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

"I'm going now, mother. I won't
stay any longer than I'm obliged to-"
said Malvina. She bent q few mo-
ments later and kissed the withered
forehead. She omitted to nnoun
Mrs. Lyons occupancy of the shed
room. Nothing irritated the old wom-
an more than to be put under surveil-
lance, and after that recent outburst
discretion was advisable. To Mrs. Ly-
ons Malvina spoke a final word Of eau
ton.
"She can't hear the machine in here
nor see it neither unless she was to
come across the room and look into
the shed room for something. She
amt likely to do that. Sometimes her
eyes do her a good turn. 1t might vex
her if she thought you were watching
her"
cali right" said Mrs. Lyons, drop
ping into q husky whisper. "Il be as
still as q mouse"
Left to herself, as she imagined,
'Mother" Spillman developed an activ-
ity that made Mrs. Lyons forget all
about her Johnny's brooches as she sat
with her hand on the wheel and her
eyes stretched wide with establishment.
Presently she stole from the machine
and glued her eyes to q crevice in the
wall.
Rising from her chair, the old wom-
an began feebly shaking it's cushions
about with quick, impatient motions.
Getting down on her knees, with out
spread hands she felt over the entire
surface of the chair. Evidently keen
disappointment was the only result.
Whatever she was looking for she did
not find. With a sigh of discourage
ment she finally rose to her feet, q tall,
gaunt, masculine figure, and stood with
folded hands gazing down. upon the
vacant chair, muttering audibly:
Lost, lost, lost! And it is my fault.
poor laddie, I'm the only friend you've
got left! I'll find it, Tom, trust me. I
promised your mother I'd be a friend
to you, and I will be. I'll find it, Tom.
I'll ever give over till 1 do"
A luttering sigh, and the tall form
dropped back upon the cushions, the
white head dropped upon the headrest,
and Mother Spillman was soon lap
ped in sudden slumber, so profound
and SO prolonged that Miss Malvina
had been home half an hour before she
was aware OF it.
Mrs. Lyons considered it her duty to
report the strange episode of the cush-
ion beating and the dreamy monologue
to Miss Malvina, who looked anxious
and perplexed.
Mother has been acting SO queer
lately that l think I'll have the doctor
up to see her after all this excitement
is over"
81 surely would if she was my moth
er," said Mrs. Lyons, and the sooner
the better" having ministered which
dubious comfort she folded Johnny's
completed breeches in a tight little
bundle and trotted briskly home to see
about Deb's dinner.
Miss Malyina was glad to think the
excitement would all be over in two
days from that time. She was neglect
ing her mother and leaving her too
much time to brood in. Then she tried
on her new gown again.
The black silk, trimmed with real
lace and jet, in which she was to help
Ollie receive had been hanging in her
closet for two weeks. Mr.. Matthews
had presented it. Miss Mally had nev
er owned anything nearly approaching
it in point of elegance. She would have
been ashamed for any one to know
how often she had tried it on, $50 that
l shan't feel too new to it," she told
herself each time, with a little apollo
getic laugh.
The last two days Of preparation
sped by on wings, full to the very
brim Of excitement and triumph.
Everything is just perfectly love-
ly!" said Olivia, dancing into her ia
TIERS presence on the great day, ar
rayed for conquest.
He held her at arms length, looking
| her over admiringly. From the crown