Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-08-27


in pleasure, ranking second to the
Fourth of July and the time the presi
dents yacht had steamed by, gooc
two miles out to sea, but visible
through the binoculars, provided one
were not too old. To Algernon, be
cause of the position he held. it was
an event that heretofore had always
bored him; to Molly 1t was unendur
| able. one long excruciating agony OF
concealing mental torture under
smiling mask of social inanity, 9
ever-to-be-forgotten nightmare.
The day was warm, bit sultry
with great white masses of tumbling
clouds drifting by slowly as though
propelled by their own weight, for
there was hardly breath of air The
leaves of the vines covering the house
which were wont to ripple with every
passing breeze like the waves of the
sea, hung mctionless, and the great
| flag on its pole above the turret, signi'
flying the presence of the lady Of the
manor, dropped lifelessly in the heavy
air. But the lawns were like deep
| smooth velvet, and from the Lodge up
to the great house the flower beds
were one dazzling riot Of color. Gold
en-glow famed like bit OF captured
sunshine along the dark green of the
hedgerows, dahlias Of every shade
from pale yellow to deepest crimson
nodded gravely at one from behind
beds OF pansies, and phlox. marigolds,
sweet-william and tiny Glove pinks.
Hollyhocks stood in martial row and
nasturtiums ran in joyous color over
each trellis, wall and rustic seat,
while here and there great masses OF
sweet peas formed backgrounds and
windbreaks to blooming clusters OF
bachelors buttons, canterbury-bells
and dainty larkspurs, tall and grace.
full.
Every door and window Of the great
house was invitingly open and within
the air was heavy with the scent OF
the enormous bowls and stands OF
flowers that filled each room. On the
lawn beneath the trees, in every cozy-
corner and summer-house were dainti-
ly laid tables and on the east terrace
overlooking the sea, an orchestra OF
six pieces hired at great expense and
trouble on Algernons advice. wed
with the booming of the surf and the
wai!ing cries of the bell-buoy.
1t was early, when Molly in the
hall, giving finishing touch here and
there to the flowers, CHANGED to glance
out of the window toward the sea and
beheld a stranger approaching the
house from the direction of the rocks.
Algernon had gone in the car for the
first load Of guests, the servants were
all busy in the kitchen and the orches-
ira had not yet taken its place on the
terrace. Wondering who the man
could be. Molly went to the terrace
steps and watched him as he strolled
carelessly. leisurely across the lawn,
swinging light stick with airy nom
chalance and looking around him with
frank curiosity and approval. He
could be none of the townspeople,
Molly decided, for his clothes were
irreprcachable. bit Of Upper Fifth
Avenue ont for summer walk in the
park between visits to Newport and
Bar Harhor He was not Hancock,
and surely not Hancock's friend com,
ing alone! Molly could think Of nc
one who would be 50 arrayed Unless
Algernon Van Rensellar Todd! The
stranger was tall and thin, and he
drew nearer, the girl noticed that his
suit was gray. the band on his expen-
siye Panama blue and his tie and silk
socks were of the same pale shade.
She recalled with sickening fear a
casual remark of Mrs. Todd's about
her sons fondness for the combination
of gray and light blue.
"It has become a pronounced fad
the lady had declared with laugh.
HE has carried it so far now that his
yachting pennant is gray and blue and
So are his racing colors, both horses
and motors"
(To be Continued.)