Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-02-10

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Literary Press.)
Phillip Vaudeville Grantwood stood
in front of Sam Whites drug empo.
rum and glared at the moldy mince
pie that the ladies Of the South Side
Methodist church kept In the window
as an indication that there were
choice viands to be purchased within.
But Philip was not admiring the pie.
which had been there so long that 1t
might be said to have accrued his.
toric interest as we'll as spiderwebs,
and though the pastry was heavy,
Philips heart was heavier.
! He was fine looking young man,
with certain pleasant traits that bis
father openly declared were Grant
wood, and his mother secretly con.
sidered to be Vaudeville. so they were
| both immensely proud Of him. But
now his handsome countenance was
clouded, his brow was stormy and his
soul was a chaos OF rage and indlgna-
ton. He had been so jubilantly
happy when Pansy Borden promised
to marry him, and though she had
made him promise to keep the en-
gagement secret he had only adj
mired her the more for that, as Pansy
had said that it would distress her
mother to know that she was to leave
home so soon. It was sweet OF Pansy
to think of her mother.
However, Philip was human, and
when his best friend, Ben Davis, had
begun to act In an insufferably pa
tronizing way he could not refrain
from giving Ben hint of the glad
news, especially as Ben was a great
admirer of Pansy. II know secret
he had casually remarked, that
would make you jump II you knew
it,"
"Humph," retorted Ben. scorn.
fully. 81 know one that's worth two
of yours"
That was too much for human en-
durance. and having sworn his friend
to secrecy, Philip told him the won.
derful tidings. "Pansy Borden's said
| YES It's to be in the fall"
The color left Ben's freckled face,
and even his red hair seemed to turn
shade paler. "But, Philip he pro-
tested. that's my secret! Pansy's
promised to marry me in the fall"
The whole world seemed to Philip
to give way, though it was only the
cracker box on which he had been
sitting. He sprang up and seized
Ben by the throat. "It's lie!' he de.
clared. angrily "You can Joke me
about anything else, Ben, but not
about Pansy."
When he was excited Ben slut
tered. "B-b-b-" he began, and
Philip loosened his grip on his
throat. There is no use in trying
Ito choke suffering friend But
Philip. she's wearing my ring The
anguish in Ben's tones was genuine.
Philip sat down and buried his
face in his hands. Forgive me-"
he said huskily; she's wearing
mine, too"
It was the quick-witted Ben who
had whispered presently. "Say, Phil
do you reckon she's wearing any
other rings? Every man In this
town is in love with Pansy, and even
that fresh travelling man, Arthur
Dering, was wild about her.
From old Isaacson, who sold dia-
mond rings on the dollar-down-and-
ffty-centsforever plan, they had
learned the CHASTITY truth. Henry
Blaine, Ely Canning and Willie 10
Hall had also purchased rings for
Miss Borden. Old Isaacson was quite
elated and was planning to enlarge
his store.
So it was that Philip Grantwood
had not. waited long in front or
Whites Emporium before four other
figures stepped out Of the darkness
and the whole party started gloomily
for the Borden home. They had de-
cided to go together to Pansy and
crush her with the hideousness of her
conduct Knowing the girls ready
wit. they had prepared beforehand
document setting forth in solemn
language their righteous indignation,
their desire to be freed Immediately
from their engagements, and their
emphatic determination that all
friendship with such a person should
cease. Philip was to learn the speech
and act as spokesman for the crowd.
He had been studying it all day,
but when they turned into the famil-
lar path that led to Pansy's home
Philip felt that he would choke.
"Stop, boys" he commanded, I'm
forgetting what we're to say"
! They were all glad Of a delay, so
they retired to the old graveyard and
seated on the crumbling tombstones,
got out the paper and by the light OF
matches Philip conned it. 1t was
fine effort. an aggrieved Indignation
was it's keynote. 1t contained many
quotations from Lord Byron as to the
falsity of the fair sex. Reading it
had a tonic effect upon the Ave. and
soon thew marched boldly up to Pan
sy's home and were admitted by ner
shy little sister Polly.
Pansy came in Immediately, bring
ing sunshine and gayety with her.
"Im so glad to see yon," she cried,
with the most disarming friendliness.
"And all five of you at once! Why
you frightened Polly so that she
can't say her prayers"
The five looked at Philip and Philip
cleared his throat, and began in a
rapid humble. eve have come to-
night. Miss Borden. to ask you for
an expanation---" He paused, for