Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-04-24

am very lar from DelnS aDle TO Go even
if l should desire to do it,"
Westover looked seriously embar-
raised.
perhaps I am going ahead of the
hounds. mean ought to have wait
ed to hear from father before outlining
my course. can still do that, must
indeed. but that paper was burning a
hole in my pocket. Every time looked
at you called myself thief. By Jove,
did, Broxton!'
Toms great gray eyes sent a lance
through him. He blushed and laughed
nervously.
"Oh, as for that, I'll say it was be-
cause you put the ocean between you
and her at critical moment. l never
could have won in fair stand up,
even race, Tom. Girls are odd tricks.
Olivia is tremendously fond of you.
That thievery was all fair"
"You have won the sweetest and
dearest girl on earth. 1 believe I am
glad we have had this talk, Westover.
1t has given me clearer conception of
the good in you. / am glad she has
chosen so WELL 1t is not likely will
ever return to Vaudeville. There is
nothing to bring me here. The place is
the cemetery of all my hopes. So you
must let me offer my congratulations
now. Is the day fixed?"
mo. You see, there's been a great
deal else on her mind-ours, may say
father in Europe, mother in bad
health and all that. But I've never
told you how came by that paper"
Miss N1alvina told me the whole
story. There is nothing for you to tell
me-"
Westover flushed holly.
'She was afraid would not keep
my word about giving it back"
mot at ALL She had other papers to
give me, inventories Of plate, pictures,
ETC."
Eyes, remember. BY Jove, Brox.
ton. you must have gone it at pace
while you were at college to get
through with everything"
DOUBTLESS did," said Tom, looking
hard at the dingy, ireless stove at the
other end of the waiting room.
But father says you are to be con.
graduated"
upon what?"
upon an opportunity to develop
your latent talents. We have been read
ing about that invention of yours. Fa-
Their says if it is what you claim for it
it will revolutionize the entire system
of electric lighting in all the big cities
and will make an everlasting fortune
for you. y
81 think it is all that claim for IT,
said the young inventor quietly. He
consulted his watch. ''My train must
be late" He had folded the paper
neatly and now handed it back to
Westover, who declined to take it.
ut is not mine, my dear fellow.
have no claim at all to it. 1t is yours.
Wat are you going to do about it?"
This" He tore it into small bits.
Eyes; but, my dear Don Quixote, the
Wraxalls, don't you see?'
What steps could take that would
not reflect upon a dead man? How
could stir in this matter without hold.
ing Olivia's father up for criticism
worse, condemnation? And as looking
for Wraxall with no other clew than
this ancient scrap of paper would be
hopeless will only say we must wait
for one to turn up"
"The lawyers would unearth q
bakers dozen of them at the first hue
and cry of defective title"
There will be no hue and cry. The
lawyers have nothing to do with this
business. With my consent they never
shall. Call it my wedding gift to Oil
via. There is nothing in the agreement
debarring gift. used to think she
liked the old place. I will be glad to
think of her as its mistress"
The sharp Shrek of the locomotive
sounded near at hand. He sprang up
and seized his bag. Westover detain-
ed him with q hand on his shoulder.
"Let it rest at that for the present.
We are friends, Broxton?"
Friends" said Tom, looking down
into the other mans honest eyes. 81
leave Vaudeville richer by that much.'
| The grasses Of months growth
waved their swordlike blades about
Horace Matthews grave before Ollie
would consent to see any one but Miss
Malvina. Then somewhat imperative
note from Clarence compelled her from
her seclusion. He was going to meet
his father and mother in Paris, he
wrote, and while there he might exc
cute many commissions for her
Jeanne and mother would be so glad
to buy all your wedding tinery for you,
and as soon as they all get back my
dear little girl and her devoted lover
will be made one"
To this Ollie returned very short
answer:
DNr Clarence-please come to see me this even
ing. have something to say to you before YOU
| start for Paris.
And Westover obeyed the summons
She looked so pale and wan, SO unlike
his vivid, brilliant Olivia, as she came
toward him in her plain black robe
that he was conscious of shock to
his aesthetic nerves.
by Jove, my dear girl, don't want
to say anything unfeeling, but 1 hope
you are not going to wear black any