Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-07-30


The dinner party at the Park was a
large one. The guests assembled In
the long saloon, where Sir Giles, ar
sayed in the scarlet coat with green
facings Of the Forest Hunt, received
them with old-fashioned courtesy. The
Pundnes ottPundle Green, the Bungays
Of SHUTTER, the Lovibonds Of Broomie,
and the Jallands Of Queens Jalland
were present. Those local magnates-
men and women alike had long lost
touch with that world of Mayfair in
which young Mrs. Giles Mottisfont.
the wife of the Oldest son, sparkfed
&c. brilliantly. Colonel Jalland, it is
true, was in the habit of going to
town once a month to have his hair
cut; Major Lovibond never missed
his regimental dinner, but for the
most part they and their wives and
daughters remained at home year in
and year out, well satisfied with the
station of life to which 1t had pleased
an all-wise providence to call them.
Esme Burgess came with the Ven
nables and was captured at once by
Mrs. Giles. If she had not been born a
Savernake, with a nice fortune at her
own disposal, the Foresters might
have condemned her as worldly and
frivolous. Sir Giles refused to listen
to a word against his smart daugh-
ter-in-law, because she had given to
him two handsome grandsons. Life at
best being such an uncertain affair,
Sir Giles hoped that there would be
two more; but young Giles, who vas
in the Guards, electrified the aunts
by affirming positively that two were
enough!
The aunts were present: Miss Pris-
ella in lavender silk, wearing some
fine black lace; Miss Lavinia in gray.
Upon their thin, slightly flushed
faces, in their pale-blue eyes, in their
erect, incorporating department,
might be detected a certain protest.
They were c%onversing (Miss Pris'
elias word) with Mrs. Bungay of
SHUTTER, but their chances rested upon
young Mrs. Giles and Esme Burgess,
Whenever Mrs. Giles laughed Miss
Priscilla was unable to proceed a tiny
frown showing itself between her del,
icately penciled, arched eyebrows;
and Miss Lavinia. at the same mo-
ment, would adjust the Indian shawl
about her neck, as if she were sen
sible Of a chill.
What a lovely gown Mrs. Giles has
on" said Mrs. Bungay, realizing that
she was feeling unduly heated in a
green velvet familiar for more than
a decade to all Foresters.
From the little l can see of it, my
dear, it was not chosen for its wear.
ing qualities" said Miss Priscilla.
Mrs. Giles, indeed, was arrayed In
pale blue tulle. Around her slim white
neck was a dog collar of diamonds
and t%urquoises. A diamond and tur.
quoise aigrette quivered in her blonde
hair. And yet she told everybody that
she v brought her jewels into the
country. What she was upon this oc
casion would have re-roofed the Park
(sadly In need of it) and rebuilt g
score of unsanitary cottages. Such, at
least, was Miss Priscilla's compute
ton.
"Is that Esme Burgess?" murmured
Mrs. Bungay. I'VE hear he has dis
tinguished himself greatly at Oxford
How handsome he is, but so delicate
looking"
He was brought upon artiicia
food" said Miss Priscilla tartly.
Dear, DEAR" calculated Mrs. Bun
gay, who had nourished adequately
and without any ~extraneous assist
ance four IONS and five daughters. g
wonder it was permitted.
I'VE knew nothing of it at the
tfnnan said Miss I,ayinia '"Tha inter