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

Quincy thought it best to leave them
alone, and descending the stairs he
entered the parlor, the door being half
way open. He started back as he saw
a form dressed in black, seated by the
window.
Come in, Mr.. Sawyer" said Indy.
Il knew you were here. I saw you
when you drove up with Miss Petten-
gill. What a beautiful girl she is, and
what a pity that she is blind. l hope
with all my heart that she will recover
her sight"
She would be pleased to hear you
say that" remarked Quincy.
I'VE were new intimate" said Lin.
dy. "You can tel her from me, you
are quite the gallant chevalier, Mr..
Sawyer, and what you say to her will
sound sweeter than if it came from
other lips. Are you going to marry
her, Mr.. Sawyer?'
81 do not think that our acquaintance
is of such long sanding that you are
warranted in asking me so personal a
question" replied Quincy.
Perhaps not" said Indy, "but as l
happened to know, though not from
your telling, that she is to be my moth
er's heiress. / had a little curiosity to
learn whether you had already pro-
posed or were going"
miss Putnam" said Quincy sternly,
do not complete your sentence. Do
not make me think worse of you than
already do. I beg your pardon for
intruding upon you. I certainly should
not have done so had I anticipated
such an interview
Indy burst into a flood of tears.
Her grief seemed uncomfortable. Quin.
cy closed the parlor door, thinking
that if her cries and sobs we're heard
upstairs it would require a double ex.
PLANTATION, which it might be hard for
him to give.
He stood and looked at the weeping
girl. She had evidently known all
along who her mothers heiress was,
She had been fooling him, but for what
reason? Was she in love with him ?
No, he did not think so; if she had
been she would have confided in him
rather than have sought to force him
to conf1de in her. What could be the
motive for her action? Quincy was
nonplussed. He had had considerable
experience with society girls, but they
either relied upon languid grace OF
light repartee. They never used tears
for offence or defence.
A surprise was in store for Quincy
Indy U.s. from her chair and came
towards him, her eyes red with weep
ing.
Why do you hate me so, Mr.. Saw
yer?" she asked. FWhy will you no
be a friend to me, when / need one 81
much? What first turned you agains'
me?"
Quincy replied, 81 will tell you, Mis-:
Putnam. They told me you wer,
ashamed of your father and mother be
cause they were old-fashioned countr!
talk as good English as you did"
Who told you so?" asked Indy.
st was commoa-talk in the village,
he replied.
81 should think you had suffere,
enough from village gossip, Mr., Saw
yer, not to believe that all that is sal,
is true"
Quincy WINGED and colored. 1t wa
a keen thrust and went home.
Where there is much smoke ther
must be some fire" he answered, ratf
er lamely, as he thought, even to hin
self.
MIR. Sawyer, when I asked you t
tell me a little secret you had in you
possession, you refused. I wanted
friend, but I also wanted a prove
friend. No doubt l took the wron
way to win your, friendship, but | al
going to tell you something, Mr.. Saw
yer, if you will listen to me, that wi
at least ecure your pity for one VIII
is rich in wealth but poor in that sh
= has no friends to whom she can col
fide her troubles"
} Quincy saw that he was in for i
and like a gentleman, determined t
) make the best OF it, so he said, "Mis
Putnam, l will listen to your stor.
l and if. after hearing it, | a honori
; bly, aid you | will do SO with pleasure
> Indy took his hand, which he ha
: half extended, and said, Come, S
: down. Mr.. Sawyer. 1t is a long stor,
, and I am nervous and tired and 81
: looked down at her black dress.
, They sat upon the sofa, he at or
!, end, she at the other.
4Mr. Sawyer" she began abruptly.
! am not a natural-born child of Mr.. al
Mrs. Putnam. l was adopted by the
when but two years of age. I do n
A know who my father and mother wer
I am sure Mrs. Putnam knows, but 81
I will not tell me-"
at could do no harm now that ye
are a woman grown" said Quincy.
"At first they both loved me-" Line
continued. "but a year after I can
here to live their son was born, al
from that time on all a change
a Mr.. Putnam was never unkind to II
; but once, but Mrs. Putnam seemed
v take delight in blaming me, and tC
menting me, and nagging me, until
is a wonder that my disposition is
good as it is, and you know it is n
very good" said she to Quincy with
n little smile. She resumed her stori
g 81 loved the little boy, Jones | alwa,
called him. and as we grew up togeth
he learned to love me and took n
part. although he was three yea
Younger than myself. This fact ma
S Mrs. Putnam hate me more than evt
e He STAYED at home until he was {
l. then he went to his father and moth
v and told them that he loved me al
,e wished to marry me. Both Mr.. a.
h Mrs. Putnam few into a great rage
e this. The idea of a brother marryi,
n his sister. They said it was a crir
r and a sacrilege, and the vengeance
Cod would surely fall ,nnp lis bot