Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-08-27
EVENING STORY.
AN oLD-FAsHIoNED FLOWER.
BY LOUISE MERR1F1ELD.
Copyright, 1912, by Associated Lit
erary Press.)

Copyright, 1912, by Associated Lit
erary Press.)
What funny name, anyway"
Doris knelt on the nearest chair
and leaned over her cousins shout
der to get better look at the letter.
Charity Lavinia Warren. wish we
could keep her out of sight until the
COPYRIGHT dance Is over, Eve"
Evelyn did not answer. She was
reading the little family scented note
once more. She had never dreamed
that Charity Warren would ever have
accepted her half-hearted invitation,
and come clear from Fairville. VT,
down to Pinehurst, Ga. to spend
Thanksgiving.
1T won't be bit what she expects,
either" went on Doris. mo snow. har.
vest home festivals, barn dances,
sleigh rides; nothing but US and the
hotel. Whatever will we do with her,
'Eve?"
How old do you suppose she is?
Sixty?"
Doris laughed at the woe.begone ex-
preston on Evelyn's pretty face.
~AS~s
father"
Major Warren raised his eyebrows
when the girls broke the news and
shook his head =
BLESS my heart, children, don't
ask me. She's the only child OF old
Jed Warren, know, my fathers cou-
sin. Rather distant, but all In the fam
lily. Treat her as nicely as you know,
mind Cousin Jed gave me royal
time years ago up in the old vermont
mountains. Never tasted such maple
syrup in my life. Fine horses, too, Jed
had. Be nice to his little girl, Doris"
That's all the comfort he'll give
us, Eve" Doris pouted. "Men never
understand delicate situations
Evelyn, twenty-four, and self-pos-
sessed, handled the situation as the
major himself would have done. The
little country cousin would arrive the
day before Thanksgiving. The major
was busy entertaining young Buell.
Carteret, the western judge, who had
turned old politics upside down like
a wornout basket in his state, and
shaken out all the rubbish OF years.
Doris was taken up with prepare
lions for the dance, and Evelyn saw
that a suite Of pleasant rooms was
set aside for Charity. A group OF
northern friends had arrived from
New York, and she found she could
not meet her cousin, but the major
readily agreed to "pick her up IN his
own trap.
Eyes, but he's picked up Judge Car
teret, too" said Doris, catching a n.y.
ing glimpse of them as she hesltated
on the broad veranda. IL hope ne
doesn't fall in love with Charity. =
Whine the northern express drew in
the sun had just slipped behind the
shoulder of the Big Tumble mountain.
The great pines on its uplifted crest
looked gaunt and bare against the
vivid sky. Lonely enough It looked to
Charity as she stepped down from
the sleeper, and the very first face
that met her eyes was BuelPs. Before
the major could introduce himself the
iudee was before him, hat OH, all his
heart in his eyes as he seized Char
ity's little hand.
"Know herr" he exclaimed after the
half-laughing explanations. why, l
learned all know in old Jed Warren's
law office up in Fairville, major. He
took me one day when l strolled into
town with nothing but a violin and
my mothers bible to carry me through
the world and put me on my feet. Lit
tie Miss Charity, here, was about
seven then, / guess. was big coun-
try gawk Of eighteen. Remember me,
Miss Charity?"
Charity looked up at him shyly,
but with a CLEAN Of fun in her soft
gray-blue eyes. :.
81 remember that you never called
me Miss Charity, then, Buell.
But bless my heart. child, don't
you know he's the rising Judge Of the
middle west" exclaimed the major.
1--WE have to treat him with respect,
and I'll wager my best fox hound you
never were called Buell. east OF the
Cumberland before, Judge
"But l have north OF the Berk-
shires." laughed Carteret.
After the first shock Of seeing
Charity o., friendly terms with the lion
| of Pinehurst, the girls corralled her
in her own sitting room. Even Eve
llyn's critical eye could find no fault
with her, this little distant cousin
from the INdplc ou6oi oeoCS' NV w.
as graceful and well poised as one of
| her own deer, eyes gray-blue and
heavily firinged, fair hair wound in
broad plats about her head, and little
curly wisps escaping here and there.
Besides, she had dimples, and little
Idemure one-sided smile that disarmed
criticism.
But where and how did you ever
know Judge Carteret?' asked Doris,
in surprise. "Do you know now won
derful he is, and that even father
thinks he is the coming man OF the
country" !.
"My father thought that years ago,
said Charity happily. We've always
believed in Buell.
ut seems so strange, your coming
way down here from the wilds OF
Vermont"
ooh. Fairville's quiet a good-sized
town." interposed Charity loyalty
"And we've got new public library
! THE 1,oarb