Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-04-23

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himself shaking hands with an impoa
ing gentleman with white mustache
shaking hands with young lady ii
blue foulard, whose dark, soft glanc,
fingered curiously on his own. Mat
hardly knew whether she was pretty
or motor at least very pretty. His
first impression was more of gracious.
ness, youth and breeding or rather an
impudent little mouth, parting con.
tinually on perfect teeth; Of delicately
penciled eyebrows, nose slightly
aquiline, and an abundance Of glossy
hair, which under the limplight appear
ed darker than 1t really was
I've met a considerable number OF
kings in my time," said the general
genially, "but always glad to add an
other to the list, you know. It's rather
reproach to US, I'm afraid, that we
let the papers discover you first"
"Oh. those papers!" exclaimed Matt.
But really, general. what Is one to
do? I might as we'll run after an exA
press train as try to deny all that rub
bish."
Nobody is safe in this country"
agreed the general with great good
humor. You can 60 to bed at night
an honored citizen and wake up in the
morning an alliterative outcast-Mer.
CHESS Marshall Murders Maid, or some-
thing equally surprising and unpleas-
ant"
It's the smudgy pictures hate
most, put IN Miss Marshall. "I've had
mine stuck all round with little cupids
shooting arrows into an unfortunate
foreign nobleman."
| We've all been there" said the gen.
eral. When the up-todate American
stops runaway or saves drowning
lady he Invariably gives false name
and address and then scoots out Of
sight. The modern boy on the burning
deck would never have admitted to
the reporters that he was Casabianca.
He'd have called himself Smith prob
ably and insisted there wasn't any
fret"
The general, still laughing at his
own sally, was greeted and diverted
by passing acquaintance, affording
Matt the opportunity of asking Miss
Marshall If she would not like to make
the round of the booths with him.
Her face showed her pleasure at the
proposal, and in her answering look.
SO arch and eager, Matt seemed to
read something that made him dizzy.
She was more than pretty, she was ex-
quisite, and the sudden realization OF
her beauty was not without dart Of
pain. They moved about, talking or
rather trying to talk, for the noise and
Jostle caused constant Interruptions
talking, and hoping for chairs, and
eluding the general like pair of tru-
ants, all the while looking into each
others eyes and laughing. But there
were no chairs; there was not an
empty spot in the whole church, ex-
cept In the pulpit, and that was set
Unnecessarily in mid-air, like wooden
lily, on long twisted stem. Matt
gazed at it. much as castaway sailor
might gaze at an airship-an unman-
ned airship, drifting high above his
head. But as he gazed his resolution
grew, and he announced it recklessly.
4 But they'll all see us!" cried Miss
Marshall aghast.
"Only the tops Of our heads, and they
won't recognize u.s." said Matt.
"And Mr.. Doty will be scandalized-
everybody will"
| "Oh, nonsense" said Matt. It's
the dickens to stand up here, with PEG.
pie digging into you and Fostering you
to buy beadwork pin-cushions when
you'd give everything in thetworld for
a coy talk"
"A coy talk would be nice, wouldn't
it? Though it would take an elephant
| to get through ALL
Come along. I'll be the elephant"
! The pulpit was reached by spiral
lstair-or rather could be reached by
pressing apart stout lady Cabling
to another stout lady, sweeping through
five gauzy little girls, and disturbing
mounting tier Of sweethearts, two to
a step. Had Matt not been In evening
dress he would never have succeeded
in dtslodging these lovers, but his
swallowtail was an awe-inspiring garb
and bore with 1t mysterious author
tty. Moreover, with quick presence Of
mind that convulsed his companion,
Matt announced that he was going to
give recitation, which allayed resent
ment and filed every one with delight.
ed anticipation. The blockade was
broken, and Matt had the supreme
satisfaction Of leading Miss Marshall
into the pulpit. He would have put
her on the chair-there was chair
but she preferred the hassock, insist.
ing at the same time that he should sit
on the floor. Here they covered out
Of view, trying to restrain their laugh
ter.
! Nov tell me about those FIVE times"
said Matt
i What five times?" inquired Miss
Marshall, provokingly insincere, and
with that pretty parting Of her lips.
"Oh. you know-what you said over
the phone"
I'D rather hear about your first
time"
That's easy came here expect
ling to find you adorable-and you are"
Men say things like that just as lit
tie boys shout Get a horse, get a
horse!' when you're stuck in motor"
"But you really and truly are, and
4 "And what?"
I'm all seriousness, I'm almost sorry
l came"
ooh, dear! Why Isn't the great,
splendid staggering king hapny In his