Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-04-23

| Everybody laughs at u.s. said
| Violet.
We'll, why shouldn't they?" Lily
who was big, black haired and red
checked, demanded. Gould there
possibly me anything more incongru-
Gus than our names? The idea of
your being Violet when you have boy
ish tastes and red hair and hate cling
ing, droopy, feminine things. AS for
me, am more like cabbage than a
lily, and Rose is plain and practical
and not bit of beauty, and Pansy
isn't bit thoughtful-she's like YOU
she cares more for the out of doors and
horseback and tennis than for anything
housewifely."
Iris is the only one whose name
fits her. said Violet, slowly. She's
so tall and stately, and she dresses
to suit her name-she looks so well
In her lavenders and puppies"
Yes, she does" said Lily, without
enthusiasm, "but she gets them at the
expense Of all the rest of us, vi"
vi nodded. She has a new mauve
chiffon for the Country Club dance.
It's lovely thing, with purple vel
vet panel and some touches of silver
green She is perfect reproduction
of her name flower in it,
1.-THE rest of us will go in old GOWNS"
said Lily, bitterly. Il don't care for
myself-but you are the youngest, vi,
and you haven't had your chance"
Don't worry about me- said vi,
bravely. I'll wear my old green silk.
And have mothers pearls
Poor MOTHER" said Lily, slowly.
oil fof nnr nj
failed! When she married man
named Flower, she made up her mind
that If there was ever girl baby it
should be called by blossom name
And there were five of us, and | was
the first and we are all SO plain, and
her sense of eternal fitness is only sat
isfied by Iris's beauty-but she loves
us-dear mother"
The little woman who came in at
this moment had an appealing look
in her eyes. What shall you wear to
the dance, Violet?" she asked.
my green silk" said vi, ''and Lily's
going to make over her old white
lace"
II am sure you will look very nice"
the mother said. Then with some hest
tation: Il was sorry TO give Iris the
only new gown, but she really needed
it, didn't she?"
In the face of that wlstful appeal
the two girls gasped hastily, "Of
counsel"
Poor dear said Violet as the little
woman went YEARLY on her way, Iris
positively holds her up for new
clothes"
In - col n I iJ1v ell Ivy
that Bob Taylor will be at the
dance?'
Violet whirled around. HE is home
from the Philippines? Oh, Lily, who
told you?"
'.He called up. He wanted to see
you. | answered the phone and told
him you were at Lancaster and
wouldn't be back until today. And then
Iris said she wanted to talk to him, and
he came over Sunday"
'And he's going to take herr" Violet
demanded.
"Yes-that's the reason for the new
gown"
81 see."
There was silence after that, and
presently the sisters kissed and sepa-
their understanding.
Its a shame Lily contided later
to Pansy Bob has always liked vi
best. But Iris-oh, you know Iris. She
makes all the rest of us seem rough
and rude by comparison
Perhaps we are" said Pansy, cheer
fully, perhaps it wouldn't hurt us to
mend our manners, Lii"
Perhaps not" Lily was absorbed in
her argument. But he likes Wis
breeziness, and now--oh, if Iris breaks
this up, I'll feel as if | couldn't forgive
her."
''She doesn't understand said Pan
sy, gently, what it means to feel deep
ly-and perhaps we have all made her
selfish Lii We just let her have
things and she doesn't realize that we
go without"
well if she butts in with Bob and
VII" said Lily, slangily, Il shan't for
give her in a minute"
IF Bob lets her break it off, said
plain Rose, who was sewing placidly
by the window of the little sitting
room, 'he won't be worth keeping
That's so,' said Pansy.
ne ulSHt Ol the COuHtIy CluU uduCe,
vi wore her old silk. The cut was
out of date so that her slen-
der figure looked bulky when com.
pared to the modish silhouettes about
her Iris, graceful and ethereal, was
the best dressed woman in the room.
Lily, raging, sat out dance in the
palm room with Bob Taylor.
"I'm going to tell you all about it,
she almost sobbed. xvi had to come
in that old dress, because Iris was so
selfish The rest of us always wear
old things. Iris has the best"
Bob, being a gentleman, hated fam
lily quarrels. Hence, he defended Iris.
"She makes her gowns, she tells me"
he said, land thus reduces the ex-
pense."
1--WE all make our things said Lily,
Indignantly, except Vi
"Vi is not housewifely." Bob said,
gently; "she is dear girl, but-no-
she is not housewifely." Then he left
her.
Left alone, Lily wept, and then there
came to her man whom she seemed
to recognize in spite of the added years
which had given him height and
strength and beauty.