Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1918-05-21

shAr-M~-riu CornnanY
! big law book in his effort to keep from
meeting anybodys eye. But Nesbitt
went to the phone and called Ben
Moore. Ben Moore had four days
job on his hands. Then he called Jim
Green, and Softly Meadows, and finally
in despair called the only one left
John Knox-nice orthodox name, my
dear. John Knox would do 1t for the
modest sum of rlve dollars, and not q
well, I'll spare you the details, but
he wouldn't do 1t for cent less Mes
bitt raved, and Nesbitt swore, but John
Knox, while he may not be pillar in
the church, certainly stood like rock.
Nesbitt could pay it or lose his tenant.
He paid.
"Mr. Orchard got up and put on his
hat. Miss Connie wants some flow
ers and some candy and an ice cream
soda, my boy, and want some cigars
and coco COLA It's on you. Will you
come along and pay the bill, or will
you give us the money!
"'I guess it will be cheaper to come
along said Nesbitt, looking bashfuTly
at mo, for was very naughty. But
put on my hat and it cost him Just
one dollar and ninety cents 10 square
himself.
But they both like me. In fact Mr..
Orchard suggested that marry him
SO old Nesbitt would have to stop roar
ing at he, but tell him honestly that
Of the two evils l prefer the roaring.
mo, Carol, am not counting on
marriage in my scheme Of life. Not
yet. Sometimes I think perhaps do
not believe In 1t. It doesn't work out
right. There is always something
wrong somewhere. Look at Prudence
and Jerry-devoted to each other as
ever, but Jerry's business takes him
out among men and women into the
life of the city. And Prudsuce's bust
ness keeps her at home with the chill.
dren. He's out, and she's in, and the
only time they have to love each 9th.
er Is In the evening-and then Jerry
has clubs and meetings, and Prudence
Is always sleepy. Look at Fairy and
Gene. He is always at the drug store
and Fairy has nothing but parties and
clubs. and silly things like that to
think about-a big, grand girl like
Fairy. And she is always looking COW
etously at other women's babies and
visiting orphans homes to see II she
can find one she wants to adopt, be-
cause she hasn't one of her own. Al
ways that sorrow behind the twinkle
In her eyes! II she hadn't married, she
wouldn't want a baby. Take Larkie
and Jim. Always Larkie was healthy
at home, strong and full of life. But
since little Violet came Lark is pale
and weak and has no strength at all.
Aunt Grace is staying with her now.
Why l can't look at dear old Larkie
without half crying.
Take even you, my precious Carol,
perfectly happy, oh. of course, but all
your originality, your uniqueness, the
very you-ness of you, will be absorbed
In round of missionary meetings and
prayer meetings and choir practices
and Sunday school classes. The hard
routine, my dear, will take the sparkle
from you and give you a sweet, but un.
Carol-like precision and method. oh,
yes, you are happy, but thank you.
dear, think I'll keep my Self and do
my work and-be an old maid.
"Mr. Orchard offers himself as an
toAthe roars every now and
then and expound this philosophy OF
mine in answer. He shouts with
laughter at it. He says it is so, so like
a baby in business. He reminds mo
Of the time when gray hairs and crows
feet will mar my serenity, and when
solitary old age will take the lightness
from my step. But I've never noticed
that husbands have q way of Danish
ing gray hairs and crows feet and
feeble knees, have you? Babies are
nice, Of course, but think I'll baby
myself little.
Il do get so homesick for the good
old parsonage days, and all the bunch
and Still it is nice to be baby in
business and think how wonderful it
will be when graduate from my
babyhood and have brains enough tol
write books, big books, good books,
for all the world to read.
Lovingly as always, !
Baby Con-"
When Carol read that letter she
cried and rubbed her face against her
husbands shoulder-regardless of the
dollar powder on his black coat
"a teeny bit for father" she ex.
planned. "for all his girls are gone.
And little bit for Fairy, but she has
Gene. And quite lot for Larkie, but
she has Jim and Violet" And then,
her arm about his shoulders
which, despite her teasing remon
STRANGE, he allowed to droop a little,
she cried exultantly: But not one bit |
for me, for l have you. and Connie is |
a poor, poverty-stricken, wretched |
little waif, with nothing in the world |
worth having, only she doesn't know
1t yet
CHAPTER w.
A Woman In the Church.
And there was a woman in the
church. There always is-one who |
stands apart, distinct, ditferent-in the |
but not with 1t, in the
church but not of it.
The woman in David's church was OF |
! languorous, sumptuous type, built on !
-RI