Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-10-11

evening, Just before dinner.
"Buddie do" murmured Babesy
with something like wistful, won
dering culver of the lips. 1t had been
the final unanswerable argument al
ways.
The lights were lit down below, and
again she had been tucked into the
big bed. They concluded that she was
beginning to get used to it after all,
and grandma leaned back in the com.
Portable old lib airy chair to rest, her
pretty gray hair brushing softly
against the dull crimson chair back
Why what was that? What was it?
That thin, suffering, high-pitched, lit.
tie cry what was the matter with
that baby!
She rushed upstairs. From the big
bed came the convulsed sob, and a
quivering little heap struggled un.
equally with itself under the bed
clothes.
why, grandma's blessed baby!
What is it? Tell grandma! Didn't she
like grandma's house? Would she
rather go home? She didn't like
grandma's old house very much, any.
way?"
There was a half distinct, wet little
murmur, and suddenly, half intuitive-
ly, grandma seemed to feel and under.
stand it all-the process that had
been struggling to work itself out In
the baby mind ever since the day
when she had energetically insisted,
"Buddie dol" and beamed delightedly
on them all.
Mono - she didn't - did she?''
murmured grandma.
"B-Ruddie-" came the wet, mis-
cradle little sob again "B-B-Bud-
die!"
But not until the next morning did
the real climax Of despair arrive.
Then it was that Ellen, always faith:
full in time Of domestic difficulty,
flew distractedly about the halls, and
grandma followed her, pale with pro
phetic, horrible fears. The big white
bed was empty, and the small white
guest had flown.
20 Ellen, Ellen" wsiled grandma,
where Is she! Are any of the out
side doors unlocked? Go and see"
Down the stairs rushed Ellen; and,
when she came back, there was
grandma's voice from above, calling
softly now and imperatively. Ellen
followed it and found grandma in Bud
dies room. In the small bed lay two
little people soundly sleeping. Their
hot, damp little hands were tightly
clasped, and on Rabesy's cheeks were
still the marks Of tears.
"How- how did it happen, Elem
Grandma looked wretched.
II couldn't tellHyou, ma'am. An hour
ago he was sound asleep, and
haven't heard a thing out Of the room
since" ~ "
"But. Ellen. she must surely have
caught it now!" She lifted the smaller
up gently and stood wondering.
"She's hot. Ellen! She-she's spot.
ted! Ellen! Call the doctor"
This time the doctor. looked down
on his two patients and smiled again
"Why, they were probably both ex-
posed at the same time" he reasoned
cheerfully. mo, there's not thing to
worry about. They're all right. Why
shouldn't they have the measles If
they want to? Just let them stay right
here together and get as much amuse.
ment out of it as they can!'
Babesy looked up from the other
bed that had somehow grown up
there suddenly. close to Buddies hot,
spotted, sublimely happy; and Buddie
looked over at her, as If the rare, JOY
full climax of measles had truly
come. 49,.
But it had not. 1t was yet to come.
Grandma was standing in the door.
way, smiling mysteriously.
"You see, children" she said. II
wrote to mother about Buddie. Would
you-would you like to see mother?''
They bounced up In bed They
stretched out their spotted little arms
to her-oh, the joy of it! They were
wriggling in her arms, both of them,
and she was dropping tears on them
both.
"The doctor came, mother" ex-
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