Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-05-23

unappreciative a member Of his sex
Perhaps he never met the one wo
man. he hesitatingly offered IN Ok
PLANTATION.
Maybe" answered the guide OF
this personally conducted party,
He has sense enough about otner
things. Now that raisin plant Is
modelled after one of his"
Margaret Jagged farther and 1ar-
Their behind out of hearing.
An alley, lined with golden pyra'
mids Of oranges, opened before ner:
Mr.. Livingston might listen until
nightfall or hoarseness silenced I'm
Gle John; she escaped and found re-
fuge from the situation, If not from
herself, in her quiet hotel room.
Refreshed by a bath and fortlneo
by fresh gown she awaited the ar
rival of her uncle and aunt Uncle
John came into the parlor, excitedly
discussing the probability OF finding
her here as he opened the door.
Margaret murmured something
about having stepped into side aisle
to look at some very beautiful prunes
and thus losing her way. Uncle John
assured her OF his regret. Aunt
Eliza was silent. The stranger look
ed uncomfortable, almost embar-
rassed.
"Mr. Livingston is stopping here.
too, so he'll take dinner with u.s." ex-
planned Uncle John, as they departed
to make ready for that meal.
Wondering how 1t would all end
she made her way with her chattering
relatives to the table in the small
dining room. She was grateful for
the chilling presence of black and
white automaton of waiter. He
seemed, in some way, a means OF
postponement of the moment of judg-
ment.
"And what time do you put the corn
crop usually?" she heard Uncle
John say. With unbelieving ears she
heard, the answer:
ooh, at the end of the rainy sea-
son In February or march, as rule.
Iowa's rainy season, In March!
Margaret gasped in anticipation. OF
Uncle Johns scathing remarks. I'm.
Gle John had spent his boyhood on
an Iowa farm. But he only inquired
further:
Il didn't suppose the ground would
be ready to work so early In the
spring"
20, yes. it's muddy sometimes, and
disagreeable to handle-too soft In
fact"
Margaret closed her eyes and
caught glimpse OF an Iowa corn
field in March-the grayish-yellow
stalks sticking up through four or
five feet of snow drift. Maliciously
it seemed to Margaret, did Uncle John
lead the confused young informant
through tortuous ways of misinfor'
nation.
From cocktail to demi tasse the in
quisition lasted. With an almost
overwhelming desire to scream, Mar
garet finally led the procession OF
four from the dining room along end
less, red-carpeted corridors to the
little sitting room. A change, even
a scene Of the torture, was welcome
rest.
II thought your nephew, Mr.. Jenk
ms, was coming to take dinner will
us tonight" she said by way of con
versation to Aunt Eliza, to whom
she supposed the amply-proportion
ed shadow beside her on the window
curtain belonged.
"He did, slowly answered the
voice of the blunderer about corr
crops and Iowa harvests.
In wild-eyed amazement Mar
garet faced him.
"He-and-you are" she gasped.
Eyes, he did and am"
"And the fruit ranch and the
Words failed her in the recollection
of Uncle Johns minute description
of the Jenkins homestead.
eyes," very carefully, as one or
unsafe treading, "but I'm not the
misogamist, Uncle John -"
"And Uncle John let me-and
Aunt Eliza-and,"
Uncle John made Aunt Eliza keer
still. Those two old geese are up In
their room laughing their old eyes
out. He loves joke better than 9
good meal Of Aunt ELIAS own cook
ing"
Uncle John loves joke! Why,
thought Uncle John had no-and now
he'll think-you'll all think"
Uncle John has asked me to &c
for visit with them and you tc
their ranch in order that l may tel
you what I think. Shall II"