Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1903-12-05


wright IDEAS is the duty of poor
man with pretty wife-I couldn't fan
cy Mrs. Cartwright returning to fight
the battle over again.
1t is true that l was puzzled by the
fervency of her prayer for the dishon-
est trustee, though I judged it was
part Of her fidelity to her husband,
part Of her long resolve never to re-
proach him for their poverty.
He raised her hand to his lips before
he answered the question which he had
seen in my eyes.
II suppose he saved my life" said
Cartwright. "and that is why Marjory
blesses him. May heaven bless her! l
was a wild boy. Mr. Cameron. My
father always gave me plenty of mon
ey, and went the pace as the phrase
is"
"He was not so bad, guess" said
Marjory, with hand upon his head,
where observed that the dark brown
hair was thin at the back of the crown.
LET my bald spot be the witness to
my crimes said he, reading my eye
again. 1T was bigger at twenty-five
years than it is now, and fellow
doesn't get such an ornament for Moth
ing. Late hours, champagne. bad to-
|. bacco in sitting cafes under the glare
of lights! Yes, yes; it is blessing
that my trustee became thief before
had time to become anything worse
myself
II was beginning to feel the strain.
My pet doctor pointed out an open
grave to me every time went to see
him, and finally he drove me up into
the woods for little rest He did it
by promising that the relaxation would
give me life for year and perhaps two
Of the fun that was having
"Fun" echoed Mrs. Cartwright.
upon my SOUL" said her husband,
''it was the emptiest, painfulest, most
sodden, wretched and hopeless exist
ence ever Guffered by mortal crea-
ture But didn't know it then. Well,
l came up into the Adirondacks with
half dozen other proAigates before
whom the grave also yawned. and we
I NOlGu W IcolOlG OuI DSullll Nv
sitting all day and night in the room of
, Il little hotel a few miles from here
drinking bad liquor and playing cards
for money. I remember that the luck
! was dead against me all the time-the
| worst run ! ever had. Indeed. about
the third day sent hurry call to my
/! trustee for funds. But, Mr.. Cameron.
at the very moment when / was writ
1 ing to him he was a bankrupt and
/ twenty-four hours later he was on his
secret way to South America, or some
| say to China, with the wreck of his
/ dishonesty. Heaven forgive and bless
+, him! 1t was the beginning of new
| life to me-"
| you went back to town and started
over again, suppose:"
| II have never been out of these woods
! since then.' said Cartwright. except
when took my boy down to Albany to
school at the beginning of this fall. In
the old days when that thunderbolt hi,
me I went to bed, believing that the
4 grave which my doctor had pointed out
| to me WAS my only refuge and wishing
to encourage it to yawn as hard and
! fast as possible Presently my cross
j and Grabbed old uncle. William Cart
wright from Brooklyn. appeared upon
| the scene and favored me with the de
tails of my ruin. He closed by Offering
Inc a small allowance on the bargain
that would live up here in the woods
for year or for longer unless my
! health should be fully restored.
II was willing. There was no reason
| why should go back. But dying isn't
SO easy up here. Strangely enough.
acquired an appetite for life. l began
to go out hunting with guide and sur.
prised him-and myself far more-by
developing into first rate shot with a
rifle. Before the end Of that winter l
had gained nearly twenty pounds
though you wouldn't call me fat as
stand, and couli eat bear meat right
CT the bear.
.iasr. Cameron liked The life 1 was