Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-04-30

~ 49,
IT'S like Frankenstein, or something. You startso
him out, and now he's going on himself
your little brain is liable to turn with TINS
Oracle. said her brother. looking At her anxious
to mature minds to cope with this problem"
~ think" said Diana, that will excuse yoo
Grace swung her racket excitedly. well: 81
can say is" she remarked. that II you naa -.
him stay dead you would have saved ave your ,th
righteous switch of her skirts Diana got ner nat
MAY ask where you are going3" SAID Petef'
Il would oner to 60 with you said Peter.
1T wouldn't do you any good" said Miss Sin.
clair She pinned on the big white hat and gave
an absent-minded touch to the lace OF her nign
collar. Then she gathered up her skirts ana de-
parted.
Left alone, Peter devoted himself to meditation.
AS the man OF the family 1t his duty to straight
en- things out He would 60 down by the DIE elm.
matters He gave Mr.. Gresham half an hour
longer to get through his errands IN the village;
then he put "staky and Co." in his poo pocket .n n
big elm, and as he went he revoved IN his mind
how he and Mr. Gresham would laugh over the
mistake, and how he would go back to the notel
and make Diana happy with the news that she wa
again at liberty to wear her thirty years IN nonoF'
able spnsterhood Inere was Den = un1 re.d
half hour later he closed the book with =
reminiscent grin and raised himself upon his elbow
to look around One astonished stare ne gave ana
said Peter. out of Stalky and Co. Three people
were approaching Up the road from the villag;
came Mr. Gresham Down the road from the hoteA
came Diana Across the fields came Grace!
Diana had reached the bench. She looked down
upon the PROSTATE Peter. and her expression was
such as to make that young man TOLL over ana nlos
his face in his arms.
II WISH" said Diana, sharply to his shaking
back, that 1t were possible to lose you for mo-
ment." s--------- -
.sHave you noticed" gurgled Peter. "thas
Grace"
Diana followed his pointing nnger: then she sat
down heavily on Peters feet.
Grace climbed the stile in rush. and descended
upon them in state OF red-faced reproach why
in the world couldn't you stay away?" she demand
ed II came down here to tell Mr. Gresham
'Three souls with but single thought, said
Peter. III you will remove hundred and forty
pounds of wrath and CONSERVATION from my feet
DIANA l will meet the approaching cause OF Al
our woe"
VI Mr.. Gresham exhibited no surprise At the sight
Of the three cousins on the bench. he wa. look'na
Il carelessly," he said. neglected to give You
something that Mr.. Sinclair asked me to deliver
He proceeded with careful deberation to look
through his pockets while varying emotions chased
one another across the faces OF the waiting trio.
"Ah, here It is" He produced and handed 70 hsr
.Diana took 1t as II 1t were q bomb. and eyed
it unhappily.
'It can't be for me-" she SAID. -"
'It is for YOU" said Mr.. Gresham, and DIANA
after helpless look at the others, opened It
No one Of the other three attempted to keep
up any conversation while she slowly unwrappsd
the photograph that the package contained. and
held it up before her Even Mr.. Gresham seemed
to have forgotten that convention demanded lack
Of interest in other peoples packages. They were
all openly watching Diana. and Diana was growing
redder and redder.
she dropped it into her lap and two pairs OF eager
eyes fell upon it. The other pair smiled into Miss
sincairs.. 49,, 49,, 49,.
It with you?"
Mr.. Gresham answered: THE other Il Mrs.
John Gresham, a cousin-in-law OF mine"
and you knew all the time" Reproach. relief.
indignation. and much embarrassment mingled IN
Diana's tone; then little hauteur crept in =
don't understand how you got this" she said
There is note with It," he answered.
Diana was a good deal longer reading tho note
than she had been looking at the picture NOT did
she lay 1t down when she had finished. It ran this
Dear Bob: am sending you this photograph
YOU have wanted so long. am sure Diana will
not care, though always meant to write her about
your infatuation with her pictured SELF BY the
way. hear from the. osborns that she Is going 70
is taking you to Europe instead OF to the noun
tains. Anectionately.
But how did you see Mr.. Sinclair" said Grace.
Mr. Gresham laughed. Mr.. Sinclair Is for you
to explain" he said.
Grace's round eyes were still glued to the pns-
tograph in Diana's lap.
81 don't understand" she said, how
"A natural desire to get even" explained Peter
combined with the pernicious influence OF the
New Thought"
But don't understand how he to hav,
Diana's picture"
The solemn expression on Peters face deepened
II believe | am beginning to-" he said: then
he got slowly to his feet You go back and finish
your game, Grace. Jackson is waiting. am going
up to the house and find the bird woman. want
to find out whether the tailed warbler eats
seeds or worms" He pulled his still dazed sister
after him and they departed across the fields
Diana folded up the note and sat silent. her
eyes on the picture In her lap
Robert Gresham sat down on the bench beside
her.
do you understand Diana7" he said.