Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-12-03
CHAPTER VII.

CHAPTER VII.
The calmonts, Father and Son.
The Calmonts were generally called
the Calmucks, though their cast of
countenance was anything but Mon
golian. DR.. Hugh Calmont was huge
man of ruddy countenace. who
brought an almost offensive atmos-
phere OF health and well-being into
the sick room. He was not popular
In nervous cases. Dyspeptic ladies'
and valetudinarian gentlemen who
liked droopy practitioner to sympa-
Il Use with them and tell them how
similarly he had been afflicted, had
beer known absolutely to lcathr DIR.
Calmont.
But there were few Of these in the
neighborhood Of Kirktown, and "the
Doaktor" was personally of an extra
ordinary popularity. Literally he en-
joyed it-that is the word. He knew
himself to be popular, and on the
strength of 1t, he bullied the neighbor-
hood enially, even jovially he Bull
lied it. Careless miners, tightly wives,
silly girls, possibly prodigal young
men were threatened with "the
Doaktor." And they became good"
on the spot
His wife seemed hardly the help
meet for him, that Is, to Judge. by the
law of probabilities Mrs. Calmont
was languid woman, tall and dark,
rather silent, of quite invincible
good humour, careless of things do.
nestle, and her numerous family had
apparently fatigued her 1t, the
healthy family,i had been brought
up, dragged up. kicked UP, in the
midst Of the most inexpressible hug
ger-mugger.
The healthy family" lived in an
elastic house. 1t possessed unnum-
bered friends, and no one was sur
prised when two or three Of these ap-
peared in the evening with the obvious
intention of staying the night. Nor
was there ever the least difficulty.
Shakedowns appeared and disappear
ed as by magic. The peculiarities and
capacities of every sofa in the house
were known-those which needed
chairs in rows to keep you from roll,
ing off them, and the others which,
with the family photograph album un-
der one leg, did very well when mere.
ly turned face to the wall.
Special corners Of the dining room
and drawing room where the boards
were NOTABLY soft had also their de,
voices. Four boys and three girls,
who considered themselves more or
| less grown up, composed the sum
| total of the healthy family of Kirk,
| town.
| They came into this story over the
wall of the doctors orchard. All
| empty cube sugar box did for spring
| board, and both girls and boys prided
themselves on the flying leap with
which they were wont to enter the
| garden Of Glebe End Cottage. Neither
| Vida nor the little music mistress
were at all surprised to see them
They were often thus interrupted
Only Miss Nunsby. who held greatly
her talks with Vida Bryan very nea:
quency of the infection.
Halo, Calmucks!" said Vida.
Halo yourself! and see how yor
| like It'll cried the Twin Infant
Phenomena Willis and Wilhelnima Cal
umont, going off as quick as a rap
rap" cracker. They were still al
school. but the fact was considered tc
be under the rose. 1t was not polite
to allude to it.
"We have come to see you'll" sale
Jean and Jessica, the two elder girls
tanning themselves with rhubarb
leaves-a luxury the whole family
had thoughtfully provided itself witt
en- route.
Good" said Aaron and Herber
! commonly called Hur). the two eldel
boys, both home from college, have
some, girls, No end useful and orna
mental! Suck one end and fan your
! self with the other!"
But the third son, Phil Calmont
though he had taken the flying LEAF
into the garden with the others hun;
back little scarcely raising his eyes
from the rose graftings to look at Vid,
and her friend, the little music mis-
tress.
The rest roasted like crows any
where about. the Twins occupying tn.
corner of a wall where they mad,
room for Vida between them. Sac ha,
given up her place on the summer
seat to Jean and Jessica, who havin,
wedged little Nunsby tightly between
them, now propitiated her by offerin,
her the contents of their ':skirt-poc
kets." The girls of the healthy famil,
all carried skirt pockets''-that us
pockets, tied around the waist unde
the outer skirt, and filled with various
treasures.
Grandmother did" they said in ex
cuse." and she was a minister's wifi,
!, for forty years and died without
shadow on her character. VIII.
4 SHOULDN'T we?"
When the healthy girls ran they di'
mot hold up their dresses. OF tina