Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-08-31

otherwise amusing them. fussinl
around like a wet hen, In doubt II
could please them, and never until this
morning did I realize that I've been ad
vertising my own defects and so are
we ALL" e
"Anne!" gasped Zetta, who disliked
being irritated.
"Well, it's true!" was the stout as
sertion. "They are Judging us by the
brand we've put upon ourselves. How
much would any Of them sell IL they
went around to merchants tntimatin9
that their stuff wasn't very good, but
wouldn't they please buy some, any
way? They know they've got the
goods or they make bluff at know
ing it and they get away with 1t, too
I've constantly praised and admired
Phil Langley's success and never had
sense enough to avail myself Of his
tactics. I'm Anne Stanhope, young,
goodlooking, clever, and with gift OF
song and I'm now about to label my.
self as high class goods and be taken
on my own merits. Being craven
about my charms never got me any
own inclinations and attain my hearts
desire. revel in the thought"
Anne! You'll spoil 1t ALL" walled
Hazel sproat. .,, ~.
"Oh, come! I'll agree that I've &C.
quired q new Importance. but not %
much as all that" was the rejoinder
I'm going chiefly to entertain myself
this afternoon. I'll not bother any one
else. I'll just be and do what my re-
born intellect tells me. My subcon.
cious craving is cropping out to public
view, so I'm about to indulge myself
Indulge herself, she did. Phil Lang.
ley, who was apportioned to her In the
trip to the woods, found her supinely
Indifferent to his handsome face and
the artful blandishments which had
hitherto brought forth an eager re-
Spouse.
why the muller today, Miss Anne?
Ill-bad news?" be Queried.
She rewarded him with ringing
laugh. Never felt better or gayer."
she declared.
Indeed? You certainly aren't much
like your natural SELF" was the puH
zled rejoinder.
my dear Mr. Langley, you know alb
solutely nothing about my natural
SELF Anne informed him with spirit.
cts something you never saw, 50 pray
don't feel SO competent to judge"
She was inwardly convulsed at the
gasp with which he received her words
Finally, leaving him to come on alone
with her basket, she raced through the
woods ahead Of the party, trilling mer-
rily to herself and reached their des.
tination fully ten minutes ahead Of the
others. at. -
During the process Of helping the
girls spread the cloth and arrange the
tempting food, Anne was volubly gay
addressing her remarks only to the
girls. When any of the men ventured
word with her, she looked slightly
perplexed, then wholly Indifferent and
with the briefest possible answer,
sought immediate diversion In another
part Of the woodland dell they had
chosen for their outing.
They finished their supper with the
sunset, and the dying glow cast a
charm upon them all that made itself
felt for the most part, by desire to
stroll off by twos to various spots
Anne's quick eyes noted the symp-
toms and her feet fairly winged her
away from the crowd before anyone
could Join her and attempt a meaning
less Irritation. 'r
She had need Of her quickness, for
she was no sooner beyond q heavy
grapevine than they missed and called
for her She dashed into clump Of
bushes and sat on the ground entirely
hidden, chuckling to herself as she
heard Phil say: go on. I'll find her.
Well stroll up the creek '>
She remained under the bushes till
she heard him strike of in an oppo-
site direction. Then she crept out and
choosing a sheltered nook near the
bank, lounged in comfort with her
back against a friendly tree. At flrst
she countered a sharp loneliness, In
which she wished that Phil had found
her after all. Then the peace and
stiffness of the woods entered into her
soul like balm, and she dreamed in
silence, growing sense Of strength
and calmness stealing over her, and
she suddenly knew things were right
and that Phil would return before the
others.
He came after some time, and sulk-
lily demanded, "Where've you been all
this timer"
Anne smiled whimsically. Here"
"Why did you disappear SO suddenly
just as we were about to 60 for a
stroll?" was the next peevish query
WELL Anne drawled slowly. ~!
you must know. it was because l was
frightfully bored"
The sharp silence that followed
proved that the thrust reached home