Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1903-12-29
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c0pyrlght lgOo.lgoa BY chas. F. plagl


where the Professor boards, is Mandy
SINNERS mother"
sYaas," said Hiram, "Mandy's faith.
err died and her mother married Jonas
Hawkins. He wasn't much account
afore he was married, but understand
that he has turned out to be rale
handy man round the boarding house
Mrs. Hawkins mighty smart woman
and she knew just what kind of man
| she wanted"
| WELL" said Quincy, II want you to
ell Mandy to see her mother as soon
Is she can. and engage the best room
hat she has left in the house for a
gentleman that expect down here
rom Boston next Monday night Here's
sen dollars, and have Mandy tell her
hat this is her weeks pay in advance
or room and board. counting from to
lay"
WAL. don't believe she'll take It,
/! said Hiram. she's a mighty smart
woman and mighty clus in money mat
tiers, but she's no skin, and / don't be
lisve she'll take ten dollars for one
weeks board and room"
/
ed Quincy, Mandy may have the bal
ance of 1t for her trouble. The mar
wants the room and he is able to pay
for it."
Then Quincy and Ezekiel went intc
the house for supper.
The next morning Quincy found that
Uncle Ike had not forgotten his prom
| Use, for he was on hand promptly
dressed for trip to Eastborough
Centre. This time they took the carry.
all and two horses and Uncle Ike
sat on the front seat with Quincy.
They reached Eastborough Centre
and found DR.. Tillotson awaiting them.
The return home was quickly made
and Uncle Ike took the doctor to the
parlor. Then he went to Alice's room
and Quincy heard them descend the
stairs. The conversation lasted for
full hour and Quincy sat in his
room thinking and hoping for the
best. Suddenly he was startled from
his reveries by a rap upon the door,
and Uncle Ike said the doctor was
ready. Quincy drove him back to
Eastborough Centre, and on the way
the doctor gave him diagnosis of the
case and his proposed treatment. He
said 1t would not be necessary for him
to see her again for three weeks. or
until the medicine that he had left
for her was gone. He would come
down again at days notice from
Quincy.
On his return Mandy told him that
Miss Alice was in the parlor and
would like to see him. AS he entered
the room she recognized his footstep,
and starting to her feet turued
towards him. He advanced to meet her
and took both her hands in his.
How can thank you, my good
friend" said she "for the interest that
you have taken in me, and how can I
repay you for the money that you have
spent?"
Quincy was at first disposed to deny
his connection with the matter, but
thinking that Uncle Ike must have
told it, he said Il don't think it was
quite fair for Uncle Ike after promis-
ing to keep SILENT"
Tt was not Uncle Ike's fault" broke
in Alice; at was nobody's fault. No
body. had told the doctor that there
was any secret about it, and SO he
spoke freely of your visit to the city,
and Of what you had said, and Of the
arrangements that you had made to
have thes treatment continued as long
as 1t produced satisfactory results.
But" continued Alice, chow can ev-
er pay you this great sum Of money
that it will cost for my treatment.
do not worry about that, Alice
said he. using her Christian name for
the second time, "the money is moth
ing. have more than I know what to
do with. and it is pleasure for me
to use it in this way, If it will be of
any benefit to you. You can repay me
at any time. You will get money from
your poems and your stories in due
time and shall not suffer If have to
wait a long time for it, God knows
Alice" and her name fell from his
lips as though he had always called
her by that name, "that If half, or ev-
en- the whole of my fortune would give
you back your sight, would give 1t
to you willingly. Do you believe me?"
And he took her hands again in his.
II believe you," she said simply.
At that moment Mandy appeared at
the door with the familiar cry, "Sup-
per's ready" and Quincy led Alice to
her old place at the table and took his
seat at her side.