Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-08-17
Eue:ning Story
THE sTRAweERRY FESTIVAL.
BY Earl Reed Silvers.
Copyright, 1916, by the. Mcclure
Newspaper Syndicate).

Mrs Sarah McConaughty. kept a
boarding house In the heart of the
Catskills. She was assisted in the
various duties of her position by her
daughter, Margaret, who had eyes the
color Of ripened chestnut and lips as
red as the crimson roses which grew
in ,profusion over the rambling front
porch. Margaret was as pretty an
Irish girl rs could be found in a days
journey and whenever her eyes met
those of Walter Blake she became
even prettier
Walter. had come to Ferndale in the
early summer, and there he had met
another Margaret, a Miss Fischer,
whose home was in. New York. She
wore her carefully prepared vacation
clothes, with a mark of distinction. She
powdered her nose with a pun which
she carried in her handkerchief and
REDEEMED her lips by the aid Of magic
stick which the country girl had once
seen, on the top of the dresser In her
room. Her conversation was sav0red
with touch of careless slang. She
had admirers by the score, and Walter
Blake was one Of them. During the
first part OF his visit, he had followed
her around in the manner of faith
full collie who will not be driven back
when his master wants to 90 some
where without him.
But one night he had disconsolately
watched her drive over the hills with
Edgar Nolan, and,turning, had found
Margaret McConaughty looking at him
with the hint OF a twinkle In her eyes
Seized by sudden impulse, he had
asked her to drive with him, and they
had gone together to the movies in
Liberty. On the way, they had passed
Margaret Fischer and her companion.
The city girl had looked with amaze
ment at her country rival, but when
the, other passed her out Of sight she
had drawn forth her powder puff to
tap her nose gently, for she had noted
the healthy color of Miss McCon.
aughtys cheeks The boy had frankly
enjoyed himself that night, while as
for Margaret 1t became the event by
which all other incidents of the sum-
mer were measured.
After that they saw each other fire.
quently, but one night when Walter
had asked her to go with him to barn
dance in one of the neighboring hotels
she had been forced to refuse because
Of the stern necessity of helping her
mother with supper dishes! And he
had been inclined to argue.
II don't believe you want to co. he
had said.
"But do" Margarets eyes had beg
ged her confidence, but Walter had
turned away.
"All right" he had announced, "I'n
ask Miss Fischer"
Three days had passed since then,
and Blake had paid little attention to
his country friend. He was continual
ly in the company of her rival. how
ever. and seemed to be perfectly sat
isfled to listen to trivial talk OF Broad
way. Mary Pickford and Murray's.
All of which, with the exception Of
Mary Pickford, was a mystery to
Margaret
On Saturday evening however. an
hour before the strawberry festival
was scheduled to be held in the village
church, Walter found Margaret Nc
Conaughty sitting on the back porch
hulling berries.
Are you going to the festival to.
night?" he asked.
Margaret smiled whimsically.
I'm going to have little festival
all of my own" she answered. There
are fifteen boxes to be hulled before l
60 to bed tonight.
'tOh, you don't have to do that, do
your
Mother says so.
..But doesn't she know that you
might want to 60 to the church,"