Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1903-12-03

a stern look upon his face.
MY simple question is this, Mr..
Sawyer, have you ever eaten meal
at the same table with my mothers
heiress?'
Il have never seen her." replied
Quincy coldly. He took his hat, and
with low bow quilted the house and
drove away
Indy threw herself in passion on
the sofa and burst into flood of tears.
She had played her last card and had
lost.
CHAPTER XVII.
An Informal Introduction.
When Quincy drove into the barn he
found Jim Cobb there, and he turned
the back door he passed through the
kitchen without seeing either Mandy
or Mrs. Crowley, and went slowly up
stairs. The house was very quiet. He
remembered that Uncle Ike had gone
to Eastborough Centre and Ezekiel had
gone to Deacon Mason's. 1t was nee
essary for him to pass the door of the
room occupied by Alice Pettengill in
order to reach his own room. The
door of her room was open. He invol-
unfairly glanced in and then stood still.
What vision was this that met his
eye? The sun, now dropping to the
westward, threw it's rays in at the win
dow and they fell upon the head of the.
young girl seated beside it. *
The hair was golden in the sunlight,
that real golden that is seldom seen
excepting on the heads of young chill
dreD. She seemed slight in figure,bu
above the average stature. She wore
a loose-fitting dress of light blue mate
rial, faced down the front with white,
and over her shoulders was thrown
small knitted shawl of light pink col
or. Quincy could not see her face, ex-
cept in profile. for it was turned to-
wards the window. but the profile was
a striking one. He turned to step for
ward and enter his own room. AS he
did SO the board upon which he stood
creaked. He stopped again suddenly,
hoping that the noise would not attract
her attention, but her quick ear had
caught the sound. and, rising, she ad-
vanced towards the door, her hands
extended before her.
is that you, Uncle Ike?? she asked
in clear, sweet voice. II heard you
drive in"
She had started in straight line
towards the door. but for some cause,
perhaps the bright light coming from
the wood fire in the open fireplace. she
swerved in her course and would have
walked directly towards the blazing
wood had not Quincy rushed forward
caught her by the hand and stopped
her further progress, saying as he did
so, Miss Pettengill, You will set your
dress on fire"
@You are not Uncle Ike" said she,
quickly. "He could not walk as fast
as that. Who are YOU? You must
know me, for you called me by name"
Quincy replied. "Under the circum-
stances, Miss Pettengill. | see no way
but to introduce myself. l am your
brothers. boarder, and my name is
SAWYER"
4 am pleased to meet you, Mr.. Saw
yer" said she, extending her hand.
which Quincy took, 81 feel acquainted
with you already, for Uncle Ike speaks
of you very often, and Ezekiel said you
used to board at Deacon Mason's.
| Don't you think Hubby is lovely girl?"
Quincy avoided this direct question
and replied. "Uncle Ike has been equal
~ kind in speaking of his niece, Miss
Pettengill, so that feel acquainted
with her even without this.-I was go
| ing to say formal introduction.-but
think that we must both confess it was
rather informal"
| Alice laughed merrily won't you
| sit down. Mr.. Sawyer? have been
alone nearly all day. and have really
been very lonesome"
l n.
| for chair. Quincy sprang forward,
placed large rocking chair before the
fire. then, taking her hand saw her
safely ensconced in it, He then took
a seat in large armchair at the end
of the fireplace nearest the door.
"Thank you. Mr.. Sawyer" said Alice.
Everybody has been SO kind to me
since have had this trouble. with my
eyes. OF course Ezekiel has told you
about it.
/ Yes" assented Quincy.
! He really did not care to talk He
was satisfied to sit and look at her
and he could do this with impunity, for
she could not see his earnest gazefiXed
upon her.
II have been used to an active life,'
Sdiu flHC. nave Hdu my DuSluSSs
to attend to every day, and evenings
had my books, papers, pictures, and
music. At first it seemed so hard to
be shut out from them all, but years
ago Uncle Ike taught me to be a phi
llosopher and to take life as it came
without constantly fretting or finding
fault. Uncle Ike says, lit is not work
but worry that wears men out That's
why he came down here to live in the
woods. He said they wouldn't let him
work and SO he worried all the time
but when he came here he had plenty
to do, and in his work he found happi
ness"
II am learning good lesson" sait
Quincy with laugh. II have studied
much, but | actually never did days
work in all my life, Miss Pettengill'
Then you are to be pitied,, sale
Alice frankly; 4but see l should MOI
blame you, you are studying now anc
getting ready TO work.
Perhaps So" Quincy remarked
"My father wishes me to be a lawyer
but detest reading law, and have nj
inclination to follow in my fathers
footsteps
~