Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-06-11

appointed. In her lonely life there
were few opportunities for social
pleasure, hence this yearly gathering
in June, which celebrated the birth
day Of her only brother, was q red
letter event. Years ago her brother
had moved to the city, had married
and was surrounded by family OF
children whom Miss Jane adored.
And. today, the gay group had been
prevented from coming by the illness
Of the youngest child.
The telegram had brought the news
Just at the moment when Miss Jane
had finished setting her table. she
thought regretfully Of the two cocoa
nut cakes, the cottage cheese. the
tarts and the crullers, to the making
of which she had given the whole OF
the previous day. In the retriger-
ator were the crisp salad and the
luscious fruits. All was ready, but
there were no guests.
Into her mind came suddenly q
fantastic thought: go We into the
highways and the hedges and compel
them to come In" Far down the
long road dwelt a little colony OF
poor whites. Miss Jane knew what
"a Joy the good things would bring to
them.
II will pack basket" she said
to Josephus, 'but I hate to waste all
my good cooking on crowd like
that"
She was still undecided when the
pie was ready to take out Of the oven
AS she placed 1t. all Drowned and
smoking on the kitchen table. by the
window, she looked over the kitchen
garden, beyond which were the
flower beds which followed the path
to the front of the house BY the
side of the path was q great bush,
covered with snowy blossom.
As Miss James casual glance rested
upon 1t. there appeared. back OF the
wilderness, patch OF rose pink.
WELL" Miss Jane remarked. "that
is queer kind of blossom on that
bridal wreath bush"
Followed by Josephus, she went
down the path. her soft slippers max
ing little noise. AS she reached the
bush some one rose from behind It..
1t was girl In pink sunbonnet.
In her hand she held half dozen
sprays Of the bridal wreath. She was
little and slender, and she wore q
cheap, white gown.
"Oh!" she said as Miss Jane stared
at her. edo you mind? l am going
to be married and wanted some
flowers and we hadn't any,.
!. ell
Jane said austerely.
ell was afraid" the girl stam-
mered, "and pap wouldn't buy me
any flowers. and he wouldn't let Joe.
He said it was bad enough for me to
marry Joe without our wasting our
money But a wedding don't mean
much, does it, without any flowers
or without any wedding supper? Pap
said poor folks haven't any right to
expect such things. but Joe says a
girl only gets married once, and ne
would have bought me some flowers.
only wouldn't let him. was
afraid pap would be mad"
The long explanation came out In
stammering sentences. Miss Jane
found herself looking with interest
at the blushing, bright-eyed little
creature.
"When are you going to be mar
ried?" she asked.
"This afternoon, at 4 o'clock" the
girl answered.
cts three now" Miss Jane told
her. you ought to be home getting
ready"
"There won't be any getting
ready" the girl said wistfully. I'm
going to wear this dress, and l
thought would make wreath OF
your flowers. You don't think 1t
would look silly. do you?''
II think it would look lovely" Miss
Jane declared. Her heart went out
suddenly toward the shy little crea-
ture. "Whv didn't your mother cock
your wedding supper?" she asked.
"she's dead" the girl said simply.
Maybe If she had lived things would
have been different"
Miss Jane had sudden insoira-
ton LOOK here" she said quickly,
81 have something to show you.
Come up to the house with me-"
They went rapidly up to the house,
the faithful Josephus pattering after.
They passed through the hitchen.
fragrant with savory cooking and
into the dining room. The long table
was set for twelve and was gay with
fine white linen, shining old silver,
glittering glass. and some pink roses
which Miss Jane had picked from tho
garden.
"Eow would you like TO have your
wedding supper here?" Miss Jane
demanded. "You could be married.
in the rarlor and have yolr friends
here to eat my chicken pie and cocoa
nut cakes"
The girl gasped. "Bu. we amt
your kind We're just poor folks
that live down tn the hollow"
II guess l know who you are,
Miss Jane said sharply, but I am
not going to see any girl married
without some fuss being made over
| 1t am not married myself, but II
I had been l should have wanted the
whole town to turn out to look at me.
And anyhow this dinner must not 90
to waste, and there isn't any one but
me and Josephus to eat It,"