Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-06-13


post office and Toms work in the fields
was done they had many pleasant times
together. To Tom it was heaven. To
the girl merely pastine. Tom was in
telligent, she discovered, and knew q
lot Of things. In fact, the whole family
was entertaining, and, having keen
wit and sense Of humor and seeing the
funny side of all their ways, Carolyn
sent many humorous quip to her pa
per accompanied by pen-and-ink
sketches, at-whfch she was clever.
One Sunday, as she lay almost asleep
in the hammock Tom picked up q pa
per from the ground beside her and
started to read.
Suddenly he flung It down. "That rot
IL unkind and untrue!" he cried.
Carolyn was wide awake now and sat
up. What IL 1t 2" she asked.
"Oh, those city chaps think it's funny
to write all kinds Of things about us
here in the country. It's all exaggerated
and gives q false impression. One would
think that people who work with their
hands can't grow braips at all, that we
are an ignorant, stupid lot made to be
laughed at. when the truth Of 1t is we
are doing the real work Of the world.
People can say what they like about
education and art and culture. but
where would all those things be If poo
pie were not fed? We feed the world
and dress tho world and do all but shell
ter It. It's 4 good work and It's cruel for
some silly, little, sighted. weak
legged, narrow minded reporter to be
writing false truck like that for the
world to read Just to put = few mtsse-
able bites in his starved stomach"
Carolyn sprang to her feet It was %
her tongue to defend what she had done
-, = a.. -
head thrown back. frightened her. And
he was right! It was a wretched. thing
to do. to make fun Of these simple true
hearted people. Her head dropped.
Yes. It is wrong" she said simply.
"The person who did that should be
punished. Tom" suddenly, TIN going
home tomorrow"
, Tomorrow! Good heavens!"
Yes, I've some business to attend to
and I must go. VIII you come to see mo
some time. Tom p very kindly. do you
over como to the city7'
YES" he said after q pause, II do
60 sometimes and I'll 90 to sec you. Dad
and the boys can get along without mo
now for a while guess"
: SO Carolyn said good bye to the May
bens and Tom.
On Tuesday she reported at the Of
The men In the outer office gave her
three cheers when she came In, for
Carolyn was popular on the paper.
where's Stubbs?" she asked. Stubs
was q nickname for the editor in chief.
mot here yet"
well. I'll wait inside" s- $.
Some one ahead Of you"
"Oh. that's all right. I'll have COM
pany." r
She opened tho door ana went in.
There, in the editors chair, sat Tom
Mayhem. Carolyn went up close to the
desk and looked at him in silence. Tom,
too. seemed to paralyzed to speak.
Then the girls sense Of humOr tri-
umphed. Hello" she giggled. .r.
What's the joke? I leave you on
Monday In blue jeans and boots. I find
you on Tuesday in tailor made and
spats What's the joker"
Joke? There isn't any unless it's for
you to explain. What are you doing
here?"
e"I write for tho paper"
$50 do !" he said, scientific farming
stuff. So came to your editor for ad-
vice., .sE
Bravo, Ton" cried Carolyn. "Some
day I'm going to beg your forgiveness
for something, but not just now. It can
wait" r.
eyes, it can wait.r agreed Tom. TIN
looking for partner, Carolyn. Would
you care for the job?"
with your magazine you mean.
Tom?" ~ ~
YES, and otherwise. How about it p
Ssh! Here comes Stubps! I'll think II
over and let you know she nodded en-.
couragingly.