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

But AlgernOn did not smile. re
stared grimly a moment. then turned
and sat down on the roof of the cabin,
drawing up his knees and clasping
them with his arms, his back to the
culprit.
"Your joke" said he gravely, was
q complete success"
She looked at him in surprise,
hesitating where he had left her. hands
raised to push the wet hair from her
laughing eyes.
II didn't mean to make you angry,
said she, drawing nearer.
"Oh, no." said Algernon, not looking
around 1t where she stood In wet and
graceful patience behind him. you
didn't make me angry. 1t filled me
with wild Joy. thought you had been
drowned. that's all. Quite pleasure
really enjoyable. Another joke that
will take twenty years from my iife
Her eyes danced, but her voice was
grave ana remorseful. please forgive
me-"
II shall forgive you" returned Al
sernon coldly, sternly, but you are
never to do it again"
Indeed, I won't"
"And you are never to go in swim
ming here alone again until I come
II have swum every summer all my
life," said she mildly.
II can not help that" said Alger-
non. II didn't know 1t or it would
never have happened
His tone was one Of parental disap-
prevail and authority, Molly flushed.
-, 81 Thnrn
no harm. am a good swimmer
Algernon rose. 1T Is dangerous,
said he with the same calm authority,
"and you must never do 1t again He
turned and regarded her gently, half
amused, half angry STILL as she stood
swaying gracefully with the rise and
fall Of the sloop, her slim legs parted
to steady herself. her hands still
raised to her hair, her eyes bright and
her cheeks flushed. "A woman's idea
OF a joke" said he, mildly again, half
smiling. lis as hard to understand as
the riddle of the Sphinx"
The riddle was solved though" said
she Maybe womat's joke, is the
same, a man."
She regarded him gravely. with big,
innocent, childish eyes and not quiv-
er of the sweet mouth.
Algernon felt vaguely that maybe
she meant more than she said, but
there was not even the suspicion of a
smile In her eyes or on her mouth and
he decided wisely to ignore all hidden
meanings. "Placard your jokes after
this" said he qulzzically, before you
spring them"
II SHALL" said she.
"And then don't spring them" said
Algernon.
"Maybe it would be better not to-"
she agreed.
"The Lord didn't make trouble"
said Algernon, still regarding her.
neither did the devil. The Lord
made woman, knowing she would do it
more capably than any one else
'Men are SO helpless" she agreed
again. "The Lord knew they couldn't
make anything"
Let us go back" said Algernon, de-
Gliding to change the subject. 1T is
late"
But we have not swum at all, pro-
tested the girl. ~ -
IT know" said Algernon, "but l
should hate to spoil the memory of it
by prolonging it."
She glanced at his solemn face, still
bit pale, and followed him meekly
to the edge of the deck, diving when he
motioned for her to do so and waiting
for him before striking, out to the
beach.
Neither spoke as they swan to
shore. In silence Algernon draped
himself In his blanket and the girl
drew on her slippers and cloak. She
glanced at him now and then, amused
and repentant, but his face discouraged
conversation and with the wisdom of
her sex, she said nothing.
Remember" said Algernon sternly,
as they came to the parting of the
ways. you are to wait for me tomor-
row."
But"
There is no but. It is not right for
q woman to go in swimming here
alone and l can not permit you to do
So"
81 shall watt" said she mildly.
"Good-by"
About ten she called him up on the
telephone and ordered one of the cars
brought around at once. Her voice
had the well-bred GOODNESS of a great
lady to her inferior and Algernon
chuckled as he hung up the receiver.
Molly puts mama all to the bad
he thought, when it comes to the real
thing. The trouble with mama is that
she has had servants so long she has
grown into the habit Of speaking to
them as If they were human"
Il am going to learn to drive car"
Molly stood on the top step Of the
terrace, pulling on her gloves as the
car rolled up. She nodded with gay
determination and smiled down at Al
gernon. ....
The fog had gone and the sun shone
with undiminished luster on the sweep
of the lawn, the huge gray house and
the girlish figure standing on the stone
steps of the Uncovered terrace. The
bees buzzed necessarily and a little
breeze, ladened with the scent of the
sea, wandered by, scarcely stirring the
veil around the girls dainty hat. She