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

III ClOEeuce. Iueu woman name
crept in, and the Vaudeville Morning
News informed it's readers that ru-
mors from reliable source announced
the pleasant fact that when Mr. Clar-
ence Westover did return to America
Broxton Hall would become the home
of a lovely Parisienne. The lady was
the foreign born daughter of one time
American ambassador to France.
Ollie had read this item among the
local brevities and had passed the
mornings paper across to Miss Mall
vina. Miss Malvina had read it and
looked at the girl so timidly that Ollie
had laughed aloud. you are watching
to see me swoon? am wondering my
self why don't feel any of the proper
emotions on the occasion. 1t must be
because am so much more interested
in Granny Maxwell's winter fannels."
All of this came back to her when she
wrote that note of invitation to Tom
Broxton.
"Could anything be bolder?" she ask
ed, blushing vivid pink as she affixed
the stamp.
Gould anything be more studiously
polite?" Tom asked himself as he
crammed the letter in his pocket to be
reread after business hours.
A letter from Olivia was not in itself
a disturbing occurrence. They had new
er ceased writing to each other in Il
desultory way. The total lack of men
ton of Westover's name, especially as
he always made free use of it himself,
struck him as piece Of uncalled for
consideration for himself. Somewhat
In the old time fashion she wrote to
him about his work. He dwelt upon it
rather lengthily in reply, as much to
cover space as anything else. The line
was comfortably taut between friend
ship and the old disturbing sentiment.
Miss Malyina considered it a bad
sign that Ollie always passed Toms
letters over to her to read. Together
they rejoiced over his rapid ascent of
his chosen ladder, but she mourned
over the absence of sentiment.
"Oh, always knew" Miss Malvina
would say after every letter, that
you could not down Tom Broxton! He
Is his father all over again, and when
that is said all is said that need be
to describe a grand man. l wish he
would marry some good, sweet girl
that would make real home for him.
$50 do l." Olivia would reply
promptly.
But as the months rolled by Ollie's
so do r grew less and less emphatic,
and when the prospect of long alb
sence from home stared her in the
face she was distinctly conscious Of q
longing desire for the dear old com.
panion of her childish days. Folding
up his latest letter, this longing had
found wistful utterance.
Il wish we could see the dear boy
before we cross the ocean"
And Miss Malvina, always lying in
wait for her opportunity, had echoed
the wish with such fervor that the let
ter Tom called formal and Ollie
bold" was the logical outcome.
! A week after it had been dispatched
Miss Malvina, passing through the
library with her arms piled high with
slip covers to shroud the parlor furni
ture, halted to rouse the girl from ono
of her somber reveries.
HAS Tom sunt any answer to our in
vitation yet, dear?"
"Oh, yes! / meant to have shown
you his note. 1t has just come-very
short. am glad he did not make his
stenographer typewrite it,
Said Miss Malvina with ready cham
pionship, 'No doubt Thomas is very
busy man, but 1 am sure he could
never do discourteous thing"
Olivia read the short note aloud with
her pretty head held at an angle of re-
sentiment:
My Dear Little Friend-I am truly glad that
you and Miss Malyina are going to leave Mande
vile for change, but am sorry to think you sc
on account Of her health.
If you will let me come to you on the Sunday
before your departure, it will give me the great
day. l promise to be punctual Taking YOU
consent for granted, am faithfully yours
THOMAS BRoxToN
There were two red spots burning in
Olivia's cheeks as she flung this note
ooN IL upOA llCl uCoA. SouAA any IlllhE
be more insufferable? He graciously
accords us an hour or two of his valu.
able time"
Miss Malvina looked imploringly at
the flushed young face over the pile OF
covers she was resting on the desk
Disappointing, Ollie, decidedly, but
not insufferable."
81 say insufferable and abominably
patronizing. His dear little friend, and
he is glad am going away! Not that
wanted or expected him to be sorry"
81 think he meant he was glad on our
account, dear. Perhaps he thinks
mean he did not think he had any
right to-you know be don't Perhaps
he thinks you are~you are"
"That / am what, Miss Malvina
Please do finish of least one of your
sentences. don't know anything more
irving than such Verbal cOnyulsions.n