Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-08-17

yes, she knows that might want
to-" Margaret's brown eyes twinkleds
But she also knows that these berries
must be fixed tonight"
"Oh, let them CO. Walter spoke
carelessly. We'll get up early In tho
morning and I'll help YOU"
How early?" She looked at him
with amaZement.
About seven o'clock. We can do
them easily before breakfast
Il guess you don't understand coun-
try people. I'm down stairs before
six every morning.
What, Before SKI"
Eyes, and sometimes earlier" She
sighed. II guess my strawberry fes-
tival will be lonely one, after all =
But can't you just sneak away and
not do them?" He did not understand
that Mrs. McConaughty was accustom.
!, ed to be obeyed.
But before she was given chance
! to answer, another figure appeared af
the foot of the steps. 1t was Margaret
Fischer
ooh, hello, Walter" She spoke with
apparent surprise, just as IL she had
not known that her most faithful fol-
lower had been talking to Miss Nc
COnaughty for the past ten minutes.
WED better start for the festival
soon"
"I don't know whether. I'll 20 Oh
not" For some reason or other. ~:
did not seem especially pleased at tho
interruption.
"Oh, come on; I've saved a place
for you beside me In the wagon" She
seized his hand playfully, and led him
off half reluctantly.
Margaret McConaughty watched
them CO.
There's quite lot OF drawbacks ~
being the daughter of boarding.
house keeper" she unused, but. a.
least, l haven't got paint on ny
cheeks"
She attacked the berries briskly.
From the front of the house came.
sounds Of merry laughter. A farm
wagon, loaded with hay, drew up ~
the door,
He'll be sitting there in the DARK.
with her." Margaret said to herself.
And then he can't sci the paint and
powder on her face. She'll be m
dressed up in her Broadway togs, and
he won't give thought to me sitting
here hulling berries. hate the things. =
She took a red and rosy one from tho
box and threw 1t vehemently into the
darkness at the rear OF the house.
1t struck something with a soft thutl.s
Please don't fire at me- voico.
pleaded -sssss
Her heart jumped as Walter Blake
appeared at the foot of the steps.
II didn't know you were there! shs1
laughed. What are you doing ID til
back yard?"
"Just walking around
Aren't you going to the festiys1Ae
She looked at him hopefully.
yes" Her hopes fell. iii
with Margaret, | suppose p TherA
was a note of ill.concerned bitterness
in her voice.
Yes he anewered soberly, with
Margaret"
She returned gloomily to her berries
while he watched her silently Mar
garet Fischer's voice flOated to them
from the front OF the house.
ooh, Walter, are you coming?'
Blake did not answer.
"1'll go and find him they heard her
say.
She found him where she had ex.
pected to- s
Hurry up" she said lightly .sItssI
time to start"
I'm not going"
J WHAT she looked at him in amaze
ment.
Pm not going he repeated. I've
decided to stay home tonight"
Oh, very WELT She spoke haugh-
tily, and without another word made
her way to the wagon.
Margaret McConaughty looked al
her companion with a happy light iri
her eyes. s5
! I thought you said you were going
to the festival with Margaret q she
questioned
81 am" he answered. "The festival
lis going to be held right here on the
back porch, and the girl I'm going Wit
lis Margaret McCOna1nhtv" N