Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-08-20


ing about the islands OF the Adriatic
had tanned his face and his sensibil-
tiles. Health and strength are as
founding assets, and unlike the great
qualities of the mind, which may lie
dormant under certain conditions,
they have a habit of asserting them
selves.
Hugo, for instance, believed that he
was sound and sane because he could
digest Cyprus beef and walk five and
twenty miles in a day.
He came back to England to marry
Angela Tempest. When he allowed his
mind to dwell upon the future, which
was seldom, he consoled himself with
the reflection that as long as foxes ran
fast and pheasants flew high he could
kill time by killing them.
Pixton received him with pleasant
smile, which seemed to repeat itself
upon the faces of the men at his club.
In Paccadilly one or two charming
women, leaning out of their motors,
waved welcoming fingers, indicating
absolution Evidently all was to be
forgiven and forgotten.
Twice, during the previous three
months, he had written TO Angela, tel
1g her CURLY where he was and
what he was doing. In each case,
knowing that he was on the move, she
had replied by telegram. Upon arrival
at his fiat he had found another tele
gram:
"Am in Paris with Poppet. Cross to-
morrow or day after
Angela, of course, was ''buying"
things, and therefore enjoying her
self. Did it trouble her that within
rtnight Poppet would have to leave
her? Perhaps. The child was sweet
creature specially designed to adore
and to be adored. And she would take
with her that dream of a cabinet with
panels painted and signed by Angelica
Kaufman
The same afternoon, in Bond street,
he came face to face with Lady Barn
boyle. The august matron passed him
by with exalted nose and averted eyes,
but on her austere lips flickered a
smile that was not easy to interpret.
Why did she smile? Possibly vision
of Angela playing ducks and brakes
with twenty thousand a year had been
vouchsafed to her. He wondered
vaguely what had become Of John
N.
was just the sort of gross, stupid
thing John would do And Poppet
would have to live with him, He tried
to drive the child from his mind and
failed. She obsessed him; a tender
dainty little maid, with big, crystal
clear innocent eyes, already beginning
to ask questions. and allurlng, fascin-
ating manners. To think of her alone
in that huge Abbey with-John
To get rid of this importunate Pop
pet. he dined at his club with the
swashbuckling ex-major of Lancers
who 1t will be remembered had
predicted that Hugo's pals would
stand by him. The Major had been one
of the first to greet the returning sin
ner. And as before, in his loud, polly
voice, he had proposed a bird and d
bottle of the best, magnum, Of
course.
They dined at small table in the
big dining room. Close by, some youn g
fellows were beginning CHEEKY even
ing by doing themselves top hole"
Everybody spoke to the Major, and he,
you may be sure had a word or a
wink for each. The boys knew more
about wine and tobacco than he did,
but some Of the older men were not
to proud to ask for his advice in re-
gard to these high matters advice
bestowed with fitting solemnity and in
variably approved by the wine butler,
portly, well-matured individual, an
understudy of the majors.
After dinner, in the smoking room,
Hugo found himself surrounded by a
group of redfaced roysterers, who, for
reasons which they kept to themselves
chose to acclaim the wanderer the
hero of the hour 81 told you they'd
stand by you, old boy" whispered the
Major. Zone more tot of the Old
Brown, and we'll nip off to the Levity.
wired for couple of stalls"
Hugo sat, with a pleasant smile on
his face, now clean shaver again, but
through the notwithstanding clouds of
tobacco smoke he saw Poppet's deli
cate features and her large, interro-
eating eyes.
At the Levity, one of the most popu-
lar of the Music Halls, Poppet, so to
speak, sat on his knee with her arm
round his neck, strangling him. He
couldn't get rid of the child The en-
tertainment was neither more nor less
detestable than usual. The great Brit
ish Public laughed and chartered and
smoked while fat women and greasy
men shouted silly songs set to equally
silly music. A so-called Venus, display.
ed figure that would have excited
the derision of a Paris atelier in a ser.
les of poses plastiques. With one ex
Iception the entertainment was re
.markable for its yulgarity and stu
Ipidity. A Scotch comedian came on tc
the stage. Instantly roar of applause
burst from the crowded house, sue
ceeded by silence, as the conductor
waved his baton. Not note not a ges
tture, escaped the audience Hugo whis
pered to the major: "They do know
what is good when they see it; why
do they put up with what is so bad?'
eve all do that" the Major chuck
led fatty. II like good wine, but
drink a lot Of poor stuff, and the
worst of 1t is that the poor stuff
knocks us out"
After the entertainment supper a
one of the famous restaurants follow
ed. Some genial spirits joined them