Ottumwa tri-weekly courier., 1903-11-17
CHAPTER I.
The Rehearsal.


and laughter came from within and
forms could be seen fitting back and
forth through the uncurtained Win
lows. Outside, a heavy fall of snow
lay upon hill and vale, trees and house
Iops, while the rays of full-orbed |
noon shone down upon the glistening, ,
white expanse.
At a point upon the main road a |
short distance beyond the square, |
where the grocery store was situated,
stood young man. This young man
was Ezekiel Pettengill, one of the we'll
to-do young farmers of the village. His
coat collar was turned up and his cap
pulled down over his ears, for the air
was piercing cold and biting wind
was blowing. Now and then he would
walk briskly back and forth for a few
minutes, clapping his hands, which
were encased in gray woollen mittens,
in order to restore some warmth to
those almost frozen members. AS he
walked back and forth, he said several
times, half aloud to himself, Il don't
b'lieve she's comm anyway. ! s'pose
she's goin' to stay ter hum and spend
the evenin' with him." Finally he re-
sumed his old position near the corner
and assumed his previous expectant at
titude.
AS he looked down the road, man
came out of Mrs. Hawkins's boarding
house, crossed the road and walked
swiftly towards him.
AS the newcomer neared him. he
called out, "Hello, Pettengill! is that
you? Confounded cold. amt 1t! VINO
wuz yer waitin' for? Been up 10 the
scboolhouse yet?" T.,
m ,iytn IL
ed: aNo!' and added, Il saw yer
comm out of the house and thought
I'd walk up with yer"
wall! they can't do nuthin' till /
git thar" said Mr.. Obadiah Strout, the
singing-master, so we shall both be
on time. BY the way" he continued,
81 was up to Boston, today to git some
things / wanted for the concert to-
morrer night, and the minister asked
me TO buy some new music books for
the church choir, and I'm goin' up
there fust to take EN-" and 'lekiels
attention was attracted to package
that Mr.. Strout held under his arm.
"Say. Pettingill." continued Mr.Strout,
s.when yer cit up ter the schoolhouse,
tell them I'll be along in few min
( utes:'' and he started off. apparently
forgetful of 'Zekiel's declaration that
he had intended to walk up with him,
It is evident that ''Zeliiels statement
was untruthful, for his words have be.
trayed the fact that, it was not the pro-
fessor of whom he had been thinking
Ezekiel did not move from his posi-
ton until he had seen Strout turn into
the ward that led to the front door OF
the minister's house. Then he said tc
himself again, 81 don't believe she's
comm, arter all"
AS he spoke the words deep, heavy
sigh came from his great. honest heart
heard only by the leafless trees through
which the winter wind moaned as II II
sympathy.
What was going on in the little rec
schoolhouse? The occasion was the
last rehearsal of the Eastborough Sing
ing Society, which had been studylnf
vocal music assiduously for the las
three months under the direction o
Professor Obadiah Strout. and was u
give it's annual concert the following
evening at the town hall at EastboI
ough.
A modest sum had been raised b,
subscription. A big barge had beel
hired in Cottonton, and after the re
hearsal there was to be a. sleigh rid
TO EdStUOTOuSu SSHllC dLu ASSui IL
was evident from the clamor and cor
fusion that the minds of those presen
were more intent upon the ride tha
the rehearsal, and when one girl re
marked that the Professor was late
another quickly replied that. III h
didn't come at all twould be earl
enough"
There were about two score of youn
persons present, very nearly equal
divided between the two sexes. Bel
ianlin Bates was there and Robel
Wood, Cobb's twins, Emanuel How
and Samuel Hill. Among the girl
were Lindy Putnam, the best dresse
and richest girl in town, Mandy ski
ner, Tilly James, who had more beau
than any other girl in the village; til
Green sisters Samanthy and Bets
and Miss Seraphina Cotton. the villae
school-teacher.
Evidently all the members of the S
ciety had not arrived. for constant i
uuiries were being made about Hnlo
Mason and Ezekiel Pettengill. Whe
Betsy Green asked Mandy Skinner
Hiram Maxwell want comm, the Ia
ter replied that he'd probably come
when Miss Hubby and the new board'
did.
News had reacned LHe assehipias
that Arthur Scates, the best TEN
singer in. the society was sick. Line
Putnam was to sing a duet with hi
!: at the concert, and SO she asked If an
body had been to see him.
ii was up there lnis afternoon = sa
Ben Bates. land he seemed powerf
bad in the throat. Grandmoth
Scates tied an old stoclin' round b
throat and gin him a bowl OF catn
tea and he kinder thought he'd be
right tomorrer. told him you'd ha
conniption fit if he didn't show U
but Grandmother Scates shook h
head kind o. doubtful and said, II
Lords will be done. What can't
cured must be endured and | que
that's about the way twill be.
The outer door opened and Eek
Pettengill entered. The creaking
the opening door attracted the atte
ton of all When the girls saw W
it was, they ran and gathered abe
him, a dozen voices crying out, "Whe
is Hubby? We all thought she'd col
with you.
Il II l. Il. L. g.. l.. .@.xl