Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-01-19

|
double rent this coming week for it
SO happened my week ended last
night"
Lodging house Keepers said Quin-
cy, seem to be class by themselves
ana TO nave peculiar financial and NOR
al codes. Here We are at the station, !"
he added, as the carriage came to a
stop.
AS Quincy handed Rosa from the
carriage his observant eye noticed
that the hand placed in his was small
and well gloved, while the equally
small feet We're encased in a pair Of
dainty boots. ''She is true to her
French ORIGIN" he soliloquized as they
entered the station, -"well booted and
well gloved. | am glad she is lady"
The train was soon on it's way to
Eastborough. 1t was an accommoda-
ton and Quincy had plenty of time
to point out objects of interest on the
way. Rosa was not lover of the
country. She acknowledged this to
Quincy, saying that she was born and
educated in the country, but that she
preferred paved streets and brick side
walks to green lanes and dusty roads.
| Alice had not waited for Quincy's
return to breach the matter Of the gift
of the Putnam house to Ezekiel and
Hubby. She had simply asked Quincy
SO as to assure herself that there was
no legal objection or reason why she
should not make the transfer.
After breakfast the next morning
she told her uncle that she wished too
have talk with him in the parlor,and
when they were alone together, she
stated her intentions to him, as she
had to Quincy. The old gentleman
approved Of her plan, only suggesting
that it should be swap; that is, that
Ezekiel should deed the house in
which they were, in which, in fact,she
owned a half interest, to her, SO she
would be sure of home in case she
lost part of her money or all of it, or
wished to live in the country.
Most opportunity Ezekiel and Hull
dy came over that morning to make
a call and the matter was soon under
discussion in family conclave.
Ezekiel at first, objected strenuous
~ to the gift. He would buy the
house. he said and pay SO much a year
on it but both Alice and Uncle Ike
protested that it was foolish for
young couple to start in life with such
heavy debt hanging over them.
The only circumstance that led him
to change his mind and agree to ac-
cept the Putnam home as a gift was
Uncle likes suggestion that he deed
the Pettengill homestead to Alice, and
pay her all he received for the pro-
ducts from the present Pettengill farm
but Ezekiel would not accept any loan.
He said that Deacon Mason had given
his daughter $4,000 outright and that
would be all the cash they would need
to stock and carry on both the farms.
Then Ezekiel said he might as we'll
settle on who was to live in the two
houses. He knew that Cobbs twins
would like to stay with him, and he
would take them up to the Putnam
house with him. Mrs. Pinkham had
been hired blythe executors to remain
with Samanthy until some one came
to live in the house. Ezekiel said Sa-
manthy was a a good girl and he and
Hubby both liked her, and he felt pref
ty sure she'd be willing to live with
them, because she was used to the
house and as it was the only one she'd
ever lived in it would seem like 60
ing away from home if she left there
and went somewhere else.
Then Ezekiel was of the opinion that
Abbott Smith and Billy Kicker had
better board with Hiram and Mandy
because the grocery teams and horses
would have to be kept in the Petten-
gill barn. as there was no stable to the
grocery store. s'Twon't be stealin'
anythin' from Mrs. Hawkins if they
don't board with her, cuz none of 'em
ever lived with her afore.'
Don't you think, Ezekiel" asked
Hubby chat Uncle Ike ought to come
down stairs and have a better room?
1t will be awful hot up there in the
summer. Alice and used to play up
there and in July and August it was
hot enough to roast eggs, wasn't it,
Alice?"
Alice. thus appealed to, said it might
| have been hot enough, but she was
positive that they never did roast any
UP there, although she remembered
setting the attic floor on fire one day
with a burning glass. Ezekiel remem-
bered that, too, and how they had
to put new ceilings on two rooms be-
cause he used SO much water to put
the fire out.
When Uncle Ike got chance to
speak, he said to Hubby, Thank you,
my dear Mrs. Pettengill," with a
strong accent on the Mrs. which made
Hubby blush rosy red, "but l wouldn't
swap my old attic for. all the rest of
1 the rooms in the house. My old
blood requires warmth and can stand
ninety-six without asking for fan.
When come up to see you you can
put me in one of your big square
rooms, but shant stay long. because
l do not like them.
The noise of wheels was heard and
Hubby ran to the window to look out.
ooh, its Mr.. Sawyer" said she, and
he's got young lady with him and
she's got trunk. wonder who she
is?. Do you know Alice?"
81 don't know who she is" replied
Alice; "but can imagine what she's
here for"
is it a secret?' asked Hubby.
mo, not exactly a secret" replied
Alice. IT'S a business matter. l
have a great many things to be read
over to me. and considerable writing
to do, and as Mr.. Sawyer is going
away, | was obliged to have some one