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

had been every day before when he
had called. But there she stood be-
fore him, the same Hubby as of old.
Not exactly the same, however, for her
cheeks had lost much of their rosy tint
and there was a pensive look to the
face that was new to it, which Ezekiel
saw, but could not understand.
There were two chairs close togeth-
er before the fire. She sat down in
the left-hand one and motioned Ezekiel
to the other, which he took.
II thought would find you abed,"
said Ezekiel. 81 didn't know you were
up
ooh, yes." said Hubby. 81 got up
and dressed as soon as the doctor took
the jacket, that's what he called it, off
my arm. felt SO much better could
MT stay in bed any longer
Well" said Ezekiel. when the
schoolmaster used to tell me to take
my jacket off / didn't feel near as well
as / did before" and then they both
laughed heartily.
They sat silent for a few moments,
when Hubby, turning her face with that
sad look towards him, said, 'NThere is
something on my mind, Ezekiel, that
doctor did that jacket"
sob. nonsense" cried Ezekiel; "why
should you have anything on your
mind? You are little bit low spirited
because you have been cooped up in
bed SO long"
No. said Hubby, "that isn't it. I
have wronged person and am afraid
that person will never fully forgive
MI fo
done, and I am going to tell the per-
son and ask for pardon"
Well said Ezekiel, 'the person
must have been pretty mean spirited
if he or she don't forgive you after you
say you are sorry, specially if you
promise not to do it again."
"Oh. l shall never do it again" said
Hubby. "Once has nearly killed me.
1 suffered ten times more from that
than from my broken arm"
We'll" said Ezekiel. eff that person
don't forgive YOU don't want anything
more to do with him" =
Let me tell you little story" said
Hubby. "a little Boy and girl whose
homes were not a quarter of a mile
apart grew up together in little coun-
try town. AS children they loved each
other. and as they grew older that love
really grew stronger. though not SO
1ainly shown or spoken. Everybody
thought that one day they would be
married, though he had never asked
her to be his wife. DID you ever hear
of anything like that, Ezekiel"
Well" remarked Ezekiel, 81 have in
my mind two persons whose relations
were pretty similar UP to certain
point"
Z "Yes.' said Hubby, eagerly, "and that
point was reached when young man
from the city. whose father was known
to be verv wealthy, came to board in
her fathers house" Hubby looked at
Ezekiel inGuiringly.
yes. I've heard of something like
that" said Ezekiel.
''T7or time" continued Hubby, t'the
young girl was unfaithful to her old
time lover. She thought the young
man from the city was learning to love
her because he was polite and atten-
tive to her. She thought it would be
nice to be rich and go to the city to
live, but the young man soon unde-
ceived her. He took her to ride one
Cay, and on their way home he told
her he was going to leave here fathers
house. She wished to know the rea-
son. but he would not give it. She di-
yined it. however, and in her agitation
lost control of the horse she was driv-
ing. The buggy was overturned and
her arm was broken" She looked up
at 'Zekiel. His face was grave, but he
nodded for her to go on. "She stayed
in bed for three weeks, and during
that time she lived over her short life
a hundred, yes, thousand, times; she
knew that her fancy had been but a
fieeting dream. A suspicion that per-
haps the young man had imagined her
feelings towards him was what had
nearly broken her heart. Surprising
you were the man. Ezekiel, and l were
the woman in this little story, could
you forgive me if l said l was sorry
and woNld never do it again."
81 forgave you Hubby, when I let
him come to board in my house. He
told Uncle Ike why he left your faith
er's house. The folks were talking
about you and him, but he never i'm
agined that you were In love with him,
or thought any more about him than
you would have of any passing &C.
qua!ntance."
Z am so glad" cried Hubby; styou
have done me more good than the doc.
tor. 'Zekiel:" and she dropped her
head upon his shoulder.
Ezekiel was struck with an idea. eff
| AM. better doctor than the other
one, Huldy, I ought to get a bigger
price 10, my services than he does"
HGlIv looked up What will your
price he. DR.. Pettengill?"
~ think shall charge" said Ezekiel
100000, and as I know you haven't
got the money and can't raise it, ]
think shall have to hold you for Sc
curity."
He suited the action to the word and
they sat there so long happy in their
mutual love, that the Deacon and his
wife came upstairs and entered the
room Quietly. When they saw the pic
tire before them, thrown into promi
hence by the light of the fire. the Dea
con said in low tone to his wife. g
hay.s thought 50 all along"
I And as Mrs. Mason looked up into
her husbands face she said, Il an
glad ont"
CHAPTER XIX.
Jim Sawyer's Funeral.
3, Quincy obeyed the call to suppel
with alan-ity. Possibly he thought h