Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-07-18
Euening Story
HELPING OUT.
BY LOUISE OLIVER.
Copyright, 1915, by the Mcclure
Newspaper Syndicate.)

Newspaper Syndtcate)
Alan Pierpont. bending over a bed
OF coreopsis, Strengthened at the
sound Of a voice.
II came" 1t said. ito see II you
would mind II I take Nancy for ride"
Gretchen Van Doom. light haired and
blue eyed as her Dutch name implied,
smiled the inquiry.
mo, fairy godmother. wouldn't.
Moreover, l don't suppose 1t would do
much good for me to object II you and
Nancy have made up your minds to
20. It's who do the begging. Nancy
who consents. Eth, kiddie?" as a little
girl of seven ran around the house
from the street.
"But-since you call me fairy god
mother'-Tll have to dress her. Her
hair ribbons, for instance. won't do.
You see, you put on one red one and
one blue this morning. and I'd like
to get the mate of either one"
Alan smoothed the hair over his
temple as he did when perplexed.
"Well, does 1t make any difference?
Do they have to match? I was think
ing when put them on that they
W0rp Ilk0 my Oeu vi OklcAtdA PoPPico
and blue larkspur." ... .
! Gretchen laughed. "And am just
Dutch enough to like the combination
myself, red and blue, but. you see,
it's the custom to have them alike.
And II the world says wear turkey
feathers in your little girls hair why.
you have to get the turkey feathers.
81 see. It's like everything else.
We have to shape our lives to custom.
Well, to tell you the truth, l don't
know much about dressing little girls.
Nancy and l have great fun over it,
but I suppose the result Is doubtful"
A quick look Of sympathy came over
Gretchen's face. The artist and his
little girl were at once the despair and
amusement OF Kentboro, for little
/ Nancy came forth in some of the
queerest rigging that ever adorned a
child There was division Of senti-
ment about them. Gle ought to get
married again." declared some. "They
don't need any one else" said others.
"for devotion such as theirs Is rare
and third person would spoil 1T. II
only he were not so proud, one might
offer to do something"
Gretchen. after days Of considera-
ton. decided to take the bull by the
horns and tell Nancy's father thing
or two. "If he gets offended he'll just
have to-that's all" .....
do you care" asked Gretchen. not
without misgiving, "if hunt some
other ribbons for her and another
dress? You see, we are going to motor
to Sharkspoint and have our lunch.
want Nancy to look NICE" ..
Help yourself" he said. Nancy
will show you where things are. The
stocks running low, though. I'm
afraid .,-
Fairy godmothers can do wonders,
you know" laughed Gretchen. "even
Dutch ones"
Come on pulled Nancy. so the
! two disappeared into the house.
I'D like to paint her among the
poppies and larkspur,' he thought.
"Her hair Is the color Of ripe wheat
in the sun, and her eyes He looked
into the open doorway. "She's beauti.
ful-and kind. Poor child, she was
afraid Of hurting my feelings. Nancy's
clothes?" His face clouded and his
hand again smoothed his temple. "f
one of the pictures doesn't sell soon
both Of us will have to go in the garb
OF Olympus, and that. I'm afraid will
bring the good burghers in earnest"
He dug around the columbines, prop
ped up the snap-dragon and shipped
at the mignonette.
There was a sound Of motor stop
ping at the front of the house and a
+! man came around into the garden.
"Walter!" cried the man among the
flowers
"How do you do, Alan?" greeted the
other. cordially enough, coming up
close and holding out hand. "Still
like posies, don't you?"
Eyes, do my own gardening" said
Allen simply. I'm glad to see you.
Won't you come into the house," The
words, commonplace enough, contain.
ed an inquiry which the older caught.
They meant: "Why can't you let me
alone? What did you come for after
all these years of peace?'
"1t Is pleasant out here. Can't we
sit down on this bench under the
tree?" asked the newcomer. Il can't
stay long anyway and, needless to say,
came on business
II suppose it's the same old story,
said Allen YEARLY as they sat down.
pretty much. Allen-see here.
you've been acting like tomfool long
enough. The business has grown and
fathers getting DID, There's too much
for me to manage and the big profits
| are going to strangers. You can't
make a decent living daubing." He
looked around with contempt.
| Alan did not answer.
III you're thinking OF the other"
went on his brother, that can be
arranged. OF course you can't bring
the girl you married with you, but
there's money enough in the family
to take care Of that as long as there's
court in the land. Come, Allen, it's
not too late to make a big thing Of
your life. Irene Whitney isn't married
+! yet, and father always wanted her for
you She is"
Stop" cried Allen. II don't care
to hear any more. I've been happy for
years. and now you come to spoil it"
Gretchen and Nancy appeared just
then at the back door,