Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-01-27

xsE oaexANa o0Msa
when you go to get the horse and
you'll find the name of the girl on an
envelope, with the due bill. Let's
see-youIl find them in the family
bible In the sitting room.
And. say, take q tip from me-
added Uncle Joe. there isn't much
better kind of girl going when 1t comes
to picking q wife than regular old
fashioned, bright-eyed, pink-cheeked
country girls. II I wasn't 80 old 1
might be sparkling around this beauty
winner myself. Now don't lot the grass
grow under your feet.
Sally Bunn-that was the name on
the envelope-came to the door herself
whom Dave Brown called at the farm
house on the pike. Sally Bum came
straight from the kitchen and her
hands and plump arms were covered
with -four and her face was flushed
with the heat of the oven. But some
how at that first glance 1t neve oc-
Cured to Dave to think that this real
~ could be Sally Bum. True, she was
q nice little girl, bright-eyed and clear
skinned, but not at all the type of girl
he had in mind when he listened to
his uncle's eulogy. Somehow Dave
had felt convinced that the girl his
uncle would select as the beauty
would be Of the peaches-and-cream va.
riety of blond-a veritable Marguerite,
with braids Of molasses candy hair.
And, besides, Sally BInn, though she
was much impressed by Dave Browns
city clothes and city manners, was
also mistaken. She took him for q
book agent and had all but shut the
door in his face when he said that he
had come from the Gazette to see Miss
Sally Bum.
I'm Sally Bunn." she said, and
Dave tried to cover his surprise.
Fine! I've come to tell you that
you have won the prize in the con.
test" he said. my uncle, who owns
the paper, asked me to come and tell
you. And now l am going to ask you
to let me take you to town to select
the pretty dress and hat and things
that you have won"
How perfectly wonderful" cried
the girl, clapping her floury hands.
May l pick out just what l want?
How wonderful" And. bubbling over
with delight, she led the way to the
best room.
Dave suggested that Sally should
take her mother or sister or some one
as q chaperone on the expedition, but
Sally explained that she was the only
daughter Of Farmer Bum, who was q
! widower. She and the maid of all
work, Aunt Mandy, were alone in the
house, so she would have to 90 without
q chaperon.
But l don't in the least mind, for l
know just what l want. Oh, how per-
fectly lovely 1t is that I am to have a
new dress and hat and things! You
know father is really quite well of for
q farmer-but he Is old-fashioned and
he doesn't like to have me spend
money for new dresses. have to
make them all for myself. You see,
he is like the old folks. and he says
it will be all the more for me to have
for q portion when I am married, only
/ shall never marry any one, I'm sure
Il don't at all agree with YOU" Dave
replied, and then as hs watched the
girl he realized that in truth she was
more than passing comoly. 1.-THE only
surprise is," he reflected, that that
thick-skinned old uncle Of mine should
have had n enough to discover it"
Before they started out, Sally insist
ed on serving Dave with . dainty mid
morning luncheon of gingerbread and
milk, strawberries and cream, and
they climbed into the old buggy and
started of over the country road on
what was the most exciting shopping
tour of Sally Bunn's experience.
Il just dote on pretty Clothes she
said simply. Tell me, do you think
pink or blue would be more becom-
ins?" And as Dave studied her color.
ing to And the answer he assured him
self that no girl he had met in the
city could compare with this simple
country maid.
"A wonderful housekeeper -she had
prepared the luncheon with her own
capable hands-".plenty of money and
as pretty as a picture" Dave said to
himself. The old man certainly was
right"
Then the girl at his side interrupted
him. why vas 1t that you seemed
SO surprised when / said was Sally
Bunn?" she asked. you didn't seem
to think that | could have won that
prise"
st wasn't quite that laughed Dave.