Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-09-18

Miss Tolsom's duty to descend and
take the burden of entertainment off
those elder shoulders? These thoughts
oppressed the girl, and, starting up,
she cried:
Its simply wicked of me staying
here and letting poor papa be bored
to death. Do come down, Jess, dear,
unless you're too dreadfully sleepy.
He acts just as though he intended
never to CO."
And Jess promised reluctantly to
come down in ten minutes, if he didn't
leave; but she hated him, and had
hated him ever since he spoke so of
Marshall in the car three days before.
The upper hall had been quite dark
when Miss Folsom went up to inquire
how Mrs. Fletcher was, Just after
luncheon. The door to her little room
was tightly closed. The blinds in all
the other rooms aloft We're drawn
against the glare OF the sunshine in
the cloudless atmosphere, yet now, as
Pappoose stepped suddenly out upon
the landing, she was surprised to see
that the upper floor was much lighter
than when she went up half an hour
earlier. The maid had not gone thith-
er from the kitchen, and Mrs. Fletch-
er wished to doze. Who, then, could
have opened both blind and door and
let in that flood of light? Impulsive-
ly the active girl flew up the winding
stairs to the third story, and some one
suddenly withdrew from the balcony
rail, and an instant later, as Miss
Folsom reached the top, all became
dark again. Mrs. Fletcher's door had
unquestionably been open, and was
now shut to. She must have been out
there listening, and gravely the young
girl asked herself what it meant
Mrs. Fletcher's agitation in the IL
brary that morning as she peered out
at the majors wagon; her absence
from luncheon on account, as she
pleaded, of not desiring to appear
when company was present; and now,
despite her desire to sleep, her vigil
at the third-foor landing, where she
was surely listening to the sounds
from below.
Pondering over the facts, Elinor
Folsom slowly retraced her steps and
went downstairs. She reached the Ii
brary none too soon. Old Johns eyes
We're closed and he was slowly top
ping, overcome with sleep. The sound
of her CHEEKY voice aroused him, and
he started. guilty and crestfallen.
Burleigh's heavy face frightened
visibly at her coming. He cared no
more for music than does a cat, but
eagerly followed her across the broad
hall into the parlor when she suggest
ed showing him the beautiful piano
papa had given her; and old John,
blessing her. lurched for the sofa,
buried his hot head in pillow, and
was asleep in ten seconds. Maj. Bur-
leigh was alone with the lovely daugh-
ter of the veteran trader. He was a
man of the world, she an unsophisti-
Gated girl just out of school-so said
Burleigh, albeit most charming one;
and he, who had monopolized her time
the entire morning, bore down once
more upon his prize.
She had seated herself at the piano,
and her long, tapering fingers were
ripping over the keys. She knew full
we'll he did not care what she played,
and for herself she did not care lust
then to play at all. She was thinking
of his insinuation at Marshall Deans
expense. She was still bordering over
Mrs. Fletcher's stealthy scrutiny of
the quartermaster's team On these
two accounts, and no other, he was
possessed of certain interest in Ell
inor's dark-brown eyes, and they were
studying him coolly, searchingly, as
he drew chair near the piano stool,
and seated himself and met her lool,
with broad, encouraging smile.
Trill and ripple, ripple and trill her
white fingers raced over the keyboard.
I'm sure you know this waltz, ma
jor," she was saying. ''rhey played
it beautifully at the Point two sum-
mers ago.
"I--ah, yes, it's charming compost
tion-charming, though l don't re-
call it's name just now"
ihls : WHY us one VI GOuITey s.
The Hilda,' don't you know? I'm sure
you waltz, MAJOR
"T-ah, used to, yes. WIS very
fond of a waltz" answered Burleigh,
whose best effort in that line could re-
suit in nothing better than waddle.
"But of late years I-I-since my be-
reavement, have practically with
drawn from society" Then, with Ian
gushing smile, he added: 81 shall be
tempted to reenter the list now" and
the major drew his chair nearer by
full an inch, and prepared to be fur
ther killing"
Jessie dances divinely," said Miss
Folsom. 'She simply floats round a
room. You should see her waltz with
her brother, Maj. Burleigh. They
might be waltzing here this very min.
ute, if he We're only home What
can have detained him, do you think q
II wish / knew" said the quarter.
master slowly. ''It makes those who
are-ah-his friends, you know, anx,
ious in more ways than one, because
there is-er-nothing to warrant de.
lgV--nnt binc IL, .I>o,,1l