Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-08-05
tally rehearsing. The duchess glanced

tally rehearsins. The duchess glanced
at her.
1.-The wittiest woman in San Mar.
co." thought the hostess. BAH"
Mr.. Paddock, meanwhile, was toy.
ing unhappily with his food. He had
little to say. The attractive young
lady he had taken in had already clas-
sified him as q bore, Most unjust OF
the attractive young lady.
tits lamentable, really" Mrs.
Bruce was speaking. Even In our
best society conversation has given
way to the turkey trot. Our wits are
in our feet. Where once people talk
ed art, music, literature-now they
tango madly. It really seems"
Everything you say Is true IN.
terrupted the duchess blandly. Il
sometimes think the race Of the future
will be-a trotting race"
Mrs. Bruce started perceptibly. Her
eyes lighted with fire. She had been
working up to this line herself, and
the coincidence was passing strange.
She glared at the hostess. Mr.. Pad
dock studied his plate intently.
Il for one" went on the Duchess OF
Lismore, do not dance the tango or
the turkey trot. Nor am l willing to
take the necessary steps to learn
them"
A little ripple ran round the table
the ripple that up to now had been the
exclusive privilege Of Mrs. Bruce. That
lady paled visibly She realized that
there was no coincidence here.
1T seems too bad. too," she said,
fxing the hostess firmly with an angry
eve. Because women could have the
world at their feet-if they'd only
keep their feet still long enough
II was the turn Of the duchess TO
start. and start she did. AS one who
could not believe her eyes, she stared
at Mrs. Bruce. The "wittiest hostess
in San Marco" was militantly under
way.
women are not what they used to
be-" she continued. Either they are
mad about clothes. or they go to the
other extreme and harbor strange
ideas about the vote, eugenics, what
not. In fact. the sex reminds me OF
the type Of shop that abounds in a
small town-its speciality is drygoods
and notions
The duchess pushed away plate
which had only that moment been set
before her. She regarded Mrs. Bruce
with the eye of Mrs. Pankhurst race
to face with a prime minister.
Eve are hardly kind to our SEX
she said, "but l must say I agree with
you. And the extravaganza OF Wom-
en- Half the women of my acqualn'
lance wear gorgeous rings on their
fneers-while their husbands wear
blue rings about their eyes.
Mrs. Bruce's face was Hvld.
"Madam!' she said through her
teeth.
sweetly.
They sat glazing at each other Then
with one accord they turned-to glare
at Mr.. Jack Paddock.
Mr. Paddock, prince Of assurance,
was blushing furiously He stood the
combined glare as long as he could
then he looked up into the night. ;,
"How-how close the stars seem"
he murmured family.
It was noted afterward that Mrs
Bruce maintained vivid silence dur
inr the remainder of that dinner. The
duchess. on the contrary. wrung from
her purchased lines every possibility
they held.
And in that embattled setting Mr..
Minot sat, deaf to the delicious lisp OF
the debutante at his side. What was
woman's greatest privilege? WASN'T
tt
His forehead grew damp. His knees
trembled beneath the table. "Jephson
-Thacker, Jephson-Thacker," he
said over and over to himself.
After dinner, when the addeo
guests invited by the duchess for the
dance crowded the ballroom, Mlnot
encountered Jack Paddock. Mr.. FAD
dock was limp and pitiable.
ever apologize to an angry WON
an9, he asked. Ever try to expostu.
late with a storm at sea? I've had II
ont with Mrs. Bruce-offered to 40
ANYTHING to atone-she said the best
thing I could do would be to disappear
from San Marco. She's right I'm
roing. This is my exit from the but
terfy life. And I don't intend TO say
good.by to the duchess, either"
81 wish could 60 with you,' salo
Minot sadly.
"Well-come along
mo. I'll stick 1t out. See you
later"
Mr.. Paddock slipped unostentatlous'
w away in the direction OF the eie.
vator On a dais hidden by palms the
orchestra began to play softly :,
"You haven't asked to see my caro-
said CYNTHIA Meyrick at Minot's side.