Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1903-12-12
CHAPTER xxI1-(continued.)

Quincy thought the fates had favor
ed him in imposing upon him such a
pleasant task. But where was she,
and what could he do to mus her?
Then he thought, "We a sing togeth-
er as we did yesterday"
He went down stairs to the parlor,
thinking she might be there, but the
room was empty. The fire was low,
but the supply of wood was ample,
and in a short time the great room
was warm and comfortable. Quincy
seated himself at the piano, played a
couple of pieces and then sang a coup
lie; he did not think while singing the
second song that he had possibly tran
scended propriety, but when he sang
the closing lines of "Alice, Where Art
Thou?" it suddenly dawned upon him,
and, full of vexation, he arose and
walked to the window and looked out
upon the bowling storm.
Suddenly he heard a sweet voice say
81 am here" And then a low laugh
reached his ear.
Turning, he saw Alice standing in
the middle of the room, while Man
dy's r~etreating figure showed who had
been her escort. Her brother Ezekiel
had rugged a bell wire from her room
to the kitchen, SO that she could call
Mandy when she needed her assist
ance.
II beg your pardon. Miss Pettangill,"
said Quincy, advancing towards her.
.sThe song has always been a fhvorite
of mine, but / never thought of its per-
sonal application until l reached the
closing words. | trust you do not
think I was so presuming as to
Alice smiled and said, THE song is
also a favorite one of mine. MIR. Saw
yer, and you sang it beautifully. No
apologies are needed, for the fact is
was just saying to myself, .Mr. SAWYER,
where are you?' for Ezekiel told
me that he was going to speak to you
and ask you to help me drive away
those lonesome feelings that always
come to me on a day like this. I can
not see the storm, but I can hear it
and feel it."
AS Quincy advanced towards her he
saw she held several sheets of paper
in her hand.
81 am at your service" said he. 81
am only afraid that your requirements
will exceed my ability"
Very prettily spoken" said Alice
as Quincy led her to q seat by the fire
and took one himself. II an going tC
confess to you," said she, zone of my
criminal acts. I am going to ask you
to sit as judge and mete cut what you
consider a suitable punishment for my
offence"
What crime have you committed?'
asked Quincy gravely.
Alice laughed, shook the papers she
held in her hand, and said, II have
written poetry"
1.-THE crime is a great one." sait
Quincy. But ii the p betry be goot
1t may serve to mitigate your sentence
Are those the evider res of your crime
you hold in your hand, Miss Petten
gill?"
i.Yes," she answered, as she passed
a written sheet to him; Il wrote then
before my eyes failed sme. Perhaps
you will find it hard 10 read them
Which one is that?" she asked.
TT is headed, On tha, Banks of th,
Tallahassee" replied Quincy.
"Oh!" cried Alice, II didn't writ,
that song myself. A g entleman friend
who is now dead, was the author of ii
But he couldn't write d. chorus and h
asked me to do it for him. The ide'
of the chorus is moonlight on the ,riy
err"
AShaIl L read jt2 asked Quincy.
aOnly the chorus part, if yo,
please" replied Alicea land be as len!
emit as you can, goeil Mr.. Judge,tfo
that was my first offence"
Quincy, in q sin1oth, even voice
read the following words:
The moons bright rays,
In a silver maize,
Fall or the rushing river;
Each ray Of light
Like an arrow white
Drawn from a crystal culver.