Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-07-30


a study worthy of any one, mama, you
must admit that Instead OF going to
books for theories, am going to learn
about 1t first-hand-"
you said scientific researches
Algernon nodded. $50 1t is, the
science of sociology. I took little or
it in college and was thoroughly de-
pressed"
Depressed. Algernon?"
Impressed" corrected Algernon.
1T is noble study. Why don't you
take It up. mama?'
81 may in the fall. Where are you
going?'
Anywhere, everywhere" replied Al
gernon with an air OF busy import
ance. "I am going to leave tomorrow
morning before you are'up. snall
drop you a line now and then so as to
keen you posted As to where am
shall be back in the fall.
Mrs. Todd smiled with relief. Al
gernon's tone of responsibility and i'm.
nortance filed her with pleasure. and
she congratulated herself that she had
at last aroused in him a sense OF man
hood. ITO be occupied is to be
happy" said she. 81 thought Of spend-
ing the summer here and having Miss
Sprague visit me. the Reverend Mr.
Sprague's daughter. you remember AL
gernon. We met her ona winter in
Ned York. She was studying for her
NJ. A. at Columbia. A really sweet
girl"
Yes said Algernon. IT remember
her. Che is the only girl have ever
met who said no when l asked her II
she would be angry If kissed her.
Mrs. Todd flushed. "The Reverend
Mr. Sprague's daughter, Algernon?"
she questioned in very great surprise.
Eyes" said Algernon. "She said
the intellectual development or wom-
en- was the most serious error OF the
nineteenth century"
II think" said Mrs. Todd, hastily
changing the subject, that. now you
are going to be away, shall 90 to Eu-
rope for 2 few months. Summer Is
my time to play and amuse myself.
work all winter and every one must
take a rest for a few months in the ,,
summer. I intend, however, to spend
the fall In Maine at that place your
father bought just before he died and
which we have neither of us seen.
Wouldn't you like that? It will be
such change for both OF us. You
will feel In need Of rest then, your
self. have engaged Miss O'Toole
to go up there and get the place in
order 1t will all have to be renovated
but she can get some vii
lage girls to help her and ought to be
able to have the place in the best OF
order by the time I return
"Who is Miss O'Tocle?"
molly O'Toole, girl you would
do we'll, Algernon, to initiate. She is
clever. bright and hard-working. She
has been poor all her life, dear child,
and was so glad / could help her |
when heard, through the Y. w. c. A., !
that she needed help. Miss Brown is |
an excellent secretary, and my maid |
is priceless, so at first did not see /
how I could engage this girl, but l
finally decided to open the Maine
rouse and send her up there to yet it
ready. met her in New York and
we talked it over little. She is conf
ing this evening, so we can go more
into detail. I want to show her the
plans of the place and just what want
done. She will spend the night here
and start north tomorrow on that ten
o'clock train. Will you be gone be-
fore then, Algernon? l would like you
to meet her"
Eyes. indeed" said Algernon firm
ly. II am going very early, mama, |
long before you will be up"
Il shall be glad to spend few
in a place where l am un-
known" smiled Mrs. Todd happily, as
the first long shadows of approaching
evening crept across the lawn to their
feet and the drowsy hush Of the dying
day seemed embodied in the sleepy
twitter Of the birds among the
branches over head. 81 am glad your
father bought the place and that
have never been there before"
Algernon agreed. TT is sometimes
best to be among strangers, with
absolutely no reputation
II did not mean it so at all, Alger-
non," protested Mrs. Todd, always in
capable Of following her sons flights
Of fancy.
Nobody wants bad reputation, 40
they?" questioned Algernon.
NO said Mrs Todd slowly, fear
ing Cnat EQ6 WIS UeluS uId" W INV ~
hitting something she did not believe
and would be shocked to say.
"If one has good reputation. one
is under a constant nervous strain to
live up to it, isn't one?" Il
Certainly not" declared Mrs. Todd,
feeling on firm ground again.
Certainly" contradicted Algernon
sternly. my dear mama, be truthful.
Admit that your reputation as COM
petent chairwoman always makes you
a bit nervous when asked to lead
for fear you will lose it.
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. but"
Certainly it does. Therefore my
point is proved. 1t is best to have no
reputation"
mo, indeed. Certainly not
Algernon rose. waving his mothers
protest aside airily. Il think" said he
that shall go and dress for dinner"
He paused and glanced down at his
mother reclining in her low garden
chair. "Why do you always engage
the pretty girls mama, when l am
auayo" he 40 ITO max, re wish
TO stay at home more? Think of the
pity of 1t. return last night, find
that dream I saw today among the