Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-02-27

most beautiful little colonial coupe
In the world, such cars as would max
any girl go stark bowling mad wit
ecstasy. They were exactly alike, 9,
cept that the one in front was hum
with lace and filmy red silk curtains
and the other had blue with its fluff
! white. Both the cars were empt
except for the Manufactured men VIII
were driving them. looking as mucl
out Of place as coal HEAVIER in a lin
gerie bonnet.
1.-THE blue ones mine!" claimed
Fern, dancing up and down in a de
lirium of Joy as Molly joined her a
the door, through the hangings o
which the girls now peered out IL
frantic impatience
II wonder what brings them here?'
ispeculated Molly, dreading the worst
II don't care." returned Fern
! That blue cars NINE and | know it
Molly, do you really suppose it could
be present."
Certainly not" decided Molly
promptly. "Oh, but aren't they ex.
quisite."
Exquisite? They're the dearest,
! sweetest. darlingest little things | ev-
err saw" cried Fern. "The only thing
that's missing is that there should be
a band leading them. Say. Molly"
and here she sank her voice to a gig
Cling whisper, I'll bet you that
| Sledge--'
Certainly mott" interrupted Molly,
almost fiercely, and then she, too, gig
gled, and the two girls scattered away
from the door as the chauffeur of the
red car, who was the gentlemanly
salesman in disguise, dismounted and
came slowly up to the door.
They waited in the library. with the
frowning and bewildered Bert, while
the thin butler with the tall brow an
swered the bell. and they distinctly
heard the chauffeur ask for Miss Mar
ley and Miss Burbank. They waited
in half-frightened decorum while the
thin butler solemnly brought that
message, and then, with no more trace
of excitement than If they had been
dragged away from tiresome French
lesson, they walked sedately into the
hall.
Miss Marley?" observed that per-
son, nodding to the right girl. II have
the pleasure of bringing out very |
beautiful little gift to yourself and |!
Miss Burbank" and here he nodded !
to the other young lady, who was hold
ing her toes to the floor by gripping |
them. "The red.lined one is for Miss
Marley and the blue one for Miss
Burbank"
II said the blue one was mine!" half
shrieked Fern, unable to contain her
self any longer. 81 want to ride In 1t |
-now!"
Molly looked longngly past the per-
ed car, and she felt that sick, sick |
ing within.
who sent them?' she asked family.
your father" replied the consci-
enceless salesman looking her more |
clearly in the eye than any honest
man could have done. IF you have
the time, we shall be pleased to give !
you a lesson in running them"
Fern was halfway upstairs.
"Do you want your gray coat OIL
your furs, Molly?" she called as she
went.
Something light" replied Molly,
equally excited, running out to inspect
the car with the gentlemanly sales
man right at her elbow, and highly
pleased with his job. The chauffeur
in the blue car waited with bright
eyes.
Fern, followed by Nina and another
maid, both of them too slow to be OF
any service, came Gathering on the
porch with two afternoon coats and
two bonnets. selected with less dis
NJ, to%i hon ho
and tossed any of them to Molly.
''Pll bet it was Sledge," she whisper
ed, as she ran and popped into the
blue car.
Her coupe was the first to whirl
down the driveway, but the red one
followed in close order. Bert stood
on the edge of the porch with his
hands rammed in his pockets. and
watched the end of the world. Being
a young man Of keen thought, how
ever, after fifteen minutes Of numb
ness. he curled his mustache, took up
the telephone and called Frank Mar
ley
did you make present of two
to the girls?" he inquired.
Did l WHAT" gasped Marley, out
of the midst Of his plans for making
the proposed street car consolidation
worth twenty points advance on his
stock to the upstate syndicate
Il thought not!'' returned Bert,
with a very near approach to profan.
ty. 81 didn't think you'd weaken our
capital by a five-thousand-dollar ex-
of that sort"
Il don't understand you puzzled
Marley.
1.-TWO small, enclosed cars came out
"A fRIlT1nAlln