Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-07-15
They're a. much trouble - summer
bcarders."
Evening Story.
A prize PACKAGE
BY Martha Mccullough Williams.

BY Martha Mccullough Williams.
copyright, 1918, by the Mcclure
Newspaper Syndicate.)
you are nice person! Very
NICE" Ashley said, her tone wither-
ing.
Billy Boss caught her two indig-
nant hands. crying joyously: Az y
last you realize It! Now, you can't
possibly refuse me third time!
"No-because shant lot you ask
me-" Ashley countered. her head
high. Just az q matter Of curiosity
I'd like to know what you did yester-
day. You said you were coming to
take me to the picnic
Wouldn't you like to know"
Billy. asked teasingly, Ashley made
a face at him and started to the
door. He blocked her exit. took both
her hands again, and said as he drew
her to a seat on the sofa: I'D tell
you-only then you'd know as much
an do-and a husband has to be al
WAYS the superior in knowledge
Does he? Dear me! You'd better
look for q wife among tho feeble
minded inmates them" Ashley re-
turned. twisting her face wholly
away from him.
He appeared not 70 mind N the
least, since he atill held her hands.
Presently she felt him slip something
on her finger the ring finger. q that
and made to snatch away the hands.
He kept them tight In his. saying
coaxingly: Shut your eyes and think
how It looks then open them and
tell me how you like H."
Instead, she faced instantly about,
glanced at the, finger upon which
diamond OF fair sise and perfect luster
winked merrily, drew long breath,
but said loftily: "You must have been
buying lot OF prize packages to get
that" nodding at the ring. You are
sure always to find inside the thing
YOU don't want. at first"
81 like prize packsges-that's partly
why I'm 10 soft on YOU" Billy re-
torted, his eyes dancing. But guess
again. Your ring never came from
any sort Of package"
"H-m! Reckon the ten-cent store
must have In a new line OF jewelry,"
Ashley unused, her head on one size.
Billy laughed uproariously, and Slid
an arm about her waist. She sprang
UP. rushed half way across the room,
stamped her foot. and said. you
know I'm not that sort OF strl- how
Behave Touch-Me-Not! do
know" Billy soothed. But you are
that provoking, I had to punish You
some way. Please, please, ma'am,
forgive me: "Tll never do SO any
more-not until next time, anyway"
IT won't ever forgive you- any
thing unless you tell me-" Ashley
pouted.
YOU. sweetheart all in good time.
But not for year"
Indeed! Why" Ashley questioned.
His mouth grew firm. because
telling means betraying some other
body's business" he said. you can't
think anything merely my own would
have made me disappoint you"
"Is the other body Marion Sin
clair?" Ashley hazarded. She saw by
Billy's start her question had hit the
mark. "In that case" she went on
freez;ngly, Il want to know nothing
about the matter neither now, next
year-nor any time"
"Glad you take it so .,ensibly,"
Billy said through shut teeth. He
was thoroughly angry. Jealousy al
ways made him 80. And he knew
himself 30 innocent, 80 wholly In the
right. Besides, nobody should be
,iaolona ~ moor Marion she carried
weight enough without, notwith-
standing she was 80 rich and 80 beau
tiful. She had monomaniac mother
- a fine, smiling gentlewoman- ex-
cept when the murder lust laid hold
Oh her-then a demon. There had
been family trouble as well. Marion's
father had forbidden her ever to see
her mother, in fear Of the sights pos
sib]e influence on his child. Word
had come to her secretly that her
mother. dying and semi-sane. prayed
piteously for last interview. Marion
had appealed to Billy, her fathers
ward, who was like a brother, to take
her. secretly, safely-and he had done
1t.
h He shuddered. recalling the wild
ride the big red motor devouring
space in the darkness. They had run
the hundred miles at racing speed to
find they had been tricked. Mrs. Sin
clair had reused, laughing, and made
them understand she was going
back with them. It had taken all day
to quiet her-when at last she lay
sleeping heavily, the car with two