Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-07-17
The Lady Susan
BY n. G. Duryee.

buttons on her shoes, she had had no
company. She was quite neglected,
and the reason was not far to seek.
The little girl in whose arms she
had been petted and scolded and cud-
died through so many happy hours
had new doll-a doll with china
head, and black china Shoes and a
soft place in her body that squeaked
when you pressed it. The Lady Sus-
an had only cloth head with blue
buttons for eyes, and cloth feet
though she wore real shoes-and could
make no noise at all except a thump
when she was dropped on the floor. So
for many days she had been left on
the cellar door, quite forgotten. II
her disposition had been less sweet
and her features painted on with
poorer paint she would have lost her
smile entirely. AS it was, she still
looked cheerful, and that was why
something happened as 1t did. ...
When the chicken, succee;/lg at
last in swallowing one of the loose
buttons, had gone away, wondering
why things that look good don't al
ways taste good, the Lady Susan heard
welcome sound.
The little girl whose name was Paul
inc was coming. She had the other
doll on her arm, and was talking 10 IL.
Yes" she said, 81 am going to take
YOU a long journey, way past the Darn
and the pasture to big wood. You
needn't be afraid. | know the way
and I'll take care of you.
By this time she had got quite round
hn co
Susan stretched out on the cellar door
she looked quickly in another dlrec-
ton.
let's pretend we don't see her."
she whispered, and hurried past:
But she went only little way and
then turned back. Il think I'll just
say good-by to her"
She stood still, and called out loud:
Lady Susan, mothers got company
and I'm going to take the Princess on
tourney. She's stranger, and De-
jdes-well-besides l want to. May
pc, if you're good, next time Ill take
you"
The Lady Susan smiled on, ana
Pauline. watching her, felt unseasy.
Dear me-" she said to the Princess.
81 s'pose she thinks she ought to 60
and I don't want to take her DIT:
She's dreadfully heavy. What Woulo
you dor
But the Princess seemed to nave no
opinion in the matter. She looked
quite Indifferent.
"Weu,' concluded Pauline, slowly,
81 can take her; but it's great ootn-
err and | shouldn't think she'd want
to come where she isn't wanted.
She put the Princess more carefully
on one arm, and impatiently tuckeu
the Lady Susan under the other, anu
started again down the pain.
# took long time to reach the big
wood for the way lay through saroen
where currants were all ready TO PICK,
and hv an old orchard where apples
were ripening, and past corn -Helu
where a funny scarcrow danced on
pole.
The Princess was always carrleu
carefully: but sometimes the l1s.us
Susan was held by one arm, sometimes >
by one foot, and often nad ne! iea
bumped on the hubby grounu' an"
when thew had crawled under the past
ure bars, it was to the Princess INC
everything was pointed out.
|
into a necklace for her to wear tlle
crinkly gray moss was piled up 1or ne,
! to sit on. and it was she VINO heio
over the brook to look at herself.
After a while Pauline began to feel
hungry, and decided it was time 70 ~
home but when she tried 10 tnlI =,
which way was home she couldn't tell
There was no path, and the WOODS
looked the same all around her.
Her forehead began to wrinkle, and
her mouth began to culver.
"Princess," she said, Il can't thlnk
Just this minute how to go nome
The Princess looked past Pauline as
If it was no affair of hers and she
didn't care.
But, Princess, believe I'm going to
be afraid"
Still the Princess looked untouched.
| Pauline was ready to cry, and IN her
distress she turned to the other doll:
LADY Susan, I'm most sure we're
lost"
Now the Lady Susan had her chance
The smile on her face was so cheerful
and the blue button eyes looked SO
comforting that Pauline Rugged the dig
body to her and decided not to cry yet
"You aren't afraid, are you, Lady
SUSAN" she asked. sitting down on a
fallen tree. Il won't be either Ihe
Princess is a stranger and don't know
these woods, but you and | aren't o1t
afraid We won't go any farther, for
we might get more lost. Well just SIT
here. and somebody will come and find
us surely"
1t seemed hours and hours before any
one came: but always when Pauline
began to feel like crying she looked at
the Lady Susan, and the tears dldn
come.
At last there was the sound Of voices
and in another minute Paulines father
and mother and the hired man and the
company came hurrying into the
wood They Rugged her and kissed her
and scolded her all in a breath, and
tn en- her father lifted her up in his
arms.
I'll carry you. and your mother can
carry the dolls
But Pauline Rugged Lady Susan
tighter.
Il want to carry her myself she
| said remembering how she had bump