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

Now you are vexed with me for
speaking so plainly" said Alice.
Not at all, Quincy replied. Il
thank you for it. / have learned from
Uncle Ike that frankness of speech and
honesty of heart are Pettengill charac-
teristics."
"You might add" said Alice, firm
ness in debate, for none of us like to
own up that we are beaten. / remem-
Der years ago Uncle Ike and had a
long discussion as to whether it were
better to be stone blind or stone deaf.
took the ground that it was better to
be blind, for one could hear music and
listen to the voices of friends, and
hear the sound of approaching danger,
and then, besides, everybody is so kind
to person who is blind. But you see
Uncle Ike don't care for music, and
had rather talk to. himself than listen.
so he decided that it was best to be
stone deaf, for then he could read and
write to his friends. But of course
neither of us gave in. and the question,
so far as we are concerned, is still I'M
settled
At that moment the sound of team
was heard, and few minutes later
Uncle Ike came upstairs, followed by
the driver of the team bearing a big
basket and large bundle. These
contained Uncle likes purchases.
"Wait minute and l will go up
stairs with you" called out Uncle Ike
to the man He entered the room, and
looking somewhat surprised at seeing
Quincy. he said somewhat sharply, so
on two have got acquainted, have you?
I have been waiting for two days to
introduce you"
81 am greatly indebted to Mr.. Saw
yer" said Alice. when he passed
my door, which was open, thought it
was you and started forward to meet
you, but I missed my way and was
walking directly towards the fire, when
Mr. SAWYER interposed.
had it been me- said Uncle Ike. ESQ
/ don't see as you were in any real dam
ger"
Quincy thought that it was notice
ably evident that the Pettengills were
noted for plainness of speech.
Here are three letters for you Alice,
and here is one for you. Mr.. Sawyer.
thought would bring it over to you
as met Asa Waters down to the post
Office and he said you'd started for
home. I'll be down in few minutes
Alice, and read your letters for you"
| And Uncle Ike showed the man the
way up to bis domicile.
| Quincy arose, expressed his pleasure
at having met Miss Pettengill. and pre-
suming they would meet again at din
ner. took his leave.
! The letter was from Quincy's father.
/ 1t was short, but was long enough to
cause Quincy to smother an oath crush
| the letter in his hands and throw it
| into the open fire. The flames touched
it, and the strong draught took it still
ablaze up the wide-mouthed chimney.
But Quincy's unpleasant thought did
not go with it. The letter had said,
"Ouinnebaug stock has dropped off five
points. Foss & Tollansbee have writ
ten Miss Putnam that she must put up
$4,000 to cover margin. Better see
her at once and tell her the drop is
only temporary, and the stock is sure
to recover"
Quincy sat down in his easy-chair,
1 facing the fire, upon which he put
some more wood, which snapped and
cracked.
81 won't go near that girl again,
said he, with determined look upon
his face The next moment he had
banished Indy Putnam from his mind
and was thinking of that other girl
who was sitting not six feet from him
/ He could hear Uncle likes voice, and
he knew Alices letters We're being
read to her Then he fell into a reverie
as the twilight shadows gathered
round him. AS the room grew darker
the fire grew brighter, and in it he
could seem to see picture of fair
haired girl sitting in chair and lis
tening with evident interest to young
man who was reading to her from a
4 newspaper.
The young girl placed her hand upor
his arm and asked question. The
young man dropped the paper and gaz
ed into the girls face with look full
of tenderness. and placing one of his
hands upon that of the young gir
Iclasped it fondly, and Quincy saw that
the face of this yclng man was his
own. He sat there until there came q
loud rap upon the door and Mandy's
voice called out, "Suppers ready"
ITO be Continued Saturday,