Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-01-07

"At our hotel, the Mason's Arms.
was the bar lady"
Sidi Mahommed ran an appreciative
blue eye over Miss Dubbs' elaborate
black hair, her full color, her deer
bust. her well.rounded form. He
laughed shortly. cts wonder you've
escaped marriage so long"
Getting married Is matter Of
taste. But in my case, Mr. Bergash,
can assure you 1t has not been fol
want of opportunities. I've had my
offers. And though. to be sure we
ladies in our profession have more adj
mirers than most, being as you may
say brought into contact with great
many gentlemen every day Of our lives
IT, can tell you plain. know, I've only
had to nod at least dozen times, and
II could have settled down, and a house
iof my own, within three months. But
I preferred my liberty. And do still.
"A girl with your attractions ought
to make great marriage"
"Oh. don't undervalue myself. But
I don't intend to get married. SC
We'll please change the subject, and as
you've been inquisitive, I'll be the
same. Is that basin on my toilet-tahle
made Of TIM"
"I haven't seen 1t, but anyway l car
guarantee the thing is not tin. Tir
doesn't grow here. II it's white
metal"
eft u.s."
Then it's silver Why"
"a silver wash-basin! My! you dc
have some style. And the carafe and
tooth mug. are they BRASS"
|
ito suggest they're gold. Why? Do the!
taste. or something? Aren't they
clean?"
Miss Dubbs looked at her host with
a new respect. 81 thought only roy
atty had gold and silver toilet ware?'
81 believe It's more the rule among
sist on the point. I suppose we can
qualify all right. We really are kings
in o way, and If you come to think
Of It. our ancestors were reignine
kings here in the Atlas when yours
were running about Great Britain dis
GUESSING the latest tint in blue paint"
you needn't be indelicate."'
"You shouldn't draw me on into
Dragging comparisons. then. How
would YOU like to live here? Look
through the window. You cant beat
that view in all the world"
"A lady can't live on view alone,
said Miss Dubbs shrewdly. And fol-
a gentleman who has been to college
at Cambridge, your idea of comfort
strikes me as incomplete. You give
me silk carpet to my room, and the
floors like a rough stone road under
meath it: YOU nut gold backed hand
glass on the table. but not a bit OF
paper on the walls: and you've got a
yellow metal lamp. inlaid with what
Hooks like real Jewels hanging from the
ceiling and not so much as single
pane of glass in the window"
"That's Rerber custom. II had ar
English wife it could be changed"
and while she was at it Gf you'll
excuse me mentioning it) she nigh
look after the cooking. don't MIND
things bit greasy, but really tina
Irish ste which is your n1ama's favor
lite dish, just swims with fat sometimes
And you ought to do something to the
dairy I don't call butter tasty wher
it smells like what they serve here"
The kaid beat the table with his
fist. Now you" he said. take the
practical view, and that is what
like. You don't talk lot of tommy
rot about poetry, and the pride Of high
place, and the responsibilities of rule
and other things that I know about
just as we'll myself; but you've an eye
for essential facts, and the wit to point
out cures for what is wrong. I cal
pumping up poetry the worst kind OF
skttles"
"Well, there I disagree with you.
can't make poetry myself but a gentle
man friend of mine can make the most
beautiful verses that were ever read
or written. yes, and set them to music
and play them to hts own accordion &C
Accompaniment. And yet he's the most
lbusinesslike and practical gentleman
u ever met. No. never mind who he Is
That doesn't matter. I was only tell
ling you about him to prove that poetry
doesn't always drag man down tc
long hair and velvet coat. And that
reminds me, we're here alone, and per
haps you won't mind telling. OF cours
It'll keep it confidential, but are you
really Sidi?"
I'm the genuine article"
Meaning saint?"
That's, it. Beware Of limitations
lISlSI vi moving LAC Oho ebHu Willy
original"
But some one told mel mean
was told that one always addressed 8
Mohammedan gentleman in Algeria as
ST. or 'Sidi,' just as we say Mister
That's perfectly correct, and I'D like
to bet you pair Of gloves I could
name your informant"
We'll, I won't bet. But it was Cap
tain Kettle"
Precisely. He's tried to throw
doubt on everything about me, from
to z. wonder why the man detests
me so heartily"
! Miss Dubbs laughed. She had as g
rule a fine, rich, deep laugh. that il
was really pleasure to listen to; but
just now her laughter was forced, and
it grated. II should say the reasons
perfectly clear. You cut him out with
his young lady"
How do you mean?"
after you turned up with your tale
of being a saint and all that, Miss
Chesterman would barely so much as
look at the captain. Why, till 70,
came I looked upon them as good a:
engaged"