Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-05-01

olivia wheeled suddenly, showing
very pale face and eyes full of fright.
Miss Malyina held out the paper folded
in a long strip.
It is dreadfully hard to find para.
graph once you let it CO.,
rs it about Tom?"
Yes, or at least it is about
"Read it aloud, please"
And Miss Malvina read:
''That fine old piece of real estate
known as BroXton Hall, on the out
skirts of town, has again changed
hands. 1t is said that Mrs. Westoyer's
health demands permanent residence
in a warmer climate. Some mystery
seems to attach to the recent transfer,
and no amount of reportorial enter
prise has enabled us to secure the
name of its owner. Extensive repairs
on the house and grounds are already
under way"
Well" said Olivia, biting off rose
stem with strong white teeth, what
that all has to do with your believing
to be explained"
Why, Tom, you see, he told me-
you know he and had quite a little
talk after you had sent him away in
such a hurry that Sunday-that when
he had expected. you and Mr. West
over to live at the old place he had
become reconciled to give it up, as he
certainly never could have lived there
by himself, but if time should prove
that you and Clarence We're not to
adjust your little difference he should
buy back the old place himself"
And how do you know he is not the
new owner?''
oh, | don't think there would be
so MUCH mystery about it if he were.
Tom isn't the man to want to do ,anys
thing sensational
WAS he so very fond of the placer"
"Ollie, you know as well as do that
he loves that old house better than he
does anything on earth. Not''-quick-
ly seeking to repair any probable hurt
that he blamed your dear papa for.
letting it go. l do wish l knew who
this mysterious purchaser isl
II can relieve you to that extent"
said Ollie, swooping down upon the
paper and siding behind it. II have
bought Eloxton Hail."
You. G,:yia?'
AT ! my business man has for
me. l.toltl him before we left Ameri-
ca to buy it at any price could afford
to pay if Mr.. Westover would SELL
Wasn't that little reckless, dear?
1t is a beautiful old place undoubted-
ly, and 1 do believe Thomas would
rather think of it as belonging to you
than anybody in the world
Ollies temples showed pink above
the Vaudeville Morning News. "Of
course did not buy it to live in. That
would be absurd. l bought it for
Tom. I want Tom to live in it with
his wife when he gets one. But now
that it is mine don't know how to
give it to him unless die and leave
it to him in my will"
Miss Malvina looked at her gravely.
81 am quite sure he would not like to
get it that way, my dear"
"And l am sure l should not like
him to get it that way, at least not i'm
mediately."
She laughed Historically. Miss Nal
vina's literalness often gave her cause
for mirth. She flung herself into chair
to read that paragraph about Broxton
Hall for herself. There was certain
zest in the idea that all Vaudeville was
trying to guess her secret and a deeper
sort of satisfaction in the reflection
that no one could ever again come be-
tween Tom and the old place after she
should have given it back to him.
Dear old Tom! Some time. somehow,
he should come into his own again.
Miss Malvina glanced at her confiscat-
ed paper enviously. She had but just
begun upon the Local Brevities" when
Olivia had entered.
"Would you mind turning to Deaths
and Marriages. dear, and reading
them out? had just got to them"
Olivia ran glibly through the mortu-
ary and hymeneal reports.
'And now the casualties Of the day"
where do you find them? Oh, yes,
here! Why"-with sharp cry she look
ed over the paper at Miss Malvina-
| uau you seen III anu leLt me TO StumDle
on it for myself?"
| Had l seen what, child?'
"About Tom? He is hurt, badly hurt.
oh, Miss Malvina, listen! News reach
ed this office late last evening by tele-
| graph that Mr.. Thomas Broxton, our
highly esteemed ex-townsman, has
been seriously injured in an accident to
the Electric Light works in Kansas
City, of which he has recently been
made general superintendent. The &C.
count of his accident as we have re-
ceived it makes quite hero Of Mr..
Broxton and shows him to be the gal
liant son of a noble gentleman. 1t was
by endeayoring to save the life of an
old, crippled employee Of the works,
who was engaged on the top floor, that
he came near losing his own valuable
l l;fri 3isfli3