Ottumwa tri-weekly courier., 1903-11-28

you out of that pleasant front room
where found my trunk"
Not a bit" replied Uncis Ike. II
hate carpets and prefer to sleep in
my own bed, and what's more. want
ed to put up my stove and there Was
no chance in that front room. When |
real cold weather comes l always have
a ton of coal for my stove, so am
much better off where am than
would be downstairs. BY the way,
'Zeke, just tell me all about Alice again.
You won't mind Mr.. Sawyer; he is one
of the family now"
Well" said Ezekiel. "Alice was TAX
en- sick about the middle of December.
The folks where she boarded sent for
a doctor. 1t. was about eight o'clock
in the morning when she was taken,
and it was noon before she got easy,
so they could get her to bed. She
thought she was getting better; then
she had another attack; then she
thought she was getting better again,
aud the third attack was the worst of
the three. The folks wanted to write
to me, but she wouldn't let them.
When she really did begin to get bet
ter, she found out there was something
that was worse than being sick. She
found she couldn't see to read either
print or writing, but Alice is a spunky
girl, and she wouldn't give in. even
then. A friend told her to go and see
DR.. Moses. who was an eye doctor, and
nut herself right under his treatment.
She thought she was going to get well
right off at first, but when she found
1t was likely to be a long job, then she
gave in and wrote to me. She, has
brought her treatment down with her,
and the doctor says she will have to
go to Boston once month to see him
as he is too busy to come down here"
AT this point in the proceedings the
door opened and Mandy entered, bring
ing large dish of big red apples and
another full of cracked shellbarks. She
left the room and returned almost i'm
mediately with a large dish full of pop
corn.
"Have an apple?" said Ezekiel.
Help yourselves; we don't pass any,
thing round mere. We put the things
on the table and each one helps him.
self"
Mandy came in again, bringing a
large pitcher of cider and some glass
es which she placed upon the table.
While the three men were discussing
their country evening lunch in silence,
an animated conversation was taking
place in the kitchen, the participants
being Mandy, Mrs. Bridget Crowley,
and Hiram, who always dropped In
during the evening to get his glass of
cider, luxury that was not dispensed
at Deacon Mason's.
We'll" said .Aandy, 81 think it's
wasteful extravaganza for you Irish
folks to spend SO much money on car
riages when one of your friends hap
pens to die. AS you just said, when
you lived in Boston you own up you
spent fourteen dollars in one month
going to funerals, and you paid dol
lar seat each time"
81 did that" said Mrs. Crowley, "and
earned every bit of it doing washing,
for Pat, bless his sowl, was out of
work at the time"
Just think of that" said Mandy,
turning to Hiram.
well, it can't be helped" said Mrs.
Crowley, obstinately. "Shure and if
don't go to folks funerals they won't
come to mine"
This was too much for Mandy and
Hiram, and they began laughing, which
so incensed Mrs. Crowley that she
trudged off to her little room in the ell
which departure just suited Mandy and
Hiram.
Have you got any soft soap here
in the kitchen?" asked Hiram.
NO" said Mandy, 81 used the last
this afternoon. | shall have to go out
in the shed tomorrow morning and get
some"
You wouldn't be likely to go out to-
night for any?" asked Hiram.
81 guess not" said Mandy. "Why,
there is rats out in that shed as big
as kittens. Did you want to use
some?"
NO" said Hiram, but didn't want
you to have any round handy, for am
bound to tell you l neard Strout telling
the minister's son that Lindy Putnam
writ letter to Mr.. Sawyer and mailed
| it at Mason's Corner postoffice this
mornin', and it was directed to East
| borough Centre, and Strout said it
| looked as though they were keeping
up correspondence. / tell you that
made Manuel Howe mad, for he's gone
on Lindy Putnam himself, and then
| Strout said that probably al the fel.
lers in town would have to put off get
ting married until that city chap had
decided which one of the girls he
wanted himself. And now, hang it,
said Hiram, ne has come to live in
this house, and / sha'n't have any
peace of mind"
Hiram lodged the first apple Mandy.
threw at his head, but the second one
hit him squarely, and he gave a loud
l"Oh!"
"Stop your noise" said Mandy,
cor Mr.. Pettengill will be out here.
"I'll ask them if they want anything
else" as she raped on the door.
There was no response and she opened
it and looked in. "Why, they have all
gone to bed" she said. AT that mo.
ment the old clock in the kitchen
struck nine. Its nine O'Clock. and
you had better be going home, Hiram
Maxwell"
| 81 shall have to get some anarchy to
put on my forehead" said Hiram. "See
that big bump, Mandy, that you made .
Mandy approached him quite closely
and looked at his forehead; as she did
so she turned up her nose and puck
cred her mouth. Her arms were hang.
| ing by her side. Hiram grasped her
/ tho uyaist hoJdipor I,o{I, r,f ,or