Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-01-09
Euening Story
DEVILS FOOD AND An ANGEL
BY Louise oliver.
Copyright, 1916, by Mcclure News
paper Syndicate.)

Down the steep incline came the to-
boggan with the speed of comet, its
solitary occupant bent forward to es-
cape the lash of the cutting wind.
At the foot Of the hill, young man
trudged laboriously through ruts and
drifts carefully carrying with both
hands a tissue wrapped parcel on
level with his chin.
Downward sped the maiden-up-
ward trudged the man; and they met!
The man went one way, his package
another, and the girl and sled, skid
ding sideways, upset beside the track
ten yards down.
The man got up first ''My cake!"
he cried. You've done 1t now, by
George! And as sure as Moses III
have to leave the country
Disregarding the fact that he had
lost his hat and that his eyeglasses in
their descent had scraped a cash
across his nose, he made wild dash
across the road to sinister looking
spot in the snow that proved to be q
ruin of paper and pastry.
The girl then arrived upon the
scene limping She was holding
knee with one hand and trying to re-
place loosened hairpins with the other.
Thanks awfully for helping me-
she said "Your gallantry is certainly
overwhelming" Her voice was rich
contralto. and what with that and
most perfect nose and mouth and
chin, the man must have been both
deaf and blind or he could never have
answered as he did:
81 didn't knock you down. You ran
into me and spoiled Aunt Martha's
cake
Aunt Martha's cake had no bust
ness walking up my toboggan slide.
I'll ten her so myself
"Oh, but you don't know Aunt Mar
tha-''
anyway she had no business send
ing cake by man. She might have
known he'd upset it,"
But didn't do it. 1t was you! /
had it on the back seat Of the car, bat
the road was so rough and it was
jouncing up and down so much was
afraid it would be scrambled il kept
on. and so decided to walk and car.
~ it. left the car back there around
the corner"
"Au right, Mr. Adam, blame 1t on
the woman. I'll have an auto horn
put on my sled. I'm sorry I spoiled
your cake
"I'm sorry about your knee-aw-
fully sorry, really. Does it hurt very
much? After all it was my fault for
being so blind and stupid and l apol.
ogize sincerely"
TIL girl stamped across the road
and back. II think it's a compound
fracture she answered. Then sud.
denly. Honest to goodness, will Aunt
Martha be mad?"
Mad! Oh, heavens! Why, she was
all morning and part of the afternoon
at that DEVILS food. It's some cere
mony when she bakes cake. let me
tell you. She nurses 1t and pets it
and codGles it and when it's all done
She"
Sings to it, suppose, and rocks It
OF sleep"
I'm telling you the gospel truth,
really, and this was the special one
and extra large. She was sending it
over to Aunt Elizabeth Sommers, who
is giving a party tonight for that set
Element woman, whatever her name
is"
~who."
"Oh. I don't know her name. Find
it out soon enough. as I'm going to the
blowout-that is. if there is enough
left of me to navigate after Aunt Mar
tina gets through with me-"
Heavens. she must be tartar!
Look here, I'll tell you what I'll do.
baked cake today. too, only it isn't
DEVILS food. It's white, Lady Balu-
more, with the best filing you ever
ate, fun Of raisins and nuts and figs
and stuff and away ahead OF that"
nodding toward the dark mass at her
feet. "And If you'll pull be home on
my sled III give you the cake for your
Aunt Elizabeth Sommers and she'll
never know the difference"
That's generosity for you! Thanks
Just the same. but I'm afraid I can't
take it, However. il you watt here,
I'll bring up the car and take you
home if you'H allow me-"
TITS cross country-you can't
But it must be on some road!"
I'm staying at the Rex Hardins."
81 guess you are right. There are
some places car Just won't go and
that's one Of them. So you'll have to
travel on the sled
You'd better fix your nose a bit
You didn't get the blood all OF.
There's some right on the end, and
you look like Christmas package all
stamped and ready ior mailing.
There's dent in your hat. too. and I
suppose you know your glasses are
bent!"
The man laughed Goodness,
must look handsome, How could you
find it in your heart to offer me per.
fectly good cake?''
you look as though you needed
consolation I feel as though We
ought to give Aunt Martha's pet a
decent burial she went on ruefuIly,
tucking her skirts in around her when
he had brought the sled. ut looks
so lonesome out here in the cold with
nobody to care for IT.
"Oh. let the sparrows have feast.
1t can't do more than give them g
good old fashioned tummyache Knee
hurt9" Giving the rope a preliminary
tug to moving.
- ~,