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

slde, rejecting, as he went to and
from the golf course, what an admira-
Bile subject it presented for an artist:
typical example of one of these
rural scenes so dear to the heart of
the right thinking Briton and so often
recalled by him with grateful emotion
and pride when contemplating other
cottages in other lands less favoured
than his own. A heavy thatched roof,
exqulsitely toned by lichens and
moses. surmounted brick walls paint
ed white. The bricks beneath the
plaster were rotten, but the plaster,
shining through masses of honey
suckle and clematis, Illuminated pleas
antly Sir Giles Mottisfont's earnest
wish to, as he phrased it, "put good
face on things" Door and castings
were painted bright apple green.
Behind lay the Forest of VS.: an in
comparable background. In front was
small garden, gay in sommertime
with such flowers hollyhocks, larkspur,
stocks, and what the children call s'red
not pokers.' The Misses Mottisfont
took particular pride in the Hernshaw
gardens. They presented packages Of
assorted seeds to deserving tenants,
and prizes to be competed for at the
annual flower show always held in the
Park. Sir Giles was inordinately
proud of this flower show, and made
a point of filing his house with guests
to whom he would murmur: Il think
my people appreciate what I do for
them. l should like to show you my
cottages. There are none prettier in
England, though l say It, Well stroll
through Hernshaw Parva on Sunday
afternoon"
And to this upright, portly, clean
shaven English gentleman taking the
air with the guests upon Sabbath
afternoon, to hear him expatiate In
language as carefully chosen as his
neck-cloth, upon tne privileges and
duties of conscientious. stay-at-home
landlords, to mark him as he waved
his gold-mounted malacca, indicating
with complacent sweep the boundaries
OF his domain, was to apprehend with
feelings of mingled awe and admira-
tioi the secret Of England's greatness.
| Hugo was received by Joy in the
small parlor, where nothing offended
the eye or ear although an acute nos
tril might have detected the cloying
odor of the juniper penetrating the
robuster fumes of carbolic acid. In
this parlor were five children and their
sire. The children not yet attacked,
exhibited somewhat pathetic excite
ment. Their eyes shone brightly.
Hugo recognized one of the boys as
caddy and spoke a word to him. Pur-
kess, half asleep after heavy supper,
stood up, numbering, powerful, clown
significant of that amazing Wis Inertia
which had kept his family in one place
for nearly a thousand years.
JOY drew Hugo aside He saw that
her face was very white and drawn,
but indomitable spirit shone in her
eyes.
you will be horrible shocked" she
whispered.
She led the way into the next room.
| Beyond this was a small closet
whence proceeded. unmistakabla
sounds: the stertorous breathing of
the, drunken mother. In the family
bed, which, owing to some unevenness
in the floor, presented with absurd
significance an appearance of in
ebrle. lay three children. One of
i these breathed stertorously also, as
II it were mimicking the mother n
few feet away. Its tiny face was con.
gested. Joy touched Hugo and shook
her head. Then she glanced at a
watch worn in leatnern strap round
the wrist
The doctor will be here in two
hours she whispered. Perhaps
had better stay till then"
Can you do single thing which 1
|
"N-no"
Then obey the DOCTORS orders, and
go straight to bed. have my instruc-
tions." He pulled out his notebook
"The eldest girl" said Joy, pointing
to the quietest and palest of the three,
is slightly better, but appallingly
weak. You must watch her. If she
tried to sit up, for instance, her heart
| would probably stop"
! Right" said Hugo. "Show me the
medicines
With almost professional coolness
and quickness she indicated the posi-
ton of everything needful. Then a
smile fiickered across her face as she
nodded and left the room.
Hugo sat down near the bed. He
was curiously aware that with the
passing of JOY some indefinable bene-
cent spirit seemed to have passed also.
He remembered his conviction that
high health was as contagious as dis
ease. Then the door opened quietly,
and he saw her face in the shadows.
came to him, putting her sweet mouth
close to his ear. The intimate move
ment, her breath upon his cheek, the
light touch of her hand upon his ell
bow thrilled his pulses.
There is a nurse in the next cot
tage. She remains until morning. If
anything happens, wake up Purkess,
and send him for her"
! Hugo nodded.
You may have to kick Purkess."
/ Il shall do so with pleasure
Her fingers lightly pressed his ell.
bow; an acknowledgment of sym.
pathy and appreciation of his humor
Hugo had wondered whether a big
! emergency would destroy in her that
sense of comedy which overspreads
all things, and which hitherto had
! kept her absolutely free from any
faint of priggishness Now he was