Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-12-20

q blinking. soiled and tipsy company,
bois. booty as owls, a-buzzing the land
lords greasy wench, while mine host
9lmmeled them Justify. foot and fist.
So on through the cold, shadowy
street and out into the sun warmed
road again, and at last to the Hall.
That day Sir William sat in his IL
brary writing with Mr. Butler, SO there
was no school. and Peter, Esk. Silver
Heels and l went a-fishing in the river.
And did not wear my uniform for
fear Of soiling.
All day long as we sat in the grass
to watch our poles a-quiver, horsemen
from our stables passed US. galloping
east and south. doubtless bearing let
tiers from Sir William to Albany and
New York-and farther south, per-
chancellor there came one rider with
six soldiers in escort. and two led
horses well packed. all trotting and
Gathering away toward the Fort Pitt
trail.
That day was the last of the old days
for us. But how could we suspect that
as we waded in the shadows there,
laughing, chattering, splashing each
other and Quarreling to our hearts con.
tent? The familiar river, which every
freshet changed just enough to sharp
en- our eyes for new pools, slipped over
its smooth golden stones, inviting our
dusty feet. Up to our knees we moved
in the ice cold stream, climbing out
on the banks at times to warm our
legs in the sun and lie deep in the
daisies, winking at the swallows in the
sky.
We played all our old games again,
but that we played them for the last
time none Of us suspected. l held a
buttercup under Silver Heels snowy
chin to prove her love for cheese. I
played buzzing bee songs on grass
blades. / whitfield whistles for Peter
and Esk. skipped fat stones. col
ored Silver Heels toes yellow with
dandelion Juice, so she should ever aft
erward wade In gold, this at her own
desire.
Twice some tiny spotted lady beetles
perched on my hand. and Silver Heels,
to ward off threatening evil, took them
on the pink tip of her little finger, re-
peating:
"Ladybird, ladybird. ny away home!
Thy lodge Is atire! Thy babies will burnt
Which she said would save me from
torture at the stake some day.
Silver Heels and I walked back to-
gether through the evening glow, and I
remember that the windows Of our
house We're all on fire from the sun as
we climbed the hill under the splendor
of the western sky.
AS we came through the orchard I
saw Sir William sitting on the stone
seat near the beehives. His chin had
fallen on his chest both hands rested
on his cane. and over his body fell the
glory of the red sky.
He heard US as we came through the
orchard. and he raised his head to
smile welcome, but there was that in
his eyes which told me to stay there
with him after the others had trooped
in to be fed, and waited.
Presently he said: "Quider is sick.
Did you discover anything in his face
that might betoken-a-a fever?"
His face was over red" / answered,
wondering.
Sir William said nothing more. Aft.
er little while he rose, leaning on his
cane. and passed heavily under the
fruit trees toward the house
That night came our doctor, Pierson,
galloping from the village with an ur-
gent message for Sir William. Later
saw soldiers set out with bayonets on
their mnskets. and with them the doc
tor, leading his horse.
In the morning we knew that the
smallpox had seized the Cayuga and
that our soldiers patrolled Quider's
lodge to warn all men of the black
| pest.
The days which followed were busy
days for us all-days fraught with bus
tie and perple1ity; hours which hur-
ried on, crowding one on another like
pages turning in a book; turning too
swiftly for me to cipher the ominous
text
al Oh w Iii}dh . uOpcS VI ufcltlllS
war were now centered in the stricken
Cayuga. He and l haunted the neigh
borhood Of Quider's lodge. staring for
hours at the silent hut in the clearing,
Or, rambling by starlight. we watched
the candle burning in the lodge door
"a though it were the flame Of life,
now faring, now sinking in its socket.
Once when from the sentinels we
learned that Quider might live Sir Will
liam appeared almost gay, and we
. walked to little hill all silvery in the
light Of the young moon and rested
on rock.
BLACK care rides behind the horse
man, butt have dismounted," he said
lightly. "Quider will live. I warrant
you, barrtDo .s--- arrows Of outra-
geous fortune Of which you may have
heard. Michael"
EDO you say that. sir, because am
| ignorant Of the poets?" l asked.
Even women know the poets In
these days" he said, smiling. You
would not wish to know less than your
own wife, would your"