Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1905-10-21


marked as Mrs. Shows. The young
lady was of an artistic bent, and the
stiff ornaments in the shut up parlor
and the wonderful oil paintings Jared
upon her. Strange to say, even the wax
dipped wreath that hung in it's circular
black frame over the whatnot did not
appeal to her. The captains considered
that wreath-it had been the principal
floral Offering at the funeral OF Captain
Perez's sister, and there was lock of
her hair framed with 1.-THE gem of the
establishment. They could understand
to certain degree why Miss Preston
objected to the prominence given the
spatter work God Bless Our Home"
motto, but her failure to enthuse over
the wreath was inexplicable.
But by degrees they became used to
seeing the blinds open at the parlor
windows the week through, and inno-
vations like curtains and vases filled
with late wild flowers came to be at
first tolerated and then liked "Elsies
notions" the captains called them
Ralph Hazeltine called Oh the after.
noon following Elsie's arrival, and Cap.
tain Fri insisted on his staying to tea.
1t might have been noticed that the
electrician seemed tri1e embarrassed
preston came into the room,
- the young lady was not embar-
.assed in the least and had apparently
forgotten the mistaken identity incl
1nnt his porynI1Spac,e, eno,, ,,,o,o
But 1t came back again when Cap
tain Fri said:
"Oh, l say, Mr.. Hazeltine, forgot to
ask you did 'Gusty come yesterdayY
Ralph answered rather hurriedly that
she did not. He endeavored to change
the subject, but the captain wouldn't
let him
well, there" he exclaimed amazed
ly, 'if 'Gusty amt broke her record!
Fust time sence Perez was took with
the Naval Commander disease that she
amt been on hand when the month
was up to git her 81. Got SO we sort Of
reckoned by her like an almanac Kind
of thought she was sure like death and
taxes. And now she has gone back or
us. Blessed IL / amt disappointed in
'Gusty."
"Who is she?" inquired Mrs. Snow.
Zone Of those book agent critters?'
well, IL you called her that to her
face I expect there'd be squalls, but /
cal'late she couldn't prove a ahbi in
court
Now, it may have been Mr.. Hazel
tines fancy. but he could have sworn
that there was just the suspicion of a
twinkle in Miss Preston's eye as she
asked innocently enough:
us she a young lady, Captain Eri?
Well, she hopes she is" was the de-
liberate answer "Why?"
Does she look like me?'
Like you? Oh, my soul and bodyl
Wait till you see her. What made you
ask that?"
'Oh, nothing. l was little curious,
that's all. Have you seen her, Mr.. Ha-
zeltine?"
Ralph stammered somewhat confus-
The captain glanced from the electro
clan to MISS Preston and back again.
Then he suddenly realized the situa-
ton
''Ho ho!'' he roared, Shaping his
knee and rocking back and forth in his
chair. Don't for the lands sake tell
me yoI took Elsie here for 'Gusty
Black. Don't now! Don't!'
He asked me if l had taken many
orders" remarked the young lady de-
murely.
When the general hilarity had abated
little Ralph penitently explained that
it was dark, that Captain Fri had said
Miss Black was young and that she
carried bag
so | did, so | did, chuckled tho
captain. Il s'pose twas nat'ral enough,