Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1903-12-29

ss.s - shS oiS6SoI ldih tudt - We ever
been connected with; beats buying the
grocery store all holler."
Well" continued Quincy, "you three
gentlemen understand it now, and if
matters can be arranged I will do my
part. and l promise you all a grand
send-off; but not word of it must be
breathed to outside parties, remember.
It won't amount to anything unless
it's a big SURPRISE
All right" said Hiram, II kinder
reckon Sawyer,st surprise party will
be bigger onesthan Strout's was"
"Oh." continued Hiram, ~ most for
got Mandy was up ter see her moth
er abeout tibet room for tibet man that's
comm down from Boston Monday
night, and Mis- Hawkins says the price
of the room is So per week and the
board SO cents q day. Mandy paid for
the room for week, and Mis- Hawk
ms says after she takes out what the
board comes to she'll give the balance
back ter Mandy"
That's all right, said Quincy. eve
heard from the man in Boston, and
he'll surely occupy the room next Mon
day night. Mandy can tell her mother
to have it all ready"
Next morning, about 10 o'clock, Alb.
bolt Smith drove over from Eastboor-
oughs Centre. accompanied by his faith
er and Wallace Stackpole. Quincy
took his place beside Mr.. Stackpole on
the rear seat Of the carryall, and Abb
bolt drove off as though he intended
to return to Eastborough Centre, but
when he reached The crossroad he
went through, then turning back to-
wards Mason's Corner, drove on until
he reached Deacon Mason's barn, fol-
lowing the same plan that Ezekiel had
on the night of the surprise party.
They found the Deacon at home, and
all adjourned to the parlor, where Bias
Smith stated his business, which was
to ask the Deacon to act as Moderat-
or at the town meeting on the follow
ing Monday. The Deacon objected at
first, but finally consented, after Mr..
Smith had explained several matters
to him.
Eyer, know" said the Deacon, "my
fellow citizens have tried on several
occasions to have me run for select
man, but reckoned tibet wuz too old
to be out so late nights and have to
drive home from Marlborough at 10 or
IL o'clock at night. Besides I'VE work
ed hard in my day, and there's no place
like so well as my own home. I'm
alwus sorry to go away in the mornin'
and alwus glad ter git home at night,
and although consider that every cit
izen ought ter do everything he can
for the public good, reckon tibet
there's good many more anxious than
am to serve the town, and I'm not
n hyrf hot Hiy,1r fhaxy
how ter do 1t better'n could. But
as that Moderator works comes In the
daytime, as l stand ready to do all
towards Quincy, "I'll be on hand Mon
day mornin' and do the best i can to
serve public and private interests at
the same time
Wallace Stackpole, while the others
were talking, had taken a couple of
newspapers from his pocket, and as
Deacon Mason finished, he looked up
and said, There's an item here in the
.Eastborough Express, Deacon, that 1
imagine YOU'LL be interested in. I'll
read it to youtWe are. informed on
the best authority that Miss Hubby
Mason only Daughter of Deacon Abra-
ham Mason OIL Mason's Corner, is en-.
gagged to Mr.. Ezekiel Pettengill. The
day Of the marriage has not been fixed.
but our readers will be informed in
due season.
I'm afraid, Deacon" said Quincy.
that's all my fault. I met young CHS
holm last Tuesday when was over to
the Centre, and, he told me something
that actually obliged me to confide in
him the fact that knew that your
daughter was not, likely to become
Mrs. Obadiah Strout, but he promised
me on his word of honor that he would
not put 1t In the paper unless he got
the same information from some other
source
The Deacon haw-hawed in good old.
fashioned country style.
WAL, said he, young Chisholm
tackled me, andssaid he heard a rumor
abeout Hubby and Strout, and, as you
say, Mr.. Sawyer, he kinder 'bliged me
to set him right. But he made me
promise, as he did you, tibet heSwould-
MT say anythin' abeout it unless some
other Teller told him the same thing"
That young man is sure to get
ahead in the world; he buncoed us
both, Deacon" said Quincy.
WAL, dunno as know Just what
you mean by buncoed," said the Dea-
con, "but kinder think he got the
best of both on us on thet point"
AS they took their places again In
the carryall, Quincy said to Mr.. Smith.
IF you can drive to Mr. Pettengilrs
house and wait afew minutes, think
I'll go over to Eastborough Centre with
you. I'm going to Boston this after
noon, and shall not be back again I'M