Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-09-02

side was Stanley Barnes, dignified
man of perhaps thirty-f1ve, who had
the double distinction of being sue
cessful lawyer and remarkable
Shakespearen scholar
Dear me, Jack" said Lydia, in a
dramatic undertone, tell me some
thing from Shakespeare quick! Some
thing can throw in for good measure
when talking to my dignif1ed neighbor
on the other side
'Frailty, thy name is woman
quoted Jack promptly.
| "'Take him for all and all, he was
a man. snapped Lydia, and there.
fore ready to find fault with woman u
Better not start anything with that
wiseacre.' said Jack, still smiling at
Lydia's quick retort 1T will be vast.
| ed sweetness on your part and inter
lectual condescension on his. Besides,
saw you first and love you"
| Just for that" Lydia Indignantly ig-
nored Jacks avowal Of his love and
turned to Stanley Barnes with a win
ming smile in her sparkling brow
neyes.
"Mr. Barnes, do you think the
Shakespearean revival this year will
tend to create a more general interest
in the immortal bard?"
Stanley Barnes lifted his eyebrows
and opened his gray eyes wide in sur
prisce as he turned to reply. He would
not have been more surprised had the
austere teacher Of English who was
his dinner partner and his hosts sis.
ter suddenly asked him If he didn't
adore some popular matinee idol.
"Why'er, hope so, Miss Parker"
said Mr. Barnes, doubtfully, and Lydia
mistook his slowness In answering for
the intellectual condescension Jack
had predicted. The truth is that Stan.
ley Barnes was thinking what charm.
ing Katherine or Rosalind this vivac-
ious questioner Of his would make, but
Jack and the teacher of English just
then joined forces to take their minds
from Shakespeare and, later. when
her distinguished neighbor addressed
Lydia, he touched upon lighter themes.
She inwardly determined that she
would some day compel that terrific
highbrow'' to recognize her as some
thing more than doll baby in con-
versation.
please let your lamps rest on a
poor devil of lowbrow,' said Jack.
soft voice, as they turned from the
table. I'm beginning to feel as much
of dead one as Alas, poor Yorick,
ever was
Lydia caught the teasing note in
Jacks voice and ignored his plea.
"Evidently, The rest is silence"
said Jack, marveling as much as Lydia
as his fund of quotations from Shakes
peare.
The next morning Lydia crawled out
of bed early to take a peep at the
mountain sunrise, and she saw Stanley
Barnes in khaki and heavy shoes
and putees setting out for climb all
alone Being already In an adven.
turous mood, she decided to take an
early morning ramble herself and who
knew but she might meet the interest
ing, if Indifferent Mr.. Barnes as he
returned? .-.
What are you up to, Lydia?" called
Alice Mason, sleepily, from the twin
bed beside the one just vacated by
Lydia.
up to see the sun rise. Don't you
want to come, too?'
mo, indeed came the sleepy re-
Spouse as Alice turned over and drew
the covers close about her neck.
In her corduroy suit and high brown
boots Lydia started out for climb.
The cool stiffness of the early morn.
ing made her feel very tiny and help
less, but as the sunlight warmed her
body and frightened the coppery tints
in her hair, she was once more seized
with the spirit Of adventure, and went
higher and higher with eyes alert for
all the beauties around her. She for
got all about the man who had pro-
ceeded her up this mountain roadway.
The odor Of the pines, the singing of
the birds, and the broad view Of noun
tain and valley gave her~a sensation
of an absolute completeness of things,
and she stood long with her bare head
held high and her brown eyes spark
ling with pleasure ri
Its absolutely perfect" she said
aloud. Nothing more is needed
Il agree with you, Miss Parker, yet
hope it will not mar the perfection
If it If join you in enjoying IT.
Barnes was standing on a
large boulder almost directly above
Lydia's head, and when she looked up
and met the smiling question in his
eyes she answered it with frank
smile that brought him quickly to her
side. They stood silently looking at
the changing lights on the distant hills
and listening to the occasional whir
Of the fitful morning wind among the
pines.
Words are sadly unequal to all
Fhis1 said 7 vida throuip0 o,,f hor