Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-03-08

Fran came up to the young man from
out the crowded street, all quivering
excitement. In contrast with the pulls
ing life that ceaselessly changed her
face, as from reflections of dancing
light points, his composure showed al
most grotesQue.
Here am" che painted, shooting a
auizzical glance at his face, ARE You
ready for me? Come on. then, and I'll
show you the very place for us"
Abbott inquired ,serenely, Down
there in the den!"
wondering how he had taken the lions.
What she saw did not alarm her.
NO." she returned. mot In the den.
You're no Daniel, If am charmer.
No dens for u.s." " ~
"Nor lion cages?'' inquired Abbott,
still inscrutable; never again."
Never again. came her response;
it was promise.
As they made their way through, the
noisy "city square" abe kept on won
dering. Since his face revealed moth
ing, his disapproval, at any rate, was
not so great as to be beyond control
Did that signify that he did not feel
enough for her really to care? Better
for him to be angry about the show,
than not to care. .',.. ts
Fran stopped before the ferris wheel
Lets take a ride" she said little
TREMENDOUSLY. Wont need tickets.
Bill, stop the wheel; want to go right
up. This Is friend of mine--Mr.
Ashton. And Abbott, this Is an older
friend than you-Bill Smookins."'
Bill Soomkins was an exceedingly
hard featured man, of no recognizable
age. Externally, he was blue overalls
and greasy tar ,~r" =.
Abbott grasped Bills hand, and in.
quired about business.
awful pore, sense Fran lef the
show" was the answer, y accompanied
by grin that threatened to cut the
weather beaten face wide open.
Fran beamed. "Mr Smookins knew
my mother-didn't you, Bill? He was
awful good to me when was a kid.
Mr.. Smookins was human nymph In
those days, and he smoked and talked
he did, right down under the water
remember, Bill? That was sure enough
wate.-oh, he's a sure-enough Bill, let
me tell you'll" .s~
Bill intimated, as he slowed down
the engine, that the rheumatism he
had acquired untler the water. was
sure-enouNh Observation-Disclosures ,hii
enough to be human nymph," he ex
planned, but not endurable. Nobody
can't last many years as human
nymph."
Abbott indicated his companion
Here's one that'll last my time"
The wheel stopped. He and, Fran
were barred into seat.
"And now" Fran exclaimed, cts all
ups and downs, just like moving pic
ture of life. Why don't you say some
thing, Mr.. Ashton? But no, you can
keep still-Im excited to death, and
wouldn't hear you anyway. I want to
do all the talking always do, after
i've been in the cage. My brain is
filled with air-so this is the time to
be soaring up into the sky, isn't it!
What is your Drained filled WITH
but never mind. Well be just two
balloons-my! aren't you glad we
haven't any strings on us-suppose
some people had hold!-I. for one
things, and peoples opinions of how
things look, and reports of what folks
say. And up here, there's nothing but
the moon-isn't 1t bright! See how
I'm neutrality-suspicious. do. after the
lions. Now, Abbott, I'll leave small
opening for just one word
It'll steady you," said Abbott brief
ly, and he took her hand. She did not
appear conscious of his protecting
clasp. ~ .
Il never see the moon SO big" she
went on, breathlessly, without think
ing of that night when it rolled along
the pasture as II it wanted to knock
us of the foot bridge for being where
we oughtnt. I never could under
stand why you would stay on that
bridge with perfect stranger, when
your duty was to be usher at the camp
meeting! You weren't ushering me
you know, you we're holding my hand
Il mean, | was holding your hand, al
Miss Sapphire says l shouldn't. What
a poor helpless man-as I'm holding
you now, I presume! But I laughed
in meeting. People ought to 90 out
doors to smile, and keep their religion
in house, I guess. I'm going to tel
you why laughed, for you've never
guessed, and you've always been afrait
to ask" .E
Afraid of you, Franz" /.
lawfully, I'm going to show you
let go, so can show you. No, I'm II
earnest-you can have me, afterwards
- Remember that evangelist
There he stood, waving his hands
as I'm doing now-moving his arms
with his eyes fastened upon the con
gregation-this way-look, Abbott"
Fran! As II were not alread!
looking" ...~ .-
"Look-just so: not saying wore
only waving this way and that
And it made me think Of our hypno
tizer--the man that waves people int
our biggest tent--he seems to picl
'em up bodily and carry them in hi
arms. Well! And If the people arr
to be waved into a church, it won
take much of breeze to blow then
out. l don't believe in soul-waving
But that doesn't mean that dom
believe in the church--does it?-dt
you Think"
"You believe in convictions. Fran
And since you've come into the church
you don't have to say that you be
lieve in it,
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