Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-05-07

loved pretty things, not only for their
own sake, but because of the three
men who had wooed and won them.
When Gloria told her plan to her
lover, he was doubtful of its success.
. You'll only hurt yourself, dearest"
he said, land you won't cure your
! father, and what do we want with his
money, anyhow"
81 wish he'd lose every cent of it"
said Gloria, passionately. He boards
! it and boards it, and doesn't do one
good or beautiful thing with 1t. He
isn't even making mother happy-and
it hurts me to see her disappointed
in him."
Beverly crept into Gloria's room on
the night before the annual dinner.
"l'm afraid, Gloria she whispered,
'Im afraid | won't have the courage
to go through with it."
But Beth was not afraid. She, like
Gloria, was sustained by the thought
that something must be done to bring
happiness to her mother
And thank goodness, mother isn't
going to be at the dinner" said Glo-
ria.
There was much rummaging the
next day in the attic. There was some
giggling, too, but when Mrs. 1verson
asked the cause of the hilarity, Gloria
answered.: I'VE are trying to find
something to wear, dear mother"
Mrs. Iverson thought it a little
strange that her daughters were
cloaked and wrapped up that night
when they babe her good-by.
I'm sorry you couldn't have the
pretty things" she said, but the boys
will like you just as we'll, I'm sure"
Beverly's lover was as young and
ardent as herself You're beauty"
he whispered, as Beverly threw off her
cloak in the room downstairs and dis
played her costume. you've got sort
of driven from home look that's won
derfuf"
Beverly in an old gray gown Of her
skirt and fiat sleeves, with a prim
little collar and her fair curls falling
over her neck, was perfect. Beth, on
the other hand, was grotesque. She
wore a big green silk poke bonnet,
a crepe shawl and wide skirt over
hoop. Her hands were incased in
mitts, and her hair was Topped over
her ears. Gloria was in brown stuff
gown, too big for her, and made on
Quakerish lines.
They created a sensation as they
came into the room. Mr.. Iverson, far
up at the end, talking to the philan-
thropist, saw the people craning their
necks and turned to look.
Girls dressed up queerly-fancy
costumes, evidently said the philan-
thropist.
Mr.. Iverson watched the advancing
figures with smiling liberation, but as
they came closer his jaw dropped.
What did it mean? Why were his
girls making such show of them
selves? ..-..
In moment the three stood before
him.
Father" said Gloria, nervously, take
us home. People are staring at u.s.
What does this mean?' Mr.. lver-
son demanded why have you made
such frights of yourselves?'
Then, right before the philanthro-
pist, Gloria made her little speech.
you told us you were too poor to
give us new gowns. You told, us to
dress as mother did-and we have
done it-what should you find in that
10 criticise?"
Then suddenly it seemed to Mr..
Iverson that he saw written across
the face of the philanthropist, in fam
ing words. "You--miser-!" He saw
it on the faces Of all the people.
Come away" he said, hoarsely, and
went out, followed by the trembling
girls. who, now that they had pun
ished him, were in tears of remorse
and humiliation.
who would have dreamed it would
have been so awful" whimpered Beth
to her lover, who had drifted toward
her ont of the shadows.
When they reached the house, Clio.
ria dismissed her lover, as did Bev.
erly and Beth. We'll let you in,"
they said, when it is all over
Once in the house, Mr.. Iverson went
straight to his wifes room. Mar
tha," he said, did you know what
those girls were going to do?'
She looked her surprise. 'No-
what Is it, Stephen?"
He kissed her. Nothing" he said,
and went downstairs.
WAS it necessary he asked the
girls, who stood waiting.
Gloria. People were calling us The
miser's brood We are going to marry
honorable men. We love our mother,
How could we go on and on, letting
you grow harder and colder-we want
ed to bring you back to us-to let you
see yourself as others saw you
And now?" he asked.
''Now, oh, father" Gloria was weep
ing, NOW we know how dreadful 1t
was for you and for us all. We are
sorry-we are sorry"
He dropped into chair, and hid
his face in his hand. II deserved it,
he said, and for a moment there was
silence. Then Beth went and knelt
beside him.
IF you knew how we love you she
said. "and how-mother loves YOU"
His hand went out to her. II know"
Presently he raised his. head, and.
softer light shone in his eyes.
Girls" he said, 81 want you to go
to town tomorrow morning and buy
your mother a new gown-something
soft and silky and beautiful-and
wont Won tn bl1y her box of the best