Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1916-10-17


out just in time to see it; it was
moonlight night. After the boys had
gone, father hurried in and took Fairy
outdoors for little talk, just the two
of them alone. He said that in all the
years he and my mother were married,
every time he kissed her he remem-
bered that no man but he had ever
touched her lips, and it made him hap
py. He said he was always sort of
thanking God inside, whenever he
held her in his arms. He said nothing
else in the world made man so proud
and glad and grateful, as to know his
wife was all his own, and that even
her lips had been reserved for him
like sacred treasure that no one else
could share. He. said it would take the
meanest man on earth, and father
thinks there aren't many as mean as
that, to go back on a woman like that.
Fairy said she burst out crying be-
cause her husband wouldn't ever be
able to feel that way when he kissed
her. But father said since she was
so young, and innocent, and it being
the first time, it wouldn't really count
Fairy swore Off that minute-never
again. OF course, when l knew how
father felt about mother, wanted my
husband to have as much pleasure in
me as father did in her, and Fairy
and made a solemn resolve that we
would never even hold hands, and
that's very simple, until we got crazy
enough about a man to think we'd like
never have since then, not once"
I1o cniI s,1 lor~
wish had known it. wouldn't have
kissed you for anything God knows
/ wouldn't IL think am man
enough not to have done it anyhow
If / had only thought minute, b"t
God knows wouldn't have done j, :,
had known about this. You don't
know Observation-Disclosures feel"
"Oh, that's all right she said COM
fortingly, her eyes glowing. That's
all right. We just meant lbeaux, you
know. We didn't include uncles, and
fathers and old school teachers, and
things like that. You don't count
That isn't breaking my pledge"
The. professor smiled, but he re-
membered the Quivering lips, and the
relaxing of the 1.-THE body, and the
forced laughter, and was not deceived.
You're such strange girl, Carol.
You're so honest, usually, SO kind
hearted, so generous But you always
seem trying to make yourself look Bad.
not physically, that isn't what II
mean" Carol smiled. and her loving
fingers caressed her soft cheek But
you try to make folks think you are
vain and selfish, when you are not.
Why do you do 1t? Every one knows
what you really are. All over Mount
Mark they say you are the best little
kid in town"
They dol" she said Indignantly.
well, they'd better not Here I've
spent years building up my reputation
to suit myself and then they go and
shatter me like that. They'd better
leave me alone"
But what's the object?"
"Why, you know, P'fessor," she said,
carefully choosing her words, you
know, it's pretty hard job living up
to good reputation. Look at Pru-
dence, and Fairy, and Lark. Every
one just naturally expects them to be
angelically and dishearteningly good
And if they aren't folks talk. But
take me now. No one expects anything
of me and If once in while do hap.
pen to turn out all right by accident,
it's a sort of joyful surprise to the
whole community It's lot more fun
folks by being better than
they expect than shocking them by
out worse than they think you
will"
But it doesn't do any good,' he as.
nv5x
Mount Mark knows ito Carol"
You're not going?' she said, as he
her hand and Strengthened
the collar Of his coat.
Yes, your father will chase me off |
if don't go now. How about the let
tiers, Carol? Think you can manage a !
little oftener?"
I'D love to. It's so inspiring to get |
a letter from a Observation-Disclosures
year scientist, mean, was once. Do |
my letters sound all right? I don't !
want to get too chummy, you know"
Get as chummy as you can" he
urged her II enjoy It,"
I'll have to be more dignified il
you're going to Mccormick. Presby
terrain! The Presbyterians are very |
dignified. I'll have to be formal from |
this on. Dear Sir: Respectfully yours.
Is that proper"
He took her hands in his. "Good-by. |
little pal Thank you for coming out,
and for telling me the things you |
have. You have done me good. You !
are breath of fresh sweet air.
cts, my powder" she said compIac- |
emily ut does smell good doesn't it? ,
It cost dollar box. I borrowed the i
dollar from Aunt Grace. Don't let on
before father. He thinks we use
Mennen's baby--twenty-fiv cents a
box. We didn't tell him so. but he
Just naturally thinks it. It was the
breath of that dollar powder you were