Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-03-26

men, ana listened TO the SOU SWish VI
the banana growing, and had an or
chestra seat at revolution or two
Don't look for a mazaSine story about
overthrow tryants, or anything ike
that. It's just quiet little lie I'm
speaking of, told on quiet little after
noon, by the sands Of a sea as blue as
Baldpate Inn must have been this
morning when ! didn't show up with
breakfast
Sitting on those yellow sands the
afternoon | speak Of, wearing carpet
slippers made for me by loving, so &c
speak, hands, I saw Alexander Me-
Mann come along. He was tall and
straight and young and free, and
envied him. for even in those days my
figure would never have done in a
clothing advertisement, owing to the
heritage of too many table d'hotes
about the middle. Well, McMann sat
at my side. and little by little, with
the sea washing sad-lke near by, got
from him the story of his exile, and
why.
II don't need to tell you it was WON
an had sent him off for the equator.
This ones name was Marie. | think,
and she worked at a lunchcounter in
Kansas City. From the young mans
bill-offare description Of her.
gathered that she had cheeks like
peaches and cream, but heart like a
lunch-counter doughnut. which is hard.
"'She cast you OFF, I asked.
"'She threw me down said he
well. it seems he'd bought a tick
ct for that loud colored country where
met him, and come down there to
forget. 7 could buy the ticket he
said, as soon as | learned how to
pronounce the name of this town. But
I can't forget. I've tried. It's hope
less And he sat there looking like
a man whose best friend has died,
owing him money. I won't go into
his emotions. Mr.. Bland, up at the
inn. is suffering them at the present
moment I'm told. They're unimport-
ant; I'll hurry on to the lie. | simply
say he was sorrowful and 1t seemed
to me a crime, what with the sun so
bright and the sea SO blue, and the
world so full Of number OF things.
Yes. it certainly was crime, and
decided he had to be cheered up at
any cost. How? I thought a while,
gazing up at the sky and then 1t came
to me-the lie-the great glorious lie
and ! told it,
The hermit looked in defiance round
the listening circle.
"'Youre chuck full of sorrow now
l said to McMann, but it won't last
long He shook his head. Nonsense
I told him. Look at me. Do you see
me doing a Neutrality-suspicious. act I'M
der the palms? Do you f1nd anything
hut Joy in my face?' And he couldn't
the lie unfolding itself in such splen-
dor to me. Your he asked. Me- |
said Ten years ago I was where you
are today. A woman had spoken to
me as Mabel--or Marie-or what was
it?-spoke to you
ct could see | had the boy inter-
ested. l unfolded my story, as It &C.
Cured to me at the moment. Yes
said l. ten years ago I saw her first
Dancing as a butterfly dances from
flower to flower Dancing on the stage
"a fairy sprite. l loved her-wor-
SHIPPED her. It could never be. There
in the dark of the wings. she told me
so. And she shed tear-a sweet
l6df Ol SOtfO" at PAL lihE.
"T went to my ROOM I told Nc
Mann, with a lot of timetables and
steamship books. Bright red books
he color came off on my eager hands
picked out country, and sailed
away. Like you, | thought l could
never be happy. never even smile,
again Look at me-
HE looked. I guess my face rad1-
ated bliss The idea was so lovely.
He was impressed could see it. I'm
happy l told him. I am
NY own master. l wander where
WILL No woman tells me my hour for
going out, or my hour for coming in.
wander. For company I have her
,icture-as saw her last-witf
:winkling feet that never touched
earth. As the spirit moves, go. You
IAN move the memory of a woman in
/ flash, my boy it takes two months to
get the real article started, and then
ike as not she's forgot everything OF
Ever thought OF that?
You should. You're going to be as
happy as I am. Study me. Reflect
waved my carpet-slippered feet to-
ward the palms. l had certainly made
IN impression on Alexander McMann.
"As we walked back over the sands
md grass-grown streets to the hotel,
lis heart got away from that cupids
and he was almost
cheerful. I was gay to the last but
IS I parted from him my own heart
sank. knew I had to go back to her,
md that she would probably give me
,colding about the carpet slippers.
parted from McMann with a last word
If cheer. Then I went to the ship-to
Ter. My wife. That was the lie, you
She travelled everywhere
With me. She never trusted me.
1--WE were due to sail that night and
was glad. For I worried some over
What I had done. Suppose my wife
md Alexander McMann should meet.
IN estimable woman, but large, deter
mined, little suggesting the butterfly
If the footlights I married, long be-
ore. We had a bad session over the
'arpet slippers. The boat was ready
O sail, when McMann came aboard.
lie carried a bag. and his face shown.
"'She's sent for me- he said.
Marie wants me. I got letter from
ny brother. I'll blow into Kansas like
oyoyorD op6 81 hor'