Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-06-23
in a tone of awe.
How do you know"

look as IL IQey ldQ never DeeT
j washed, and wish you would lool
in this tent! Quick. girls, let's clear
everything up for them!"
What lark!" declared several OF
the girls.
Gracious, moi" cried one. 1T may
be some horrid hunter or some one
who would not thank us for buttins
in. Besides, what II they should come
back and find us right here In their
things!'
"Wel, what could they do? There
are plenty of us and evidently only
two Of them!" declared Alice. "Be'
sides, they are not horrid hunters.
This whole outfit Is new, and / have
been camping enough to size up an
outfit pretty we'll. It's just some
young men from town out on hunt.
ing trip, and by the look Of what they
have should say they were refined,
high-class fellows. Look at these
| books and magazines. You wouldn't
! find them In roughneck camp, would
your
The girls followed suit like sheep,
and in moment 1t was busy camp.
In few moments more and 1t was
also a clean camp.
Life without jokes was a very dis
NAL prospect to Jennie Lorraine. In
her first inspection of the living tent
she had spied camera, and, having
instant visions OF it's possibilities, she
carefully secreted 1t. When industry
was at it's height she slipped in back
of this tent and through a convenient
slit she snapped scene. In the fore
ground Alice was industriously darn
ing long slit in hunting coat.
When everything was spick and
span, the girls assembled to see what
else could be done.
Lets get dinner 'one suggested.
1--WE can't, for there's no knowing
when they may return and every
thing we started might ruin
Then let's fix them a handout,
anyway"
From well-filled hampers the girls
contributed cake. fruits, salads, and
other dainties to the store of hunt
ing grub" which the improvised cup
board contained.
well let them have one civilized
meal, anyway. II they have lived
long on this salt pork and bareback,
they will appreciate change. Alice,
what are you up to now?
In the morning ramble the girls
had collected great punches OF wild
flowers and Alice was arranging these
in massive bouquets on the table,
using canteens, empty cans and any
thing else available for vases.
During this process Jennie Lor-
aine snapped her second view.
Fearing the campers might return,
the escapaders made a hasty retreat
and found their way to the place they
had planned for their picnic. The
rest Of the day was filled with sort
of nervous, and not altogether un-
pleasant, expectancy. They feared
the campers might come upon them
at any moment and interrupt the
pleasure of the day.
The incident had nearly passed
from the minds Of the girls by the
time the midwinter reception was
held at the seminary. To this all the
young men of the town were invited,
and for a few hours pleasure ruled
supreme at the quaint old school, and
the young men were as plentiful as
the heart of any maiden could desire
1t was early in the evening that
Alice saw handsome fellow gazing
earnestly at her from across the
room. She turned. through doorway
and Joined one of the gay groups In
the drawing room. But she could NOT
keep her glances from the doorway,
and was so absent-minded in her talk
that Jennie Lorraine exclaimed:
"Alice Is watching that door as If
she were expecting ghost to come
I'M"
Good-looking ghost, all right NUT
tered another of the girls as One OF
the teachers came in escorting young
Walter Thornton, who was speedily
introduced all around, and, somehow,
as speedily was taking Alice away
from them all and into side alcove.
~ am not disappointed he was
saying, although I half expected to
meet you in a big Mexican straw hat
and linen suit that was wonderfully
becoming"
what" cried the startled Alice.
what are you talking about?"
about meeting you'll"
Meeting me? And in such cos
tune? How ridiculous!'
'No, that costume was not rldlcu-
lous! I always think OF you az wear
ing it."
ever heard OF me before?
mo, can't say that l have; but
know a good deal about you
"How interesting! And what, pray,
do YOU know about me?'
ooh, several things. For Instance,
you know how to arrange a most ar
tistic bouquet Of. wild flowers"
ooh, you are making an easy guess
there. Mr.. Mind Reader! Any girl
would admit that charge about her'
self"
$50? Well, how about this: You
are very skillful with needle espe-
cially in darning hunting coats
"Hunting coats! What do you
know about my darning hunting
coats?'
"Not much. Just that you darn
them WELL"
II don't Sc how you know that much
even. have darned such coat put
once, and-oh, know! Some OF the
girls told you about that"
"No, they didn't. l never even
heard your name until tonight" :.