Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-04-23
make me ashamed to admit it. think
I'm sorry to leave the old place

make me ashamed to admit it. think
I'm sorry to leave the old place
specially now"
ITO mo it seems deadly" continued
the girl. TITS the Siberia Of America
without the excitement of chains or
fresh prisoners to brighten us up-not
a single person of the slightest interest
till you appeared. Do you know, Mr..
Broughton. you express the only bit
Of romance that has ever come our
way" r..
"Oh, no, no." protested Matt. "All
am Is another kind of barnacle from
another kind of rock and just as COM
monplace as the rest of them. I'm
afraid" . "@
"But even that is so interesting"
went on Miss Marshall encouragingly.
"A strange, remote barnacle from the
South Pacific-dear me, how perfectly
delightful! Besides, they say you are
a king out there" ...s=
ooh, Miss Marshall, I am really glad
to 60 on account of all that rubbish;
you can't imagine what bore it has
been, what a detestable modification.
I need hardly tell you 1t Is all news
paper stuff-not word of it that isn't
silly lie."
Matt stopped, trying to nerve himself
for an heroic admission. Somehow it
seemed suddenly important that he
should be honest-that he should free
himself from any meretricious CLAM
our. a4 ts@
! "The prosaic truth is that I'm going
to Kentucky to raise mules" he added.
"Mules?"
Eyes, mules" Az ..,
"But can't you do that here?"
"Well, you see, the book says"
'The book?" +.
~ don't know anything about them
so naturally bought a book"
The merriment of the half-caught re-
ply was rather wounding.
"Oh,, it is not so absurd as 1t sounds, "
he said. II have sort of partner, too
"a practical colored man."
"A practical colored MANI"
Eyes, kind of Man Friday who has
attached himself to me. We are 60
ing to pool our money and build log
cabin in the mountains" ~
There was a moments pause at the
other end of the telephone, followed
by suppressed laughter .e'
"That settles It,, Mr.. Broughton, you
simply must come" exclaimed the
young lady. please tell me that you
will"
Matt listened eagerly as she laugh
ed again, and then struck his flag. The
sound of his voice startled him with
it's earnestness. s.. i @
Certainly, If you wish it," he said.
cts too charming an invitation from
too charming person for me to re-
fuse" "
Apparently Miss Marshall was lit
tie taken aback; there reemed shade
less cordially in her tone as she re-
piled, ooh, if you would much rather
not, you know-if it's inconvenient or
anything don't let me put you
out"
ooh, but I'd love to come-really and
truly l would"
With an even more ambiguous. ooh,
thanks: then we will expect you, good
by" the phone was closed.
Poor Daggancourt was terribly cast
down at the news and expostulated
tremblingly, with tears in his eyes. He
was so humble, SO quaveringly re-
strained, that his reproaches were har-
der to bear than If they had been more
outspoken Mrs. Sattane and the
others were merely surprised
much surprised, indeed-and listened
with the greediest Of ears and the most
evident incredulity to the tale OF a
forgotten promise to Mr.. Doty. Hun.
ter Hoyt, buzzing about tipsily, was
very pleased to think they were going
to keep their dear old boys after all,
and made what to Matt was very op.
perfume diversion by falling of the
porch.
In the confusion attending his rescue
and the subsequent examination of
some highly-prized shrubs by Mrs.
Sattane, and of highly priced leg by
the journalist, Matt managed to slip
away without remark, and take the
river road to the pines. An unreason-
ing elation possessed him; he was
eager to be alone with himself and
dream, for had not lovely queen
stopped to notice him, and thrown him
a flower? .r
CHAPTER VII.
Never was Saturday night more
slow Of arrival, yet when at last Matt
stood at the entrance Of the church,
and heard the babel Of voices within,
he was stricken with a sort of terror.
He entered guiltily, and once inside
had a fresh spasm Of dismay to find
he was apparently the only man there
in evening dress. The place was
crowded and hot and noisy and dis
concerting; committeeman with roset-
tes grabbed his hand and welcomed
him as brother; excited young ladies
surrounded him, holding up objects for
sale, and overwhelming him with
saucy pleasantries; little girls, with
immense bows in their hair, tried to
IL. ~ LII,