Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1903-12-08

collector if he could prevent it; he also
resolved that the same party would not
get the grocery store. if he had money
enough to outbid him; and lastly he
felt sure that he had influence enough
to prevent his being appointed post
master.
Quincy met Ezekiel at lunch He
told Quincy that everything was work
ing smoothly; that the singing-master
evidently thought he had the field all
to himself. He said Huldv and Alice
we're old friends. and Hubby was COM
ing over twice week to see Alice. and
so he shouldn't go up to Deacon Ma
sons very often.
"where is Miss Pettengill?" asked
Quincy.
well" replied Ezekiel "she isn't
used to heavy dinners at noon. so she
had a lunch up in her room. am go
ing over to Marlborough this after
noon with the boys to see some COWS
that 'Pias Smith has got to sell. The
sun is coming out and guess it will
be pleasant tho rest Of the day"
's'Bias Smith?" asked Quincy.
''FIis name is Tobias" said Ezekiel,
'sbnt everybody calls him Bias"
81 have heard of him." said Quincy.
"you lust mention my name to him
Mr. Pettengill and say I an coming
over sone day with Mr.. Stackpole to
see him"
Ezekiel smiled. Going to take a
hand yourself?" asked he.
yes" said Quincy. 1.-THE other fell
low has been playing tricks with the
pack so long that think shall throw
down a card or two myself, and may
| trump his next lead"
by the way. said 'zekiel. while
yon were away Uncle Ike had our pi-
ano tuned and fixed up. 1t hasn't been
played since Alice went to Boston five
years ago. But the tuner who came
| from Boston said it was just as good
/ as ever So if you hear any noise IN.
derneath you this afternoon you will
know what it means"
! Music never troubles me-" said
/ Quincy. II play and sing myself"
! well, l hope you and Alice viii have
a good time with the piano" remarked
Ezekiel as he left the room.
! Quincy went back to his room and
wrote a letter to a friend in Boston
! asking him to get certified copy Of
the war record of Obadiah Strout, Cor
poral til Mass. Volunteers, and SEND
it to him at Eastborough Centre as
| soon as possible 1t was many days
ton.
To 1N l<t, TO, hi rnx ~
armchair and began thinking out the
details OF his aggressive campaier
against the singing-master. He hat
disposed of his enemy in half doze1
pitched battles. when the sound OF tht
piano fell upon his ear.
! She was playing. He hoped she was
q good musician, for his taste in tha
art was critical. He had studied thu
best and he knew it when he heard i
sung or played. The piano was GOO
one, it's tone was full and melodious
and it was in perfect tune.
4 He listened intently. He looked an,
saw that he had uniiltcnticnalIy lef
the door Of his room aisr. The parlo
door, too. must he open partly, or h
coud not have heard so plainly. VIVA
was that she was playing All. Men
delssohn. Those Songs Withor
Words" were as familiar. to him as th,
I alphabet Now il is Beethoven, tina
beautiful work, The Moonlight Soma
ta," she was evidently trying to REGAL
iler favorites tc mind. for of cours
she could not be playing by note. The,
she strayed into a "yalse" by Chopin
and followed il with dashing gallo
by some unknown composer. She i
a classical musician, said Quincy t
himself, AS the first bars of Rhar
sodie Hongroise by List fell upon hi
ear. 81 hope she knows some of TIL
cid English ballads and the best of tn
popular songs" thought Quincy
AS if in answer to his wish she pls,
ed that sterling song, "'Tis but a Lii
tie Faded Flower" and Quincy listene
with pleasure to the pure, sweet sc
prano voice that rang out full an
strong and seemed to reach and pei
meate every nook and corner in tn
old homestead.
Quincy could stand it no longer. II
J stepped quietly to his door. opened
wide. and listened with delight to tn
| closing lines OF the song.
Thon she sang that song that thrile
the hearts OF thousands Of English so
/; diers in the Crimea en- the eve of tn
! battle of inliermaun Annie Laurie.
. and it was with difficulty that Quinc
} refrained from Joining in the charu.
: Surely Annie Laurie could have bee
no purer, no sWeeter, no mora beant
full, Than Alice Pettengill: and Qpirc
ielr that he could do and die for til
girl who was singing III the parlo4, "a
truly as would have the discarded sui
or who wrote the imihortel song.
But Quincy vas destined 10 be sri
; more astonished. Aliee PLAYED a shol
! prelude that seemed familiar to- hin
!, and then her voice rang cut the word