Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-01-01
Euening Story
MISS hOLLYHoCkS.
BY Carol Balm.
Copyright, 1915, by the McClur
Newspaper Syndicate.

The man with the easel placed II
close to the fence so that he could
look over the palings and down that
rosy vista of hollyhocks. The cot.
tage beyond the hollyhocks was
quite hidden from view by the droop-
ing branches Of chinaberry tree.
In the path between the rows of hol.
lyhocks stood a girl in pink dimtty
frock. The skirt was frilled to the
waist with tiny pink ruffles A pink
sunbonnet hid her face.
my medal picture!' exclaimed the
artist, opening his paint box. Il
don't know what she's looking at, but
If she'll only hold that pose for a
few minutes longer" f
With swift, sure strokes he out
lined the girls plant form in its
quaint gown Of the newest fashion-a
modern adoption Of an old style.
She was facing the hollyhocks and
looking intently at something on a
round, green hollyhock leaf. One
slender white hand and rounded
wrist were stretched cautiously out,
and one little foot In it's high-heeled
slipper appeared beneath the short
skirt.
She scarcely seemed to breathe
and five minutes passed before she
drew back quickly while great gold
en- butterfly huttered up and out OF
sight among the trees.
Even then she did not face him,
but turned toward the cottage and
vanished in a bend of the path.
Wade Newton breathed a sigh of
satisfaction. 1--WE got her, all right"
he chuckled. Now for the holly
hooks with the sunshine on them;
her frock I can work In afterward."
The afternoon passed and he saw
no more of the girl in the pink gown.
The next morning he packed his be-
longings and went back to his studio
in the city.
The following Winter Wade New
TONS picture, ''Miss Hollyhocks," car
RED off the coveted prize.
=
But Why won't you sell the pic
tre?" insisted HenderNon, lighting
another cigarette. Y
Wade Newton glanced across his
studio where Miss Hollyhocks" was
placed on an easel.
1T isn't a girl you know, is it,"
went on Henderson, stroking his tiny
mustache.
"Never saw her face" said Newton.
"Then, why"
Because I have q curiosity to dis
cover her for myself. COntldentialy,
Ned, Miss Hollyhocks brought me
fame and q number of orders. I'm
Ioy 10 -
Idiot" gibed Henderson drawing
on his gloves. but I suppose you
can go down and find her In the old
garden any time you please
II wish I could" returned the other
with sigh. t@
What do you mean?
"You know was called abroad as
soon as finished that picture. When
I returned I went Immediately to
Sleepy Valley where I had Glanced
upon the garden, but the girl and her
people had vanished as the rose OF
yesterday. It seems they had only
hired the place for three months and
beyond learning that the name was
Smith came back as wise as l went"
"Smith! I like Miss Hollyhock's
better!" said Henderson. "Of course
she might have been homely as sin,
but, believe me, Wade, only girl
with peachy complexion will guard
it with sunbonnet; the others don't
care"
Newton laughed indulgently. II
believe the pink sunbonnet has set
you dreaming, too" he said.
"Well, by-by; I'm off," said Hender-
son. "Wire me when you find Miss
Hollyhocks."
II will" agreed Newton.
"How in thunder am ! going to find
herr" he asked himself. II might
put an advertisement In the paper;
will Miss Smith, OF Comfort Cottage,
Sleepy Valley, who wore pink sun
bonnet and ,frilly pink gown among
the hollyhocks, please communicate
with w. NJ Lord! What an idiot
=, after ALI"
--issed the picture and the
his thoughts and
-Sd prom