Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1918-05-17
CHAPTER I.
The Reqinninu.


The Beginning.
Back and forth, back and forth, over
the net, spun the little white ball, driv.
en- by the quick, sure strokes of the
players. There was no sound save the
bounding of the ball against the
racQuets, and the thud of rubber soles
on the hard ground. Then-a sudden
twirl OF supple wrist, and
Deuce" cried the girl, triumphant.
~ brandishingJ her racquet in the air
The man on the other side Of the
net laughed as he gathered up the balls
for new serve.
Back and forth, back and forth, once
more-close to the net, away back to
the line, now to the right, now to the
left and then
"Ad out, I am beating you, David"
warned the girl, 1eaping lightly into the
air to catch the ball he tossed her.
Here is a beauty" she said, as the
ball spun away from her racquet.
The two white-clad, nimble figures
flashed from side to side Of the court.
He sprang into the air to meet her
ball, and drove 1t into the farthest cor
ner, but she caught 1t with a backward
gesture, Still he was ready for it, cut
ting It low across the net-yes, she
was there, she got it-but the stroke
was hard-and the ball was light.
was It good?" she gasped, clasping
the racquet in both hands and fitting
dangerously forward on tiptoe to look.
Good enough-and your game.
with one accord they ran forward
to the net, pausing second to glance
about anouirfnginly, and then, one I'M
pulse guiding, kissed each other
ecstatically.
s.The very first time have beaten
YOU, David" exalted the girl. isn't
everything glorious?'' she demanded,
with all OF youths enthusiasm.
"Iust glorious" came the ready an
sver.s with all of mature manhood's
response to girlish youth. Clasping the
slender hands more tightly, he ADDED,
launching: "And kiss the fingers that
defeated me-"
ooh. David" the buoyant voice
dropped to a reverent whisper. Il love
vou-I love you'll am just crazy
about you"
Careful, Carol, remember the
manse," he cautioned gaily.
'sBut this ia honeymooning and the
manse hasn't gloomed on my horizon
vet. IN be careful when get instai.
led. am really Methodist yet, ana
Methodists are expected to shout ana
Ia enthusiastic. When we move into
our manse, and the honeymoon Is end
"a. I'll Just say, 7 am very fond OF you'
Mr. Duke The voice heightened IN
to prim and prosy solemnity.
"But our honeymoon isn't to emo.
Didn't we promise that 1t should iast
forever"
"of course II will" She dimpled up
n him smuggling herself in that arm
fhat atm encircled her shoulders 'Of
conrse It Will" She balanced her
rscnuet on the top Of his head as ne
liant adoringly over her. "Of course 1t
vill-unless your grim old PresDyter1
iane manse all the life out OF me-"
ssIf It ever begins, tell me-" he beg
rod "and we'll join the Salvation
Army. There's life enough even Tor
you"
II beat you" she leased, irrelevant
", II am Surprised great DIG man
like you"
Sand tomorrow we'll be in St.
Louis"
eyes she assented, weakening
swiftly. "And the manses will have me
IA their deadly clutch"
~The only manser who will Gluten
Won Is myself" He drew her closer
in his arm as he spoke. "And you ike
IT.
Eyes. I love it. And like the man.
sers already. | hope they like me. !
am Improving, you know. l am GET
ting more dignified every day. Maybe
they will think I am born Presby-
terrain II you don't give me away. Have
Won noticed how serious am gettlng!
she pinched thoughtfully at his chin:
David Duke, we have been married
two whole weeks, ,and it Is the most
delicious, and breathless, and amazing
f1fne IN the world. 1t is life-real life
In there 1s to life, really isn't w"
eyes, life is love, they say, so this is
life. All the future must be like this.
az never particularly yearned to be
dead" she said, wrinkling her brows
Theoretically, "but never even
dreamed that / could be so happy |
am awfully glad that I didn't die be-
fore I found 1t out"
"You are happy. aren't you, sweet
hearth?
She turned herself slowly in his arm
and lifted puckering lips to his.
"Hey, wake up, are you playing ten.
"a. or staging Shakespeare? We want
the court If you don't need it."
Mr.. and Mrs. Duke, honeymooners.
gazed speechlessly at the group OF
Young men standing motionless forty
feet away, then Carol wheeled and ran
swiftly across the velvety grass. over
the hill and out of sight, her husband
In close pursuit
Once she paused.
"If the mansers could have seen us
then!" she calculated, with awe in her
voice.
CHAPTER II,
Mansers.
The introduction Of Mrs. David AT
mold Duke, nee Methodist, to the mem
bers Of her husbands Presbyterian
flock, was, for the most part, consum-
mated with grace and dignity. Only
one untoward incident fingered in her
memory to cloud her lovely face with