Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-07-22

giving OF que D1llS TOT TWO 1OJS eaCn
to every man, woman and child in
Amityville, excepting Abraham Ian
dy. AS for Mr.. Landy, l would ask
him to distribute the "a due bills and
then, if he would promise to return
solid vote for Concord, 1 would
give him a thirty-ffth due bill for
so lots, two full blocks''
you'd do that, would you?" ex-
ploded Landy, leaping from his chair
81 would" answered Guy, "and 1
would consider Mr.. Landy had done
me favor"
Mr.. Landy clasped his hands be-
hind him and walked around the
house, his eyes turned groundward
you've hooked him. muttered
the delighted Whitaker. "By inks,
you've hooked him. Mr.. Herbert"
And Whitaker was right Ten
minutes later Guy was writing due
bills by the dozen and half an hour
later Mr.. Landy was homeward
bound after having given written
agreement to poll every Amityvillo
ballot for Concord. While he was
engaged in giving away lots, Guy did
not forget to present Whitaker
with half dozen; thereupon that
gentleman solemnly covenanted that
his house should remain forever
upon the Concord side of his farm.
This deal contaminated, Guy went
in and laid down. He felt that be
had done good stroke of work for
| Concord. His conscience troubled
him somewhat, for there was hint
| of sharp practice in his deal with
Landy that was directly opposed to
| the young mans inclinations and
| general character. Still, if Wand
ingham had bought Amityville sigma
lures to his petition, why should not
Guy buy Amityville votes? The bal
| lots of the two sets of imported
/ voters, each just a score in number,
would nullify each other. Now that
Amityville was to go for Concord,
the success of Concord seemed GER
| tain.
The first flush of assured victory
over, Guy began to feel sorry for
Miss Betty. She was bending every
effort toward victory for Harmony
and was so confident of the result
that newell, he almost regretted
that he had allowed himself to pur-
chase Mr.. Landy's influence.
LADY to see you, Mr.. Herbert"
announced Whitaker, abruptly open
ing the door. After grinning slyly
he vanished as quickly as he had ap-
peared.
"a lady," murmured Guy, in trepi-
dation.
He had been so busy with his
thoughts that he had heard no
sounds indicative of the arrival of a
visitor. AS he arose he glanced
| through a window and saw Miss
Pinkney seated in gorgeous trap
and holding a horse. The next mo-
ment he saw Whitaker approach
the trap. stand beside it and engage
Miss Pinlney in conversation. Guys
heart huttered! At last! At last he
would be able to explain that affair
on the lake shore.
Miss Betty was waiting for him
when he entered the other room.
She came forward hastily and took
one of his hands in both her own.
The look on her face was one which
he had never seen there before. Sad
ness, heartburning, regret = these
were all in the glance she gave him.
II can remain but moment, Mr..
Herbert" she said. 81 have been in
Bismarck for few days and, on my
return to Harmony learned some
thing which has brought me straight
to you to ask your forgiveness"
My forgiveness?" he repeated,
clinging to one of her hands. "For-
giveness for what?"
"For allowing you to help me, thus
causing you to be looked upon as a
traitor by. your own townspeople;
and for daring to think that you
had brought the sheriff and two
others with you to the lake, week
ago last Wednesday. Oh, I feel as
though am personally culpable and
that your wound is the indirect re-
suit of my own actions" Her blue
eyes grew misty and her voice shook.
will you forgive me, Mr.. Herbert ?"
he longed to clasp her to his
breast and then tell her how dear she
had become to him in the brief time
they had known each other; he would
have given worlds to kiss her tears
away and do other sentimental and
foolish things which he had no
earthly right to do, but he restrained
himself. He loved her, and he defed
the months and years to disprove a
truth which two short weeks had
made clear to him. Yet, while sure
of his own feelings, he must wait to
assure himself of hers.
"Who has told you my side. of the
case, Miss Vlandingham?" he asked.
Some one who knows" was the
reply; "some one who lives in Con
cord and is thoroughly conversant
with every phase of your ill-treat-
ment at the hands of the mistaken
people there"
my ill-treatment, fear, has been
overdrawn," said Guy, smiling. 81
love the study of nv fellow man.