Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-05-17

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tested and scolded, had patientl
gathered the curls again into the rit
bon, and tied once more the prett
bow.
Don't you touch that again, Mar
tin," said she.
Martin didn't mean to, but Jane
came dancing up to him, with tn
curls flying. She was SO provokingl.
happy, and she was almost ready
and he was not. He put out his hant
and touched the bow of ribbon
Strange to say, it came off in hi
hand. Grandmother was righteousl!
indignant.
Martin Benson, if you do tina
again, you won't go one step. l meal
it,"
Benson looking SO tall and straight
She was a CHEEKY little body, and this
dignity sat queerly upon her. Martin
laughed. ... =. I'D.
its no laughing matter, 1 mean
it. Martin ~ .
Martin became sober. He didn't
mean to offend again.
But waiting so long to be dressed
was very tiresome. Cousin Walter
was coming for them. The auto would
soon be there. What if he shouldn't
be ready? Oh, dear!
He put his hands in his pockets to
keep them out of mischief, but at
that moment Janet came running in
again. She was all ready now, but
quite too happy to sit still. She stood
in front of him, the ribbon danger
ously near. 1t seemed to Martin that
his hand flew out of his pocket itself
and did the mischief. At any rate, it
was done.
"Now, Martini said grandmother,
you heard what I said. You can't go
today"
Martin looked sober.
'T'm sorry, but can't take you
She looked sorry. Martin didn't
like to look at her.
"Never mind, Martini" said Janet.
you can look out the window and
see me GO
"Janet," said grandmother sharply,
don't be an idiot
His good. kind grandmother. He
couldn't believe it. Surely, she would
call him to her to be dressed and
ell him it was all a joke.
He watched her anxiously, but she
lid nothing of the kind She dressed
Janet in her warm wraps for the
auto, then put on her own, without
/ word to the little boy. Her face
vas forbidding. ..
At length the auto came.
Goodbye, Martini said grand
mother. .
"Goodby," cried little Janet.
Martin couldn't answer. The auto
Duffed away, leaving a heavy little
leart behind, and Martin never sus-
1ected that the one it carried away
vas heavier still. .
Kind old Margaret came up to com
ort him. Never you mind, Martin"
said she. we'll have griddle cakes for
Inner"
"I don't want griddle cakes"
What, Not wild the nice maple
'yrup?"
mo"
Nor cream cakes"
sNo."
"What'll we do thin, at all?" she
lueried, perplexed. ''I'm thinkin' of
,oin' to Brighton the day, to see poor
Miss Carson. She's awful sick. I
wonder could get small boy to go
vid me-"
"N-o!" answer Martin.
Margaret went downstairs, discour-
Aged, but resolved that the gr1ddle
cakes should be made, even If she had
o eat them herself.
N1or ctr h1, tho y1yir SNw tho MIR.
ure of woe. He did not cry. Some
low, the thought Of the contrast be-
ween the transports of the morning
md his present desolation weighed too
heavily upon him for tears. Besides,
le was six years old.
He didn't mean to be naughty boy.
had conspired against
lin that morning. Oh, 1t was cruel,
:ruel, cruel!
But Margaret's kind words, I'M
as they were received, had
,omforted him a little. They made
lin cry little, too, with a realizing
sense of his misery. 1t was hard
world, that day, for poor little Martin.
Meanwhile the auto, with its load,
sped swiftly on. The children laughed
md shouted, but Grandmother Benson
vas very quiet. Aunt Jane saw at
)nce that there was trouble.
'Is anything the matter, mother?"
she asked anxiously. You're not Ill"
"rm perfectly WELL" answered
Grandmother Benson.
where's Martini"
Martin Is a very naughty boy"
spoke up Janet. HE can't come"
Janet" said grandmother severely,
are you always good little girl?"
NO." faltered Janet.
"Then don't say word about Mar
in"
Janet subsidized. Bereft Of their
the little people made the
arge old house gay with happy voices,
but grandmother did not smile. Even
The children, happy as they were, felt
The difference between the old time
1eartiness and this melancholy silence.
At last Aunt Jane went out to her
young daughter who was assisting
Chloe in the kitchen.
Something must be done, Julia"
said she. Your grandmother hasn't
smiled once since she came, and the
are getting as solemn as
owls. What can it be?'
tits something about Martin" an