Ottumwa tri-weekly courier., 1908-08-06

high bird as any man, although l don't
pull 'em down as I used to- Yes; she
throws that in my teeth. Too many
pheasants! And this scourge is my
fault"
George Vennable ought to speak TO
her seriously. Sometimes dislike
to say it, but, between ourselves
really think that Joy, without meaning
| 1t, is almost blasphemous
| The stout butler, with voice soft
as mayonnaise sauce, announced:
Mr.. Vennable."
The parson accepted cup of tea
from the Lands OF Miss Priscilla. He
had come to the park for no reason
other than to discuss critical situa-
tion, but it would have been viola
ton of code dear to the aunts had
he plunged indecently into it.
you walked, George?"
yes"
"The roads at this time of year are
very muddy"
True" the parson slipped his tea,
thinking of his errand, but from long
habit he returned platitude for plati-
tude. "And the motors cut 'em to
| ribands."
At the word motors" Sir Giles
face darkened Motors were symbol
of progress which he abhorred. He
regarded them with the same con-
gested eyes with which his father had
looked at locomotives. And always he
have one | hate 'em. Don't talk 10
me about motors!"
t.The roads will be worse before
| .,.@@
Lavinia. I'VE shall have snow with
in twentyfour hours, unless I am
greatly mistaken
THE glass is falling added the ell
der sister.
Yes; and there's a case of diph-
liberia in Hernshaw Magma" said the
parson.
Good gracious!"
''Oh damn it! exclaimed Sir Giles.
George Vennable gave particulars in
his clear, slightly cold voice. His pre-
sentiment of facts was admirable, but
he allowed JOY, as a rule, to deal with
them The family does indeed be-
come the unit of national life when
the daughter practises what the faith
er breaches. When the parson finish
Led, a silence fell on the Mottisfonts.
A rambling, inarticulate, vague recital
would have provoked torrent of
questions; but the grandson of Lord
Chancellor is likely to think and
speak with a truly exasperating iu-
cidity and finality
SAT Pundle Green began Sir
Giles.
Yes. yes, Giles; you are the scape-
goat, of course. Meanwhile. this dis
ease is ranging in your cottages. Joy
tells me she screwed fifty pounds out
of you this morning
81 want to speak to you, George,
about JOY You allow her too free a
hand"
| 'And too free tongue added
Miss Lavinia, with significant
cough
"Giles, you must make it a hundred
and the rest of us will do what we
can. Joy has written to Mollie: saw
the letter. She wrote: If you are
hard up, sell your diamond and tur-
quoise aigrette
The parson chuckled. the Misses
Mottisfont looked down their aquiline
noses.
"Mollie will send cheque.
The family will do it's duty, l trust,
George: but I think--we all think
that you allow Joy to usurp your pre-
negatives. You ought to have ap-
preached Giles; you ought to have
written to Mollie."
Tut, TUT" said George Vennable.
''In the bosom of this family let it be
candidly admitted that l ought to do
many things which, constitutionally
and temperamentally, my dear Pris-
ella, am unable to do. Leave it at
that like dear, good soul! One more
cup of tea. please; and, Giles, make it
a hundred"
81 heavent got hundred"
Sell that cabinet
He indicated with an inexorable
forefinger, beautiful specimen of
| Sheraton's best period. Sir Giles
gasped The aunts raised their hands
in horror.
Really, George, you are too alb
surd"
Its worth five hundred pounds, at
least said the parson, lying back and
enjoying himself. And l know a
copy it exactly for thirty pounds. The
/ ullGISACS Will pul .SfSl y lhluS olidlSH.
and leave you enough over to buy
sherry instead of marsala."
THAT cabinet belonged to my great
grandmother"
This is enough to make her turn
in her grave" said Priscilla.
tut, tut" said George vennable
again The good soul is wiser now
than when she lived in the Forest
of vs."
"Joy gets her ideas from you" said
Sir Giles in a hollow tone. 81 knew
It'll knew it,"
"You are mistaken, Giles. I get my
ideas from her. And, mark you. they
are in the air: England is saturated
with them Would you rather see
your own people die than sell cabi
net which belonged to your great
grandmother" His tone became con
temptuous, although pleasant smile
| tempered it. We'll, well, I'm getting
too warm Joys young blood has in
fected me. And it's easier to preach
i than to practice, which was about the
only really adequate reason for my