Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-07-06

No. What use? On the other side OF
him a sweet voice spoke:
II presume you know, Mr.. Minot,
that Mrs. Bruce has the reputation OF
being the wittiest hostess in San
Marco"
II have heard as much" Minot
smiled into Cynthia Meyrick's eyes
when does her act 60 on?"
Mrs. Bruce was wondering the same
thing. She knew her lines; she was
ready. True, she understood few OF
those lines. Wit was not her special
ty. Until Mr.. Paddock took charge of
her, she had thought colored news
paper supplements humorous In the
extreme However, the lines Mr.. Pad
dock taught her seemed to 80 we'll,
and she continued to patronize the
old stand.
She looked up now from her. CONVEX
sation with her dinner partner, and
silence fell as at curtain ascending.
II was Just saying to Lord Harrow
by" Mrs. Bruce began. smiling about
her, "how picturesque our business
streets are here What with the
Greek merchants In their native cos
tunes"
Bandits. every one Of them" growl-
ed Mr.. Bruce, bravely interrupting.
His wife frowned.
''Only the other day." she contin-
|ued, IT bought rug from man who
claimed to be Persian prince. He
said 1t was q prayer rug, and think
It must have been, for ever since got
1t I've been praying It's genuine"
A little ripple Of amusement ran
about the table. The redoubtable Mrs.
Bruce was under way. People spoke
to one another in undertones-little
conversational nudges Of anticipation.
by the way, Cynthia" the hostess
inquired, "have you heard from Hell.
en- Arden lately?"
mot for some time" responded
Miss Meyrfck, although have her
promise that she and the duke will
be here-next Tuesday"
Splendid" Mrs. Bruce turned to
his lordship II think Of Helen, Lord
narrowly, because she, too. married
into your nobility. Her father made
his money in sausage in the middle
west. In his youth he'd had trouble
in finding a pair OF ready-made trous-
ers, but as soon as the money began
to roll in, Helen started to look him
up a coat of arms And family mot.
to- I remember suggesting at the
time, inview Of the sausage: "A family
is no stronger than its weakest link "
Mrs. Bruce knew when to pause.
She paused now. The ripple became
an outright laugh. Mr.. Paddock sip
ped dangerously from his wine glass.
He saw that his lines "got over"
"Went into society head foremost,
Helen did," Mrs. Bruce continued.
Thought herself a clever amateur
actress. Used to act often for char
ity-though don't recall that she
ever got It."
1.-The beauty of Mrs. Bruce's wit. "
said Miss Meyrick in Mr.. Minot's ear,
"is that 1t is so unconscious. She
doesn't appear to realize it when she
has said a good thing"
There's just chance that she
doesn't realize It, suggested Minot.
"Then Helen met the Duke Of LIS
more" Mrs Bruce was speaking once
more. Perhaps you know him, Lord
Harrowby?" ..r.
'No-er-sorry to say I don't"
"A charming chap. In some ways.
Helen was a Shavian in considering
marriage the chief purpose of women.
She pursued. Followed Lismore to
Italy where he proposed. I presume
he thought that being in Rome, ne
must do as the Romeos do
Ia MI.
by IN dave "isn't 1t the Romans?"
isn't what the Romans?" asked
Mrs. Bruce blankly.
Your lordship is correct" said
Mr.. Paddock hastily Mrs. Bruce
instructed purposely-in Jest, you
know. Jibe-japery.
"Oh-er-pardon me-" returned his
lordship. :
II saw Helen in London last
spring" Mrs. Bruce went on. "She
confided to me that she considers her
husband genius. And If genius really
be nothing but an infinite capacity for
taking champagne, I am sure the poor
child Is right
Little murmurs Of Joy, and the din.
ner proceeded. The guests bent over
their food, shipped to Mrs. Bruce In
a refrigerating car from New York,
and very little wearied by It's long
trip. Here and there two talked to.
gether 1t was like an intermission
between the acts.
Mr.. Minot turned to the Omaha
girl Even though she was two wives
behind on Mr.. Nat Goodwin's career,
one must be polite.
It was at the close Of the dinner
+h,+ Mrs Prince scored her most tell