Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-06-07
THE EVENING STORY
~~~~~~
MAN TO MAN.

o~>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>e
MAN TO MAN.
BY Joanna Single.
Copyright 1910 by Associated Literary
Press.
Tessie was a bone of contention
and she did not look the part. She
was little and plump and rosy, with
dimples dimpling at every move
ment of her. Her hands were dim.
pied, her cheeks and her chin.
The worst part of it, the solemn
and serious part, is that the two es-
pecial men were, and presumably
still are, brothers. Not merely
brothers in misery, but sons of one
father and mother-and twins at that.
And, moreover, they were old enough
to know better. Nothing it the world
is so foolish about things in general
especially pretty girl-as the man
who knows better. They were twenty
six years old apiece, which adds up to
fifty-two, and plainly shows that be-
tween them, they should have been
able to read Tessies intentions.
Before her advent as an all summer
visitor at the Farley's next neighbors
to the Martin bachelor hall, all had
been peace. Then John and Henry
Martin, home from their work one late
spring afternoon, went out to potter
in their toy garden and commune with
nature and each other. They had
been devoted from boyhood, and were
never seen apart save when their
work separated them. They made
dates with each other, like girls, big,
strong, manly young fellows as they
were. Tessie declares to this day
that she had actually seen them hold
ing hands like lovers.
One day they went into their gar
den and saw, suddenly thrust up over
the uncovered division wall, a saucy
yellow head looking like strange
and lovely flower above the green.
They stared moment, and then re-
membered their gentlemen's manners.
Having no hats on their dark shocks
Of hair, they could not raise them.
but they straightway forgot the onion
patch and bowed beautifully. They
happened to do it in unison, which
struck the girl as ridiculous. She
laughed outright and they flushed. One
such young man close at hand was JOY
enough to the girls love of battle.
But two-and just alike!
SO that was what the Farley's had
joked about mysteriously,. casting
hints on her ability to make indenta-
tons on the hearts of at least two
gentlemen of their acquaintance. They
had not said which two. But these
were certainly the ones The IDEA
brought an amazing brightness to the
blue eyes which were already bright
enough for all good purposes.
81 didn't mean to disturb you,
said her silver bell voice. 81 stuck
my head up to see what lay beyond
the Farley boundaries. only arrived
last night, and want to get the lay OF
the land. l am sorry to embarrass
you so, so I'll go away directly"
But she didn't-they would not let
her. They told her who they were,
and it became necessary for them to
come much closer, in order that she
might hear them and that they might
see her better. She plainly enjoyed
herself. And they declared that they
we're family pets at the Farleys and
were going to invite themselves over
for the evening, if she didn't mind.
She did mind, but she said she didn't.
She had nothing else in mind. being
utterly idle, and on her mettle. she
had heard about the inseparable
twins who hunted in couples and
fought shy of love lest 1t take them
from each other. That was the be-
ginning.
That night they watched fer and
caught Farley on his way home, and,
according to their threat, invited
themselves over for the evening.
The next evening they went without
invitation, and the next after that they
had the Farleys-and the girl-over to
a picnic supper on their befoWered
lawn. Their one little Jap servant
grinned and served. 1t was not often
his masters had lady for him to
wait upon. They sat one on each side
of her. and her dimples and her eyes
twinkled at them impartially The
Farleys were content to watch the
play unhindered-then and for weeks
thereafter. They were amused-and a
little nervous. They figured 1t out
with unerring mathematical correct.
ness that finally the girl would have
to choose, and that If one was taken
the other would be left. Two men IN
love with the same women cannot
abide together in peace after one has
married her.
Florence Farley was a born match
maker. and matchmakers are seers.
They know what will happen by
what has happened They have them
selves, or by proxy, run the gamut OF