Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-05-01

tation of many another poor girl who
has saved and scrimped for q long
desired trip to Europe. Even the fact
that there was no one to wave farewell
| her maiden adventure into the world OF
unknown. could detract from that first
hour Of enjoyment.
| Afterward, when they were headed
| down the bay, she went below to her
; stateroom. Passing through the saloon
Ethel felt her first pangs of loneliness.
So many people appeared to know one
another-to be so sure Of having de-
| lightful time. Tables were crowded
| with beautiful steamer baskets. some
| overlooking with flowers, others heap
ed with fruits and CONNECTIONS. A
, number Of modishly attired girls care
lessly scanned the cards and accepted
these farewell offerings as quite an
| every day mater.
AS Ethel enter~d the corridor. at
the end of which was her own tiny
| stateroom, she involuntarily paused
before the door of luxurious room
where young girl stood at a table
heaped with baskets. She was dark
and slender and she was eagerly
pulling the baskets here and there
as il searching for something.
She glanced up sharply and saw
Ethel
a
neat maid came and gently closed
the door as Ethel hurried on with
I burning cheeks.
"How rude Of mel" thought the
girl, as she entered her own cramped
quarters.
She stopped short. her blue eyes
fixed in incredulous JOY upon large
bamboo basket that seemed to over
flow the cabin with It's bountiful lux
ury.
ITS a mistake" she decided with
sinking heart
But her name was plainly written
on a tag. and tucked in among the
fruits and packages Of bon bons was
tiny white envelope bearing her
name in a familiar script.
Inside the envelope was an en-
graved card: "Mr John Bennington
Gray"
Under the name was scrubbed a
penciled line: Bon voyase-and
don't stay too long,"
"Mr. Gray" Ethel murmured over
and over again, trying to persuade |
herself that she was not dreaming, |
for John Bennington Gray was her
employer in the great law firm where
she worked and he had scarcely ap-i
peared to notice the fair little girl who
had so faithfully worked at his elbow |
for eighteen months.
John Gray was her ideal Of what a |
man should be. Unknowingly, she |
had almost fallen in love with the |
handsome bachelor whose position
in the social world was so assured and |
Of whose comings and goings she fire.
ouently read in the Sunday newspapers.
He had been away the day she had |
left the office to take this long. /!
planned vacation-she had not even |
said good-by to him; it was doubtful |
if he knew she was going or would |
miss her
Now-she smiled dreamily-he had
remembered her going. and although
the basket might be merely his kindly |
recognition of her services in his office |
nevertheless he had sent it to her
and she was absurdly grateful.
She tucked the card inside her |
blouse, took a book and a tiny box |
Of his bonbons and went up to find |
her steamer chair
The voyage was uneventful and
Ethel found one or two young women,
travelling alone like herself. They
joined forces and planned to make a
pilgrimage to the cathedral towns Of
England together
Arriving in London. Ethel wrote a
little note Of gratitude to Mr.. Grey.
II was almost crying with loneliness"
she frankly confessed, when discov-
cabin. Then I began to feel so rich
with a basket heaped with good
wishes"
John Bennington re-read the little
note with frowning brows, and sud
denly the frown smoothed out and
he smiled ruefully as he touched a
bell for the stenographer who was
taking Ethers place.
"Er-can you tell me Miss Smiths
name?" he asked, growing rather en-
barrassed under the girls cool scrut-
my
"Ethel-Ethel Smith, she replied.
THANK YOU" he said CURLY, and
drew the telephone toward him. He
called the number Of well known
confectioner and made an inquiry.
1.-The basket went to Miss Ethel
Smith-on the 26th-it should have
been Miss Ethelyn Smith? We are
very sorry, sir
Never mind-never mind-it is quite
Ill right now-the right party receiv-
inquire just how the mistake happen
ed, that's all"
Gray hung up the receiver and star
ed down at EthePs note. What pleas
ure that mistake had given to the girl!
But how about that other girl for
whom the basket had been purchased?
He saw her in his minds eye, dark and
slender, naughty and little discon-
tented looking, coolly accepting the
best the world could offer and never
questioning her right to it.
Suddenly he smiled. Pulling paper
and envelopes toward him, he an
swered Ethel's note, accepting her
thanks in a matter Of fact way. and
then giving her sage advice concern
ing places to visit while doing the
cathedral route and asking her to call
at the Cat and Fish Inn, at Exeter, and
inquire after the health Of his good old
friend Mrs. Wimple, the landlady
So Ethel sent him a line telling him
about the trials and tribulations Of
rosy Mrs Wimple, and later on another
line dictated by the grateful landlady}
to thank John Gray for his financial
assistance that prevented the untimely
demise of the Cat and Fish.
And If course each letter reo,lired |