Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-03-29
CHAPTER TX.
A SHREK AT MIDNIGHT.

Clear, piercing, startling, woman's
voice rang out upon the solemn still
ness Of the Broxton house at midnight.
Mr.. Matthews, starting from a trou-
bled sleep, sprang hastily out of bed
and Immediately lost his bearings
He had forgotten in the first fright
ened moment that he was sleeping in
a strange bedroom. His surroundings
bafiled him. He could not find a door.
The location Of the matchbox, if such
a thing existed in his old friends
chamber, was an unsolyable mystery.
He struck his head violently against
the corner of an old fashioned armor
and recoiled against an unfamiliar ta-
BILE. Finally he stood stock still where
he was, dreading other collisions.
Where was Olivia, and who had
screamed?
\ Presently matters cleared themselves
in his fully aroused brain. He had
been sent for by. Tom in wild haste
Clarence Westoyer himself had gallop-
ed after Dr. Goyan. The two men
had reached Broxton within few
moments of each other. They found
Ollie seated on the sofa in the library
soundIy berating Tom for having 'rais-
ed such to do about nothing" and in
cidentally for having abused Clarence
Westoyer.
Il am not hurt at all, papa. 1t is too
bad to give you such scare. was
just little stunned by the fall, but 1
never was unconscious. I heard, but
could not talk Tom was really quite
rude to poor Mr.. Westover when he
was not at all to blame for my riding
the horse nor for that stupid mans
shooting on the other side of the
hedge. He even told him he had no
brains | wish people would some
times try to be more just to other peo-
pie"
II do, too" said Tom, turning angri-
ly on his heel and leaving the room.
Then DR.. Govan came and searched
diligently for broken bones, without
finding any, but he pronounced her
distinctly feyerish and badly shaken
up. "She had best stay where she is
for the night. Put her to bed at once
and keep her there until 1 can see her
again in the morning" was his deci-
sion.
So while the sun was still staining
the western sky a vivid red, picked
out with glorious puppies and Colds,
Simon's wife had spread the great four
poster in Miss Lucetta's room with
sweet smelling sheets of fine old linen
and thrown wide the shutters so that
Olivia, lying under the blue brocatelle
canopy, might gaze out at the sunset
glories of the dying day. She had pro-
tested violently
There is nothing the matter at all
with me, papa. / can perfectly well
go home. would rather after what 1
have said to Tom, for can't possibly
stay"
Tom, who found it impossible to
keep very far away from the library
door, heard her and here put in rue
full face to say kindly:
II wish you would not worry SO to
get away from here, Ollie. 1t is not as
If did not have plenty Of room, you
know. Your anxiety to get away is
rather rough on me. If you are angry
because / told MISSIONER he did not
have any brains to blow out, I'll ride
over there and apologize to him to-
night. I'll do anything you want done,
Ollie. I'll even go down to Simon's
house to sleep and efface myself"
This humble apology was received
loftily.
1T is very good of you to make such
large promises, Thomas, I'm sure, but
don't want to stay on any terms"
"She must" said DIR, Govan with
authority.
"she SHALL" said her father with de-
cision.
And, the matter having taken that
shape, Tom had torn down to the care
takers cottage to impress his wife
Jessy into service as lady's maid. Be-
tween them all Ollie was treated like
q queen temporarily disqualified from
reigning. But to come back to that
scream.
Horace Matthews. arst thought WAS