Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-06-07
found anywhere. Betty had the sense
to put on two pairs of stockings, and
then-She went out

pick out the driest parts OF the road.
But, as the hares DEITY was hound)
led far and wide, she cast care to the
winds In her desire to run them down.
So it happened that, when Betty reach
ed home not long before her mother
and Nancy returned, both pairs OF
stockings we're as wet as II they had
just been washed!
1t was the work of moment to find
dry hosiery. and the house slippers had
been leaning against the radiator all
the afternoon. Betty shivered little
as she changed her dress; but she was
dry, neat, and eminently sane OF ap-
pearance by the time mother and
Nancy had taken off their rubbers.
Are you quite all right, Betty, feet
dry?" inquired Mrs. Darrell, anxious
ly. when saw what the ground was
like, I did wish had told you to stay
at home"
I'm quite dry, mother DEAR" said
Betty.
Her rubbers were new" added
Nancy, reassuringly.
That was my one comfort" said
Mrs. Darrell. Betty WINGED little.
She was still feeling very shivery, and
she sat down by the radiator The
zest seemed gone from the evening
festivity, somehow. Ten, too, Miss
Wilson's words kept singing them
selves in her head-"Up to plane"
She kept visualizing that plane. 1t
was a nice path, and she wasn't on It..
Instead, she was down on a muddy,
snowy, cold, uncomfortable road well
below the plane. She shivered again.
Nancy sprang to her side,
Are you cold, dear?" she asked
anxiously. They were always little
anxious about Betty.
She put her hand to her sisters scar
let cheek as their mother crossed over
to them.
NO." she said, looking at Mrs. OAR
rell. Her face is quite hot"
Mrs. Darrell touched the said face,
and then sat down.
Betty dear" she said In the per-
suasive voice she always used when
she wanted Betty to go to bed, did
you get wet?"
my skirt was quite dry" said Bet
ty. The plane moved higher up, and
she wanted so much to get on it.
Her feet couldn't have got wet, you
know" added Nancy, with those per-
fectly new rubbers."
They didn't ask Betty if she had
worn them. So she didn't have to say
a word that was not true. Then why
did the plane seem SO far above her?
She suddenly thought of yesterdays
lesson and Of the picture--the benevo-
lent, calm, wise face of the man who
was truly the leader of SO many, up to
that plane where he walked in peace.
DIT
on the plane.
IT didn't wear my rubbers,' she said.
II left them at school" She burst
suddenly into tears, though she laugh
ed, too. '-rm SO sorry, mother, dear.
But don't worry about me. I'm on the
'plane.'"
Betty, lying, oh, SO comfortably in
her white bed. with the doctors assur-
ance that It was very light attack,
and she would he all right in day or
two, could hear the sounds Of revelry
below There had been no time to put
off the party, and Nancy had come
most nobly to the rescue. Betty real
ICED that she was happier lying down
than she could possibly be standing
up! But the thought that brought most
peace was that she hadn't tried to de-
ceive her mother! that she hadn't even
waited till a direct question put the
bald alternatives-truth or a lie-be-
fore her. She had chosen before she
was driven up against wall! She
felt that she could face that hand
some portrait that Miss Wilson admir-
ed so without any shame. Il admire
him, too" she murmured sleepily. And
I'll always-imitate-
So she fell asleep, and dreamed of
walking beside the first president on
flowery plane" 81