Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-03-10
By MARIA ALBANESl

to and fro against the lower part of
the open window, letting in occasional
streaks of golden light, and stirring
the delicate fronds Of the fern that,
with a pot of heliotrope and some
bowls of flowers, stood on the table at
the foot of the bed. 3
Katherine lay and watched for these
fugitive glimpses of sunshine and
sunbathed trees.
1t must be very lovely out in the
garden, so she unused, dreamily; only
it was such a long, long way to get
there. and here it was so pleasantly
restful, so calm, so conducive to
dreams.
A great many birds had congregated
in the big beech tree close to her win
dows; there was a swallows nest just
under the caves Of the roof, and
great twittering went on every now
and then. Katherine could picture the
cluster of yellow, wide-open beaks,
and the Industrious mother, voyaging
backwards and forwards with some
| toothsome morsel for one of those
hungry mouths in her own beak
81 think tiny swallows are very
greedy" she said to herself sleepily
! lueN are u0NST Statistical.
And some one answered her-a
small voice, from the floor apparently.
"Kathie y * Kathie, darling =
is you going to wake up? s. Oh,
do wake up. Kathie!"
The voice was plaintive almost to
tears.
Katherine opened her eyes, paused,
and then, with an effort, pushed her
self forward, resting on her elbow.
els there somebody there?" she ask
ed. in such funny. quavering voice.
For answer very hot and very
small hand came creeping over the
white sheet like a little mouse.
ITS me Babsy They've
sented me away all the time, nasty
unllind peoples. But I crawled in, and
4 I do want you So Katbie.''
Climb up" said Katherine family.
1t was stupendous undertaking, en-
failing much slipping and dragging at
the edclothes, but at last t small,
hot, dishevelled person had crawled
close to the pillow, and was kissing
the white face lying there and cud-
ding weak hand and arm as if it
were doll.
! And then condolences followed.
/ "Betty's dog has coined; he's a aw-
full duck, but she won't let me have
nothing of him. Isn't she selfsh?''
81 will give you dog, sweetheart .
"a really one?"
"a real one"
/ Mice. dear Kathie,"
The little soft face pressed close
to the white one.
But not a woolfur dog"
mo, a real one.
Baby lay and stared dreamily about
the room.
''I'l give him jam
/ Katherine laughed
Fancy a real dog eating JAM"
Fancy r"a' '~o""ed-up going tc
sleep for all the days"
II am very sorry" said Katherine
humhlv.
The door was pushed open here in
the softeSt way possible and a voice
whispered cautiously from the aper
tnre.
Baby Baby -
Baby giggled. and put her finger w
in warning fashion. but Betty was
| not deceived
q know you're here" she said, "anc
YOU didn't ought TO come. You know
: what Aunt Brennv said. You was tt
leave Katherine alone"
'Nasty thinn said Baby suddenly
in abusive fashion.
Katherine said Hush" but thi
brought Betty straight to the bed I
took her inst a minute to climb ant
nestle down on the other side
) How long has she been here. littl
5 piCkle?" she demanded
5 The wooliness had gone from Kath
crimes brain
= Don't tease her darling" she ure
ed, and she snoothed Babys down
: check soothingly as she spoke.
! She is a pickle" retorted Betty
: "A horrid pickle.
:. Katherine made haste to avert
:, battle
" Watch the blind she said. 'an
: you will see the sunbeam fairy sal
: into the ROOM
!, But Betty had no use for fairie
this afternoon.
"My dogs got silver collar. He
called Box
g who brought him?" asked Katl
, crime in low voice.
"Oh, Rupert, of course"
The girls heart gave a bang Sh
tried to remember when it was tina
she had staggered into this cool, res