Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-10-25


Dresden china shepherdesses.
"Children,' said the elf-like looking
person, majestically. 49,.
The plump legs waved wildly in the
air as John painfully backed out
Great holes were in the knees ofshis
stockings. and his face was disgrace
fully dirty; but for all that he retained
his presence of mind. Esther, on the
contrary, shook and tfembled ike a
brown November oak leaf.
What are you doing here?" asked
Aunt Elizabeth, in quiet, singing
voice. "Why, auntie,' drawled John,
stopping to give his spectacles an ex'
ira fine polish, "we chased rat into
your ROOM" 49,,
Esther's heart began to beat again,
and the color came back to her cheeks.
How clever John was to tell the truth
so nicely! She looked steadily into
Aunt Elizabeth's keen eyes.
where did he come from?" unused
Aunt Elizabeth.
ooh. from the barn." said John in
an off-hand way; "he was an awful
big white one.'
white one!" shifted Aunt Elizabeth.
Il think you're couple Of dreamers:
We must hurry to get ready for tea.
For a month now Aunt Eliza beth
had been enjoying the luxury of part
ing little boys hair and tying little
girls ribbons. BY and by the three
went down to tea hand in hand. Wan
dering Columbus was forgotten in the
ioy of tiny hot tea biscuits and orange
marmalade. But Aunt Elizabeth be-
lieved in an early bed hour for chill
dfen, and all too soon tucked each safe
ly in his little white cot. Then
thoughts of Columbus troubled each
little heart. :,
II hope he's not hungry" worried
Esther. ae
Il did tell her the truth" argued
John to an accusing conscience: she
didn't ask me whose rat 1t was"
B At the breakfast table both children
asked the same question In different
ways.
beth?" asked Esther, politely.
'sYou didn't squash him, did you,
auntie?' drawled John, sadly.
every we'll, thank you Esther.
Squash what, John?" answered Aunt
Elizabeth.
"The rate, auntie,'' sang out both
children in chorus. Z
Gracious, no." shuddered Aunt
Elizabeth; "but believe I'll tell EN-.
ma to set trap in my room at once.
She rang the bell and gave the order,
The word trap" destroyed tender
hearted Esthers appetite, and she sat
with folded hands watching the others
eat.
"Guess I'm sick" she said gloomily,
"and I'd rather not go out In the auto
this morning, If you don't m1nd'
auntie''
So Esther was made very comfort
able on the great leather couch In the
library while Aunt Elizabeth and John
left for their morning drive. When
they were fairly gone, the Invalid
sprang up and scampered up the stairs
to Aunt Elizabeth's room. Yes. there
was the cruel trap, baited with
tempting morsel Of cheese. She pick
ed it up carefully and started to take
out the bait when she heard little
rustic above her, and there was Col
umbus peeping out from behind the
cuckoo clock. Just then the trap
caught and held her rosy finger. She
opened her mouth in big round 20"
to scream for help, and then she re-
membered her duty to Columbus and
shut It firmly. Down on the bed she
crouched and worked away at the OBJ
stinate spring with her left hand, and
at last, after several minutes of sharp
pain. she was free. She wanted to
cry, but time was far too precious.
Columbus must be caught before Aunt
Elizabeth's return. Columbus seemed
to be tired of adventures at last. He
did not offer to run this time, and
Esther soon had him back IN his little
cage in the barn. He had Aunt Eliza
beth's cheese for his dinner, and ap'
Feared contented and happy.
Then back battered Miss Esther to
the great couch in the library, where
she had fine nap, until John awoke
her by tickling her nose with a pea
Geek feather.
"Cuddle down, again." commanded
Aunt Elizabeth, land John, you naugh-
ty boy, sit down in that chair, and
listen! Your father and mother won't
leave India for two more years. any
way, and am going to keep you with
me the rest of the time. You have
shown yourself to be both honorable
and we'll bred, and think we can be
very happy"
John and Esther gave each other a
joyful glance. They both preferred
Aunt Elizabeth to the housekeeper at
the farm. Then they remembered
something else John stood up sturdily
and went to polishing his glasses with
great energy.
"You won't want me, Aunt Eliza
beth" he drawled regretfully; 1T was
my rat that escaped into your room" "
'Half Of It was NINE" whispered
Elizabeth, "and was the worse, for
played sick, and went up in your room
and got caught in the trap, although
I did catch Columbus"
To- 10 T1I,yN