Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-07-28
CHARLES SHERMAN.
Copyright, The Dobhs-.,..c-.:il Company.

that men are doing, and stop initiating
buns and hoboes."
:, IF I entered the office, would cut
some poor devil out Of job who
needed 1t more than | do"
write, then"
!, What shall I write? A sonnet to a
tumbled mass of soft black hair and
eyes of limpid blue?" and Alsernon
knocking the ashes from the end of his
cigarette, glanced toward the garden
But the place was now deserted save
for the roses and the bees.
Mrs. Todd rose, displeesure and dis
approval or her sweet. little. flushed
face. She glanced at her watch,
gathered up her papers and moved to-
ward the door. IT am seriously dis.
pleased with you, Algernon,' said she.
II thought that after YOU returned
from California we should talk things
over and come to some agreement
You have had year of fun, and
though you only came home last night,
there Is no reason why We should put
the talk off. But when I am serious,
you are f1ippant: when I am anxious
about your future with mothers
anxiety. you make jest of it. Look
at me- am a busy contented woman.
Why? Because I have serious pur.
pose in life. do not fool away all my
time at the card-table. am member
of several very worthy clubs to help
the working girls and poor children"
81 know" interrupted Algerncn
gently, "but why the clubs?"
"Why the | clubs?' repeated his
mother.
Eyes. What need are they?"
"Why, Algernon, to help. to assist
81 know, mama. But why can't you
personally just give? Then you
wouldn't be tempted to think so much
about what both your hands are doing
at once, according to the secretary's
minutes"
(, "Why, Algernon, that's ridiculous.
There have to be clubs. Every one
belongs to club. You have to If you
want to do good"
"What club did Christ belong to-"
asked Algernon, leaning forward.
Mrs. Todd flushed "Algernon."
said she sternly, you are sacrilegii.
Gus and can net stand It,"
Alt AOA oAEACO CdAA ly anu 'CeA%N
back among the cushions of his chair.
Excuse me, mama. You were say
ing"
81 was saying how spend my time.
read and keep up with all the big
questions of the day. study Span
ish and horticulture, and still have
time to go to concerts and lectures and
the opera. eat well, sleep well and
feel like a young girl. Look at your
self. older and more blase than your
mother. tired with life before it has
more than begun. I tell you, Alger'
non. if you do mans work in the
world you will feel like boy am
going now to visit hospital I am in.
terested in MY maid" she added
sternly, "goes with me. When re-
turn, we shall discuss this more
thoroughly have made up my mind.
very firmly, Algernon, that something
must be done. If you do not care to
exert yourself in any way, shall sim
ply have to cut down your allowance,
until you show yourself worthy OF a
bigger one I hope when return, you
Will have determined on something"
Don't hurry back on my account,
mama"
"Your flippancy, Algernon, does not
affect me one way or the other. l
mean it when say that expect to
find that you have decided upon some.
thing by the time I come home"
81 shall have" Algernon treasured
her cheerfully Mama, have you one
of those pictures Of me on my polo
pony? Oracle Tucker"
81 have no picture of you. Algernon."
Mrs. Todd paused halfway across the
room and waved her hand around.
Look. Not a picture of you in the
whole house but your childhood pic
lures. All the others you have taken
away at one time or another to give to
some girl. None of them cares for
you. All they want is your money.
Why don't you send them a picture
Of gold certificate or double eagle?
It would not be half so affected or
hyprocritical"
"You flatter me-" murmured Alger-
non.
Some day." snapped his mother,
for there is nothing so irritating as
continual good nature in an opponent,
"scme day you will be married to a
chorus girl who will endure you for q
yeor for the sake Of the alimony she
will get"
Truth brushes to earth and we
writhe in pain"
81 do not mean to be unkind. dear
but the class of girls you 60 with only
cares for your money. Give it to them
and they won't miss you at all"
do you want to bet, mama?'
81 do not care to take your money
Algernon. You would simply borrow
it back again.
mot for some time, Poor old Jim
my paid up scme of his honest debts
this morning
"Algernon, will nothing make yor
work.
81 am going to work, now. Where
is your paper? May have little o.
it? l am going to write a-er-s
sonnet"
Mrs. Todd swept from the room,
After an hour Of hard mental labor
Algernon laid down his pen and reat
and reread in pleased surprise the re
suit of his work.
with hair as black as the devil'I
heart,
y ~