacco steadies one.
II believe you will find people con-
graduating Mr.. Dawson Graham this
evening"" replied Phyllis demurely.
LUCKY DEVIL" calculated impolite-
ly. l said other things to myself.
never had much use for that fellow
anyway.
Phyllis bowed in mock courtesy.
People are good enough to say so,'
she assented. II really can't say that
see it myself, but
l laughed The thing was appealing
| IN my or nf 1,rY,, f'cs nv.
cellent thing, you know, to possess q
sense of humor.
I'VE wouldn't have believed all this
a month ago" said I. II would have
laughed had any one suggested such q
thing"
How fortunatew said Phyllis, with
apparent irreverence.
"Which?" asked. "That wouldn't
have believed 1t or that would have
laughed?"
"That we found out in time" Phyl
lis seemed quite serious. "Afterwart
1t would have been apt to create sucl
a scandal"
''rrue," said l. eve did quarrel oc
casionally."
"Occasionally" shifted Phyllis. "Yor
might better say eternally. Why,
remember one Time
"When you were staying at Boreas
Beach," I Interrupted.
"No, not that one,' corrected Phyllis
-''when was" I,
"And l used to sail up the river tt
look ut YOU; You wore yellow dress
that summer, you know, and l coult
see you on the veranda. How I used
to wish could get up the courage
to land and go up and talk to you!
don't suppose you ever even saw me-
"Why didn't your" said Phyllis un
reasonably.
knew why. My Imagination gave
me vivid picture Of Phyllis turning