Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-05-27
QUALITY.
Rv Jeanne o. Lolzeaux.

BY Jeanne Q. Loizeaux.
Copyright, 1911, by Associated Liter
airy Press.)
Nan hot and freckled and happy,
swung from the links to the lawn,
and threw her clubs with rattle at
Virginia's feet. That blonde, rather
fretful person. drew back her I'M
maculate white skirt. Nan laughed.
"Why all the sudden finery? Wear
white flannel, like me. This is not
so beautiful, but it's quality-it
stands wear and tear, and it's pleas
ant-doesn't make folks nervous
about touching it,"
Virginia smiled. $50 that's your
definition of quality. ! wonder II the
new girl is quality! Wonder what
induced Liza Stanton to ask her to
and indefinite house party! Who is
she-where is she from?"
Nan laughed again.
"Well, you look like wild Indian.
Nan. Better go in for clingy Things
and We're de we're repose, like this
Miss Leith Story. Go round the cor
ner to the grape arbor and you'll see
the reason for my change of heart
and attire. She reclines IN ham
mock. in q billow OF pale blue gown
with tiny white slipper, tiny white
hands, and an untanned SKIN. "A
blue cushion throws her yellow hair
into relief. And besides her, looking
very sentimental and reading washy
verse aloud, sits your especial ad-
mirer. one Terry Lawrence. the
charmer has him in leash!" Vir-
ginia's self-control was not her strong
point. Therefore, men love help-
less, unathletic females. Get busy
with cold cream and curling irons,
shed short skirts and trip over
draperies, and you may get MIN
back
"You must be feeling the heat,
commented Nan. your talk Is de-
mented! Terry doesn't belong to me
he's only good neighbor from
childhood. And like to look at Leith
Story myself believe Mrs. Stanton
knew her mother at school I'm go
ing in-it'll take me an hour to get
clean"
Virginia followed, feeling strained
and cross. She stuck her head IN at
Mans door a moment.
Man" she said, don't mind my
cattishness. Perhaps she Is Qual1ty'
but somehow she doesn't impress me
SO. This heat is making peevlsh
witch of mel"
Nan, after she was gone, tnought q
little. From her window she could
see the arbor, bit of pale blue, ana
long, lean, masculine figure drapea
over rustic seat In an adoring attl'
tude. 1t was not like Terry to be
ridiculous, and she had missed play
ing golf with him that afternoon
Jerry Peters was not very interesting.
Was Terry in love with the new girl
Putting on her fresh white dress, ana
piling up her soft brown hair IN 1ts
usual simplicity, Nan told herself that
he had a right to fall IN love as ne
pleased. But she rather wished she
were a little less freckled, little less
alarmingly healthy In appearance.
Miss Story's extreme fragility made
her feel Amazonian.
AT dinner, Terry was all eyes LOT
Leith Story. Nan laughed with. ana
at, Jerry. Virginia was high-bred and
bored. Mrs. Stanton, when the meal
was over, excused herself for some
letter-writing, and sent on mlssiVe
that read after this manner:
Come here for little while and
straighten out the tangle Terry 10
getting himself and me into. Against
my will asked Leith Story here
had to for her mothers sake-but
she's, like her fathers people. don't
know the girl. but Terry is at her
feet. And Nan, sweet and wholesome
as ever, seems not even to see, let
alone to rescue him against his will.
| Perhaps Leith is only flirting-I cant
quite make her out, but don't just
care for her. Come down and see for
yourself-I'll meet you at the station
at any time you mention.
Lovingly, Liza"
One morning shortly after, Mrs.