Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1906-06-30
CHAPTER w.
"A FAMILY REUNION

Wai puftOH naQ not Deen IN the city
OF Washington within IL years. In
the past his furloughs had been spent
at his brothers country home In
Larchmount, out Of New York City.
Thus when he left the train at the
Baltimore and Potomac station no
hadn't the slightest idea where Scott
Circle was. He looked around in vain
for the smart cab Of the northern me-
tropolis. All he saw was line Of
omnibuses and few ramshackle ve-
hicles that 20 years back might very
well have passed for victorias. A griz-
zled old negro, in command of ons
Of these sea-going conveyances, caught
Warburton's eye and hailed jovially.
Our hero Gas the good novelist of the
past generation would say, taking their
readers into their innermost conf
dences) handed him his travelling case
and stepped in.
'tWhar to-, subj" asked the commo-
dore.
Scott Circle, and don't pommel that
Did nag's bones in trying to get there.
I've plenty of time.'
II reckon l won't pommei him, sub.
Skt! skt!" and the vehicle rat
tied out into broad Pennsylvania Ave-
nue., but for the confusion and absurd
ity of its architectural structures, the
handsomest thoroughfare in America.
Warburton leaned back luxuriously
against the faded horse-hair cushion
and lighted cigar, which he smoked
with relish, having had hearty
breakfast on the train. 1t was not
quite nine o'clock and a warm October
haze lay on the peaceful city. Here
were people who did not rush madly
about in the pursuit of riches. Rather
they proceeded more soberly, even leis-
urely, as II they knew what the days
work was and the rewards attendant,
and were content. Trucks, those for
midable engines OF commerce, neither
rumbled nor Numbered along the
pavements, nor congested the thor
oughfares. Nobody hurried into the
shops, nobody hurried out. There were
no scampering, yelling newsboys.
Instead, along the curbs of the market
sat barelegged negro boys, some of
them selling papers to those who
wanted them and some sandwiched in
between baskets of popcorn and pea
nuts. There was marked scarcity Of
the progressive, intrusive white boy.
Old negro mammies passed to and
fro with the days provisions.
CHANGING over his shoulder, Warbur-
ton saw the capitol shining in the sun
like some enchanted palace out of
Wonderland. He touched his cap,
conscious of thrill in his spine And
there, far to his left, loomed the Wash
ington monument, glittering like a
shaft Of opals. Some orderlies dashed
by on handsome bays. How splendid
they looked, with their blue trousers
and broad yellow stripes! This was
before the army adopted the comfort
Bile but shabby brown duck. How he
longed to throw leg over the back
Of good horse and gallop away into
the great green country beyond.
The only things which moved with
Sh0 A3AotiiHS SplllC VI tHC tAAACS WOLF
the cables, and doubtless these would
have gone slower but for the invisible
and immutable power which propelled
them.
But now he was passing the huge
and dingy magic treasury building,
round past the executive mansion with
its spotless white stone, Its stately por-
tico and its plush lawns.
go slow, uncle; / haven't seen this
place since was boy"
Eyes, sub. How d y like it?
Wouldn' v like t live in dat house,
sub ?"-the commodore grinned.
"One can't stay there long enough
to please me, uncle. 1t takes four years
to get used to it; and then, when
you begin to like it, you have to pack
up and clear out"
"It's de way dey goes, sub. We
go eroun' Lafayette, er do yuh want
t see de wa, department, suh?"
Never mind now, uncle; Scott Cir
cle."
Scott Circle she am, sun