Ottumwa tri-weekly courier., 1903-11-26

Dut it never entered my mind until |
ate yesterday afternoon, and then it
was called to my attention by strang-
sr. am glad have this chance to
speak to you, Mr.. Mason, for while
have had a very enjoyable time here,
have decided to find another board
Ing place, and / shall leave just as
soon as make the necessary arrange
ments."
The Deacon was little crestfallen
at having the business taken out of
his hands SO quickly, and saying he
was very sorry to have the young man
go, he sought his wife and told her
everything was fixed up and that Mr..
Sawyer was going away.
Quincy started to leave the house by
the front door; in the hallway he met
Hubby, who had just come down stairs.
He had asked her to go to ride with
him that day, and as he looked at her
pretty face he vowed to himself that
he would not be deprived Of that pleas
ure. 1t could do no harm, for 1t would
be their last ride together and proba.
bly, their last meeting.
He said, Good morning, Miss Ma
SON. and then added with that tone
which the society belle considers a
matter of course, but which is so pleas
ing to the village maiden, you look
charming this morning, Miss Mason.
don't think our ride today could
make your cheeks any redder than
they are now" Huldy blushed, MAX
ing her cheeks still deeper crimson.
II will be here at one o'clock with the
team" said Quincy. Will you be
ready"
'Yes," answered Huldy softly.
Quincy raised his hat, and moment
later he was on his way to Eastbor-
ough Centre.
He walked briskly and thought he
would stop at Uncle Ike's and carry
out the resolution he had made the
night before, but as he turned up the
path that led to the house he saw a
man standing on the steps talking to
Uncle Ike, who stood in the doorway.
The young man was Ezekiel Pettengill.
Shakespeare says,
"'Tis conscience that makes cow
ards of us ALL" and although Quincy
at heart was gentleman, he also
knew that it was not quite right for
him to take Miss Mason out riding
again under the circumstances; but
young men are often stubborn and
Quincy felt a little stiff-necked and re.
bellious that morning.
| He reached Eastborough Centre
mailed his father the letter relating to
Jim Sawyer. and going to the stable
picked out the best rig it could supply
He always had the same horse. 1t was
somewhat small in size, but very
plump, white mare; she was a good
roadster and it was never necessary tc
touch her with the whip. Shake it ir
the stock and she would not forget il
for the next two miles. The stable
keeper told with much JUNCTION how
two fellows hired her to go from East
borough Centre to Montrose. On theil
way home they had drunk quite freely
at the latter place, and thought they
would touch the mare up with thu
whip; they were in an open team ant
the result was that she left them a
different points along the road ant
reached home with no further impedi
ment to her career than the shafts ant
the front wheels.
/ Instead of4coming back by the mail
4 road which led by Uncle Ike's, Quinc.
went through by what was called Th
/ Willows, which increased the distanc
a couple of miles Nevertheless,
lacked five minutes ofone o'clock whel
he drove up to Deacon Mason's from
door.
Hubby was all dressed for the occa
sion, and with ''Goodby, mother" t
Mrs. Mason, who was in the kitchen
was out the front door, helped int
the team, and they were off Just as tn
startled matron reached the parlc
window. Mrs. Mason returned to tn
kitchen and at that moment the Des
con came in from the barn.
Whats the matter. mother?" aske
the Deacon. noticing her excited an
somewhat troubled look
!, "Huldy is gone out riding agai
with Mr.. Sawyer" said she.
The Deacon was good Christia
man and didn't swear but he was ev
IDENTIFY thinking deeply. Finally b
said, "Well, mother. we must make th
, best of it, I'll help find him boar,
ing place If he don't get one by tomo
! row."
They had splendid drive. The a
|, was cool, but not biting, the sun Wa
= I w ti Ill, luS IOetuS udu uIleu up SlIlCG5 VI
recent thaw, which had removed th
+ snow, with the exception of SON
patches in the fields. and the hig
/, topped buggy rolled smoothly over I'll
!, ground.
They passed through the lit
: square in front of Hills grocery, an
+ as luck would have it. Professor, Stro,
!, was standing on the platform smokir
!, a cigar. Hubby smiled and nodded
; him, and Quincy. with true politenes
: followed city custom and raised h
!. hat. but the Professor did not retui
the bow, nor the salute. but turning {
I his heel walked into the grocery stor
q Professor Strout is not very polit
}. is he, Mr.. Sawyer?" asked Hult
n laughing.
Z Quincy replied, looking straieI
ahead, "He has never learned the fir
S letter in the alphabet of the art"
Quincy had a disagreeable duty
perform. He enjoyed Miss Hubby
}. company, but she was not the sort