Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-05-09

and longed for the time when they
might march through the streets, with
drums beating and colors flying, to the
amazement and admiration Of all be-
holders. Meanwhile, they worked with
buying him a real sword, which was
presented to him by committee, much
to his-and their--embarrassment.
He was immensely touched, for that
must have lightened many
a lunch-pail, and. cut of many pickle
or frankfruter or scrap Of flnery--the
sword being quite sword, with a
gold-plated handle. richly chased, and
an engraved Inscription on the blade.
Yes, SO touched. that his heart was
very full indeed, and brimmed over
with tenderness for his funny CON-
mand; and he went through the ranks,
shaking hands with every one OF them.
and telling them, not without emotion,
how happy and how grateful he was.
One Monday night when as usual
he mounted the dingy stairway to the
upper stories of the factory, a strange,
furious buzzing reached his ears,
warning him that something was serL
ously amiss in the loft He fastened
his steps, and burst in on the Cadets,
expecting to stop hair-pulling match,
or one Of those squabbles that Will
happen in even the best regulated OF
girls corps. There was dead 81
lence at his entrance, and as he adj
vanced into the room he wondered to
see no one in uniform, and wondered
still more at the fierce, lowering looks
that met him on every side. SUD
denly there was a cry OF ON, tnere
he is, the dirty wretch" and with
that the whole assembly made rush
at him, yelling like so many Indians
and engulfing him in biting. scratch
ing, snarling, kicking. punching mop.
Before he could realize what was
happening, his face was scratched, MS
clothes were half off his back, and ne
was defending himself for very lie.
Once they nearly had him down, ana
there was nothing pathetic now In
those big feet, savagely lunging at MIN
and ready to scrunch him under their
heels. With superhuman effort ne
righted himself, and as hat-pin dug
into his side, began to push them away
violently with his hands. 1t was
thing to do-to be forced
to DEBUT he was being murdered
by those insane women, and self-pres-
is the first law They
s-reeched, they screamed, they fa'n+' .
thew clawed him with renewed feroc-
ity: hnaging to his backfi his legs,
and stabbing at him with their veno-
nous hat-pins, till everything swan
before him, and his one coherent IN
stinct was to reach the Wash-room IN
the corner OF the loft.
He got to 1t somehow; swung round,
and shook off his pursuers, and then,
slamming the door in their faces,
bolted it-while those sixty-three
voices howled like wolves outside.
The partitions did not run to the cell
ing, but only to the height OF about
nine feet; he pulled himself up to one
Of these narrow lodges, and pantingly
gazed on the pandemonium below.
The storm had spent it's worst; the
wounded were being revived and un-
laced: there was no concerted attempt
to smash in the door, though half
dozen furies we're pounding on It, and
yociferating with the full strength OF
their lungs. The sight OF him, perch
ed on the summit of the partition, was
the signal for a below OF execration,
which gradually quieted. as he raised
his hand and tried to speak. Just as
he was beginning to make himself
heard a toy gun was flung at him, and
a. cheer of delight followed as 1t
grazed his forehead. and tumbled to
the floor. Disregarding the blow he
raised his hand again, demanding
silence, silence, silence!
BY degrees the cadets hushed, more
curious than cowed, and derisively
obedient. ....
"Will some one kindly tell me what's
the matter?" he asked.
There was hubbub Of response, an
roar, and flutter OF
bits of paper waved at him with q
significance he was at loss to under
stand. Picking out Kitty in the crowd
be made another attempt, addressing
his question to her alone.
kitty" he cried. won't you an
swer for the lot? What the devil has
you're a low, dirty, contemplate
swine," exclaimed Kitty amid loud
approval, and more waving Of those
sheets of paper. They were pink, he
noticed, and seemed to be letters.
For Gods sake, what have I dOne?"
be roared what am accused Of"
1t was Celestine who replied this
time.
. "You might have left me out OF II"
she said, with break in her voice.
IT'S pad enough being what I am,
without being guyed and pointed at
and made a goat Of like the rest"
MADE a goat Of? What do you
mean? I haven't made a goat Of any
body" .&, -.~ ,r
Celestine forced her way through
the seething mass, and on tiptoe he'd
10 one Of the pink letters.
ooh, amt it true?" she asked with
an altered expression. Say didn't
you send that to everyone Of us Sun
lay afternoon, by light-complected
young man with pompadour hair?"
Matt read the letter, which was not
only on pink paper, but emitted pen
etrating perfume and was written in
4 round copybook hand with elaborate
aourishes: e
MY own sweetest dearest darling: