Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-03-15

II suppose all Mrs. Broxton's silver
and china will be used just like it was
their own"
Miss Malvina sounded a placating
note. ooh, that's all right, mother.
Ollie wrote to Tom that she wanted to.
have her birthday celebration on his
grounds, and he wrote back he would.
be only too glad to have her chase the
shadows out of the old house, to use
everything a freely as if it was her
own"
Trust them for doing that; but, as
for her chasing the shadows out, that's
more'n she a do, Malvina-more'n
anybody can do. They are gathering
thicker and blacker and heavier, and
the storm will burst over that poor
boys head without one friendly voice
to give him warning"
"Dear me, mother, how you do worry
oyer Tom! He's all right. His father
trusted Mr.. Matthews il you don't.
Give him warning of what?"
Miss Malvina performed as many Of
her daily duties within reach of her
mothers ear trumpet as was practical
BILE. 1t saved time and steps. Just
then she was hurriedly buttoning up
her stoutest pair of boots. They would
be waiting for her up at the Hall.
There was no end Of things still to be
done.
The stand for the band was to be
decorated, and Jess would be wanting
to know how many turkeys were to be
dressed, and all that cut glass was to
he washed. CHANGING up from her low
stool, she saw something that made
her. stare curiously-marks Of damp
er's ample Oxford ties, which were
crossed ~conspicuously on the hassock
in front of the chair. She fired an in
dignant protest through the old ludy's
ear trumpet.
Mother. you have been walking
about out Of doors without your rub
bers."
"Rubbers! Out Of doors! Walking
about! Who says SO? Who saw ME?
What are you talking about, Malvina
Spillman?"
Her voice was SO shrill and her man.
ner so excited that Miss Malvina look
ed at her in growing alarm. Mother
is certainly turning queer"
Aloud she said soothingly: "Well,
you've got q right to prowl around if
you feel like it, hummer. / only don't
like you to go out without overshoes.
Good old ladies are getting scarce, and
I want to keep mine a great many
years to come,
"Oh, I'm all right, child! What made
you think I had been out of the house?"
"Clay IN the soles Of your shoes,
and your white flannel wrapper is all
~bedraggled about the hem, mother"
A look of intense cunning came into
the faded eyes. The old woman chuc-
kled audibly.
well you are one for finding a body
out. I thought I heard somebody at
the chicken coop last night, Malyina."
you heard, mother?'
ooh, I'm not as deaf as you think I
am nor as blind neither! Why, I could
go from here up to the Hall the darkest
night that vel came and go all over
the house without stumping a toe, if I
wanted to-"
II hope you won't want to, mother"
Just then, with q swish of starched
%petticoats and a catching of hurried
breath, Mrs. Deb Lyons presented her
self in the cottage doorway. She had
q roll OF, cloth in her hands.
II just thought l would step over,
Miss Malviha, and ask you if 1 might
run up Johnny's breaches on your ma
chine, Mines got the very old mischief
in it, and the child'Il die outright or go
plum crazy if he don't have a pair Of
new breeches to wear to the coming
out party"
us your Johnny invited to the par
ty ?"'asked Mother" Spillman, with a
slight infusion of sarcastic incredulity
in her voice. "Not that he amt good
enough"
Mrs. Deb laughed frankly.
CATER a fashion, he's invited. Miss
Ollie told him ii he would fix up real
nice lie might pass lemonade around
duiUlS tllc lOIhS. I1G ID III uGt Suludy
school class, you know. She is a real
sweet young lady. My, but what an
affair it is going to be! They say Miss
Ollle's dress is going to outshine any
thing Miss Jeanne Westover's fetched
over from Paris.'
I'D be rather glad" said Malvina in
consequently, ito have you sit with
mother while I'm gone" Then, with
lowered tones: "She's been SO restless
lately. / don't know what she'll be up
40 when she's alone. I have put the
machine in the back room so that /
can sew when mothers asleep. Some
times | think she hears the buzz"
F.In watch her. Thanks for the ma
Chime. l guess you'll be on hand be-
folhe | have to get back home to see
abESIit Deb's dinner.p
TDh, yes, long before then" And
Jollnny's mother passed into the sheC