Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1903-12-17

- - oSSSBlSo IN II ttsSiSih 1t. t'io
would be pleased to accompany him
and his sister.
After breakfast he heard Alice sing
ing in the parlor and joining her there
told her that he had received a letter
from Mr.. Ernst, which he would like
to. read to her. Alice was delighted
with the letter, and they both laughed
apologizing for the swear word by
saying that being historical it could
not be profane.
Alice had in her hand the two let
ters that She had received Satur-
day.
Have you nswere your letters?"
he asked.
NO, 1 have not even heard them
read" she replied. Uncle Ike has
grown tired all at once and won't read
to me nor write for me. 1 don't UNI
derstand him at all. / sent for him
yesterday afternoon. after o came
down, and told him what / wanted
him to do. He sent Jack word thai
he was too busy and that i must get
Mandy and Ezekiel are botn too much
occupied with their own duties to
help me-"
IF l AN be of any service to you,
Miss Pettengill, you know"
"Oh, | don't think / should dare to
let you read these letters interrupted
Alice, laughing. mo doubt they are
from two of my lady friends and l
have always heard that men consider
sue letters that women write to
each other very. silly and childish
Perhaps | have not told you,' said
Quincy, that l nave two sisters and
am used to that sort OF thing. When
I was in college hardly a day passed
that l did not get a letter from n or
the other of them, and they bright
ened up my life immensely.
What are their names and how old
are they| asked Alice.
The elder replied Quincy, SIS
n~ineteenfand her name is Florence Es-
telle."
What a sweet name!p said Alice.
THE younger is between fifteen and
sixteen, and is named Maude Ger
trude."
rs she as dignifed as her name?"
asked Alice.
Far from it," remarked Quincy.
She would be a tomboy if she had
an opportunity. Mother and father
call them Florence and Maude, for
they both abhor nicknames, but
among ourselves they are known as
Flossie. or Stell, and Gertie.'
What. was your nickname" asked
Alice.
Well" said Quincy, they used to
call me Quinn, but that hadsa Hiber-
MAN sound to it, and Maude NICKNAME
ed me Ad. which she said was short
for adder. She told me that she called
me that because | was so deaf that I
never heard her when she asked me to
take her anywhere"
Well, Mr.. Sawyer, if you will prom
Use not to laugh out loud. / will be
pleased to have YOU read these letters
for me. You can smile all you wish
to, for of course l can't see you"
II agree" said Quincy; and he adj
vanced towards her, took the two let
ters and drew up a chair beside
her.
my dear May" read Quincy. He
stopped suddenly, and turning to Alice
said, rs this letter for you?"
Before we go any further" said Al
ice, Il must explain my various names
and nicknames. l was named Mary
Alice, the Mary being my mothers
name, while the Alice was a favorite
of my fathers. Mother always called
Mary and father always called me
Alice! and brother'Zekiel and Uncle
Ike seem to like the name Alice best.
When l went to Commercial College
to study they asked me my name and 1
said naturally Mary A. Pettengill.
Then the girls began to call ms May,
and the boys, or yong men | suppose
you call them, nicknamed me Miss At
las, on account of my initials. Now
that l have given you a chart of my
names to go by, the reading will no
doubt be plain sailing in future"
Quincy laughed and said, g" should
call it a M. A. P. instead of a chart.
"Fie! Mr.. Sawyer, to make such a
joke upon my poor name. No doubt
you have thought of one that would
please you better than any have
mentioned"
Quincy thought he had, but he wise
ly refrained from saying so. He could
not help thinking, however, that Miss
Atlas was a very appropriate name for
a girl who was all the world to him.
1t is evident that Uncle Ike's words of
advice the previous afternoon had not
taken very deep root in Quincy's heart.
He resumed his reading:
"My dear May:-How are you get
ting along in that dismal country town,
and how are your poor eyes? | know
you can't write to me, but / want you
to know that | have not forgotten you.
Every time | see my sister, Stella, she
waves your photograph before my
eyes. You know you promised me one
before you were sick. Just send it
to me, and it will be just as nice as a
good, long letter. AS somebody else
will probably read this to you, in order
to keep them from committing a rob-
berry l send you only one kiss.
From your loving,
Emma Farnum."
care you smiling, Mr.. Sawyer" ask
ed Alice.
mot at all" he answered. Il am
looking grieved because Miss Farnum
has such a poor opinion of me-"
Alice laughed merrily. Emma is
a very bright, pretty GIRL" said Alice.
"She boarded at the same house that
| did. Her sister Stella is married to
a Mr.. Dwight. | will answer her let
ter as she suggests by sending her the
promised photograph. On the bureau
in my room, Mr.. Sawyer, you will find
an envelope containing six photo
graphs. | had them taken about a
month before | was sick. Underneath
you will find some heavy envelopes
that the photographer gave me to mail
them in"
Quincy went upstairs three steps at
a time. He found the package. and
~iYnnaI1nd Inv an payn1iooLla .,,,:z.;4.