Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-07-01

you became engaged?"
Hardly. But then-I hadn't enjoy
ed everything money will buy, as yor
have. I've always said you had toe
much. There, dear-cheer up. Yor
don't seem to realize. Why, car
remember when you were born-ir
the flat down on Second street-and
your father wearing his old over coat
another year to pay the doctors bill
And now that little fluffy baby is tc
marry into the peerage! Bless you
how proud your mother would be had
she lived
Are you sure, Aunt Mary?'
positive" Aunt Mary's eyes filled
and with show of real, if clumsy al.
lection, she leaned over and kissed
her niece. Come, dear, get up. I've
| ordered breakfast in the rooms
Miss Cynthia sat up. And as if
banished by that act, the serious little
mouse Of girl scampered into obliv-
ion, and in her place appeared a gay
young rogue who sees the future lying
bright ahead.
After ALL" she smiled, I'm not
married-yet." And humming bright
ly from current musical comedy
Not just yet-just yet-just yet
she stretched forth one slim white
arm to throw aside the coverlet. At
which point it is best discreetly to
withdraw
Mr.. Minot, after a lonesome if
abundant breakfast, was at this mo-
ment strolling across the hotel court
yard toward yesterday mornings New
York papers. AS he walked. the pert
promises of Mr.. Trimmer filled his
mind. What was the proposition Mr..
Trimmer had in tow? How would it
affect the approaching wedding? AND
what course Of action should the rep
resentative of Jephson pursue when
it was revealed? For in the sensible
light of morning Dick Minot realized
that while he remained in San Marco
as the guardian of Pephson's interests,
he must do his duty. Adorable Miss
Meyrick might be, but any change OF
mind on her part must be over his
dead body. A promise was promise.
With this resolve firm, he proceed
ed along the hot sidewalk of San Sc
bastian avenue. On his right the rich
shops. again. dignified Spanish
church as old as the town, rambling
lackadaisical opera house" On his
left the green and sand colored plaza,
with the old Spanish governors house
in the center, now serving Uncle Sam
as postofice. A city of the past was
this; "other times, other manners"
breathed in the air.
~ ,ou,. cfo Mirnt m OF lark
Paddock. jaunty, with gardenia In
his buttonhole and the atmosphere OF
prosperity that goes with 1t.
Come for a STROLL paddock sug-
gested 81 presume you want the
giddy story of my life I promised you
yesterday? Been down to the old
Spanish fort yet? No? Come ahead,
and there on the ramparts I'll 1mpart.
They went down the narrow and
very modern street of the souvenir
vendors. Suddenly the street ended,
and they walked again in the past. The
remnants of the old city gates restor-
ed, doomed in the sunlight they
stepped through ~ portals, and Min
OF gave a gasp.
There in the quiet morning stood
the great gray fort that the early
settlers had built to protect them
selves from the gay dogs who roamed
the seas. It's massive walls spoke
clearly of romance, Of bloody days Of
cutlass and spike, of bandaged heads
and ready arms Such things still
stood Still stood in the United
Of steam radiators and
men who marched in suffrage parades!
The old caretaker let them in, and
they went up the stone steps to stand
at last on the parapet looking down on
the shimmering sea. To Minot, fresh
from Broadway, it all seemed like a
colorful dream They climbed to the
highest point and sat, swinging their
legs over the edge. Far below the
bright blue waters broke on the lower
walls/
Its a funny country down here"
Paddock said slowly. "A sort Of too
who-believes-it place.
Bright and gay and full of green
palms, and so much like a musical
comedy you keep waiting all the time
or the curtain to go down and the
male population to begin its march
lp the aisle. I've been here three /;
months. and I don't yet think it's
'eally true"
He shifted on the cold stones
Ever since white men hit on it,"
le went on, cts sort of kept during
hem here on fool dream hunts-like !
woman Along about the time old
Ponce de Leon came over here pros
oecting for the fountain that nobody |
tut Lillian Russell has located yet,
mother Spaniard-I forget his name |