Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-04-03
Evening Story
FIDDL EsrlcKs.
BY Hope AInslee.
: (Copyright. 1915, by the Mcclure
Newspaper Syndicate.)

"a among his associates as an unDenuluS
I Individual who affected too much dig
nity for most occasions. Therefore,
whenever opportunity presented itself
N 10 play joke on him and ridicule this
dignity. the crowd of young people al
WAYS contrived to do so.
April | was approaching and, un-
4 mindful OF the date-and. In TACT, not
caring that it was All Fools day
the Mems league Of the town had plan.
n mad for a concert for the beneht OF
the public school, 1t was to be con-
cert in which one or two well known
Il musical artists from the city were 10
participate and, thinking that little
4 home talent might help to bring out
4 local citizens, the league had asked
i George CASTOR Herbert to play num-
her on the violin. The fact that ne
I was asked to play with well known
performers only added to his already
too sufficient self-esteem.
'Tt's our one best chance" said
Fred Watson when he heard OF 1t.
well play some sort OF April Fool
trick on him and show him that we
4 see through his big head
It'll do him good-maybe," volun-
I teered Eugenia Welles, who, in spite
OF Georges peculiarities, liked him
more than little.
You're not very sanguine of re-
/ suits, Genie. eh?" asked Fred, point
eddy. But you'd like to be?'
For answer Eugenia turned and left
4 him with toss OF her head. She did
since he seemed to be so unpopular.
;y, \ VI oh
his unpopularity was only skin deep.
She had the utmost confidence in the
belief that he would prove himself all
right as he grew older.
When the evening of the concert
arrived. the young people Of the town
we're all present. and among them
I was suppressed excitement over the
joke they had perpetrated on George.
His number was 10 follow vocal solo
1 by young woman from the city She
was rather famous rs soprano.
Eugenia knew OF the joke, and at
the approach Of Georges solo her
hands became cold with nervousness
She wished that she had not known
1t; she wished she were not present;
she wished-yes, she even wished she
had told him of it.
Presently the applause died away
and George Baston Herbert stepped
onto the stage. violin and bow In
hand. He carried himself with much
dignity and his evening clothes hung
well on his great frame. He made a
stir, but not unpleasant little, bow and
: lowered his eyes and raised his bow
to begin his number as the accom-
paniment reached the proper chords.
AS he drew the bow across the
violin strings the bow fell apart and
few boys in the audience cried
April fool! April fool" The cry
was half-hearted, for more Of them
\; than one had repented, too late, Of the
I practical joke they had planned on
one of their number.
n For d moment George looked stun.
ned, then, as the full significance OF
THE episode dawned on him, he smil-
lSed across at his audience and at the
& boys whom he knew had done it and
said "Fiddlesticks! Then he bowed
and left the stage.
A burst OF applause rang out for
him for the good-natured manner in
which he had taken this practical
Joke It was so unexpected that the
joke was surprise to the jokers.
Eugenia Weles was trying hard to
keep from crying, and in spite of her
two big tears rolled down her cheeks,
but no one but her mother saw them
Afterward George met Eugenia and
the boys in the hall. He was smiling
and good natured and he bore them
not the slightest grudge.
ut was all right, fellows desery-
ed 1t. guess!
.'You took it like star, George,
( said Fred Watson. IF I could have
undone the trick minute before you
appeared I'd have done it. But It's
always such temptation to give
tumble to your dignity, old man.
you've done it this time" he ad-
mitted, nodding his head as II he were
absorbing the full meaning of the
April fool trick his friends had per-
petrated upon him.
"And-you're not bit angry at
us?" asked Eugenia timidly Her
hands were beginning to warm up
again and all traces OF tears had van
ished.
do look it,"
"You sure don't, George answered
Fred. calling him by that undignifed
diminutive of his name for the first
time.
And the others echoed the senti-
ments.
Are you afraid to let me come home
with you, Eugenia?" George asked,
when he had an opportunity to speak
with her
.Is this bona fde or an April fool
offer Of escort?" the girl asked naive
~.
''Try me and see" laughed George
and maybe can get you to tell me
where my bow is-my own?' he asked.
II have it safe and sound, George"
said Fred Watson, land hope you'll
forgive us for the joke
Forget it," replied George. using
the slang for the first time. And
then and there the crowd knew that
he had come down to earth to remain
-. %tpn;r laval