Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-01-20
) THE EVENING STORY
AS THE WINDS DO BLOW.


Copyright, 1910 by Associated Liter
airy Press.
Louisiana-I Loo - there's ring
around the moon," Billy called to his
big sister"
What if there is? It's got two stars
inside it-that means 1t won't rain for
two days." she retorted.
And the lawn fete comes off day
after tomorrow! Say whatever
did you set women goin such a crazy
tazy gait? Plain English and plain
eating are good enough for plain
folks
You'll always be plain folks if you
never try to be anything else" Louisi-
ana said loftily, her chin high.
Her mother smiled, gentle worried
smile. 81 wish there was building
handy" she said. "Of course, know
the old weather sign-and the Barber
lawn is an ideal place. But since all
the buildings burned you can't shell
ter anywhere, il, by Ill luck. there
came up shower"
Treason, Mamsy High treason!"
Louisiana cried, running to pat her
mothers cheek. Our fetes going to
be splendid-just like book. Oh, you
don't know how fine it will look, with
the flags and rugs and cushions scat
tered all through the green. The
shrubs are In full Understandable,
syringa, lilac and everything; the ear
ly yellow roses will be out likewise,
and the grass you never saw any
thing so rich and green-velvety as it
is since the boys moved it yesterday"
We'll! You don't get my blanket
that's sure as shooting" Billy said sol
EMMY, but with twinkling eyes.
| Louisiana made face at him-she
knew how to take Billy. He disap-
proved all she did upon general prin-
ciples-and worked like Trojan to
make whatever she undertook a howl
| ing success.
Spring had come late that year, hut
with rush at the last. Late May was
as warm as midsummer, so every
thing promised more than fairly. Her
i whole heart was in the feast-she and
her chum Grace Watson had melted It,,
planned it, and carried it through by
sheer force of will. II had an object,
of course-help for the Orphans
home. Tickets had sold like the proven
bal hot cakes.
Five hundred tickets sold. Think
of it," Louisiana ran on. You know
there isn't a place in town to hold half
that number-except, Of course the
churches-which are out of the ques-
ton. All the folks may not come
but we have their money safe, so
must have room for them. Pray for a
fine day, Mamsy-that's all we need"
Next day was fine-too fine, indeed,
nd hot
farm folk call a weather-breeder Loui-
siana went out into 1t smiling to watch
the skies She came home a little later,
chilled and dropping. her roses fed,
her eyes troubled, though she tried
wisely asked no questions-she had
never forced her daughters conf
dence. Billy coming in three hours
later carelessly gave her the cue.
90 Lou! Jack Ransom's home-and
got the dandiest girl with him." he
called to his sister up the stairs. "His
cousin, you know-he had her out driv-
/! ing-that's how saw them. He ac-
tually stopped and introduced me.
Maybe he wanted me to break the
news to mother. She's locker, all
highland talks! My! Her voice is
1 like bird. You just as well put up
the shutters, honey-sure's I'm your
big buddy, your cakes all dough-"
'It can't be- l never had any Ran.
some cake" Louisiana called back
CALAMITY. Her voice was even, but the
I.mother ear caught the strained note
in it.
Billy had plunged into the pantry
u on ctn MI hic ha nd hnh hi,,o
contemplating the good things in wait
on it's shelves.
/ "Lordy!" he murmured, ''to think OF
folks that amt hungry getting such
things. call it tragedy. But won't
i / come in on the fragments"
Eleven o'clock was the hour for as
sembly: at u the breakfast was to
! begin. People came in shoals despite
a lowery sky with fitful sunshine
{! breaking through the clouds. The WON
en- were as gay and springlike as the
4 shrubs. the children likewise ruffled ii
in white and ribbons. Even the sober
est among the men had flowers in the
buttonhole Altogether the throng
was in holiday mood, no less than hol
iday attire.
Louisiana, in pale blue, had never
looked more beautiful. Grace, in pale
pink, made charming Pompadour
contrast. The other girls wore white
They fitted spritelike, about the
grounds, welcoming, marshaling talk
ing gayly to everybody. Eunice Ran
some, in scarlet silk looked at them
4 with sGowl that marred her beauty
and said petulantly to her aunt:
why I thought this was to be a
real function"
/ ut is-for us, dear gentle Mrs
Ransom answered.
Jack had rushed away the minute
they were safely seated on the softest
cushion to be found.
! IF only we get them fed, now they
are here" Grace murmured to her
mate as the last auto honked away
after leaving it's load.
IF only" Louisiana echoed.
/ She had got back her color and
her spirit, but still hint OF shadow
lay in her eyes. 1t had deepened when
she turned from Jack after a gayly
/ Indifferent greeting Grace had seized