Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-01-07
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.copyrlght l9Oo.l9os BY chas. :. plari,
CHAPTER xXXI-(Continued.)


her .withered hands in hers, and ca
ressed them lovingly, saying, "Aunt
Heppy, am sorry you are so sick.
Have you had the doctor?"
The old lady drew the young girls
head down close to her and kissed her
upon the cheek. 1.-THE doctor kin do
me no good. I've sent fer yer becuz
I know yer love me, and wanted to
know that one person would be sorry
when 1 wuz gone
'Im so sorry said Alice, "that /
cannot see to help you, but you are not
going to die; you must have the doc
tor at once"
No." said Mrs. Putnam, II want
to die, want to see my boy. l sent
Ger yen becuz wan.ed to tell you that
l am goin' to leave this house and
farm and all my money to you"
ITO mel" cried Alice, astonished.
why, how can you talk SO, Aunt Hep
py? You have a daughter, who is
-FOUR legal heir; how could you ever
think of robbing your own flesh and
blood other inheritance?"
She's no flesh and blood Of mine!"
What" cried Alice, isn't Indy
your own child?" -
NO." said Mrs. Putnam savagely.
"Silas and me didn't think we'd have
any children, so. we 'dopted her jest
afore we moved. down from New
Hampshire and settled in this town."
do you know who her parents
were?' inquired Alice.
Alice, what did you do with that
letter / gave you the las time you
were here?" A
1T is locked up in my writing desk
at home" answered Alice.
What did yer promise to do with
1t 2" said Mrs. Putnam.
Il promised" replied Alice, mot to
let any one see It,, and to destroy 1t
within twenty-four hours after your
death"
I "And you will keep yer promise?"
asked the old woman.
sMy word is sacred, !" said Alice sol.
EMMY.
Alice Pettengill,' cried Mrs. Put
shall be sorry that ever loved you; I
ess. And her voice rose to sharp,
shrill tone. .I'll haunt you as long as
you live"
I A1O gil oil dAh UtlCh ASl
Don't mind a poor old woman
whose hours are numbered, but you'll
keep yer promise, won't yer, Alice?"
And she grasped both Alice's hands
convnlsively.
Aunt Heppy," said Alice, "I've Civ
en- you my promise, and I'll keep my
word whatever. happens. So don't
worry any more about it, Auntie."
For few moments Mrs. Putnam re.
NAMED quiet; then she spoke in clear
even tones. Not word was lost upon
Alice. "This adopted daughter of
mine has been curse to me ever since
/ knew her. She was two years older
than Jones. They grew UP together
as brother and sister, but she wasn't
satisfied with that, she fell in love
with my son, and she made him love
her. She turned him agin his mother
She found out there was no law agin
mans marryin' his adopted sister.
We mad to send him away from home,
but she followed him. She wuz goin'
to elope with him, but got wind Of it,
and Isstopped that; then Jones died
away from home and left her all his
money. He wuz SO bitter agin me
that he put in his will that she was
not to touch a dollar of my money, but
better that than to have her marry
him. l stopped that" and the old
woman chuckled to herself Then her
mood changed. Such marriage
would "a been a sin agin God and
man." she said sternly. "She robbed
me of my son, my only boy, but I'll git
even with her. I told her no, that she
was a waif picked up in a New Hamp-
shire road, but lied to her. l had to-"
"But do you know who they were?"
said Alice.
Certainly ! do said Mrs. Putnam;
chat letter you've got, and that yer
promised to; destroy, tells all about
'em, but she shall never see it. Never!
Never! Never!!!
Again she rose to sitting posture,
and again that, wild, mocking laugh
rang through the house. Indy still
lying upon her bed in her room, heard
it, shuddered, and covered her ears
with her hands to shut out the terrible
sound Samanthy, in the kitchen,
heard it, and saying to herself. Mrs.
Putnam has gone crazy, and only that
blind girl with her." ran upstairs.
When Mrs. Putnam uttered that wild
laugh, Alice started from her chair
with beating heart and a frightened
look upon her face. AS the door OPP
ened and Samanthy entered, Alice
stepped forward. She could not see
who it was, but supposing it was Lin
dy, she cried out, ooh, Indy, I'm SO
glad you've come!
Mrs. Putnam had fallen back ex-
hausted upon her pillow; when she
heard the name Lindy she tried to rise
again, but could not. But her indomit-
able spirit still survived.
So you've come back, have your"
she shrieked. "Yer couldn't let me die
in peace. You want to hear more, do
you? Well, I'll tell you the truth.
know who your parents are, but de-
stroyed the letter; it's burned. That's
what had fire built for this mornin'
You robbed me of my son and I've got
even with YER" The old woman point
ed her finger at poor Samanthy who
stood petrified in the doorway, and
shrieked again, Sol" and she pointed
her withered finger toward the door,
and hunt for your parents"
The astonished Samanthy finally
plucked up courage to close the door;
she ran to Lindy's room and pounded
y1pop tha dior until Tindy was forced