Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-04-19
HIS WINTON
SLOW ~ z SIS
BY HARRIET
G. CANFIELD
Copyright, 1903, by T. G. Mcclure

"the Winton slowness" was responsible
for the feud. Beyond doubt the pres
ent Wintons-father and son-were
slow of speech and movement. Mrs.
Winton and Sue did not share in 'the
family falling"
When Amos Albright's wife had died
he had persuaded a younger brother to
move in and run the farm'-they
were two miles out of town-and Grace
who was then fifteen, was sent east to
a young ladies' seminary. During her
four years absence from Highmead
her once vivid rccollections of the en-
nifty between the Albrights and Win
tons grew dim and shadowy. When,
on the day following graduation, she
was invited to spend week at class
mates home it was with no feeling of
apprehension that she heard her friend
say, Brother George has asked Jack
Winton to come down with him from
Harvard, and we shall be quite gay"
The Wintons that She knew had
son, but his name was John. This
young man proved to be well built, self
EcSSSSSSSi
Winton had been long, lank, freckled
boy, very bashful, she remembered.
To be sure there was certain drawl
in her new acquaintance speech,
which reminded her of that boy" but
perhaps all Wintons were slow spoken,
The four young people thoroughly
enjoyed the week they spent together,
and it was with delight that Jack Win
ton discovered on the eve Of his de-
parture that Miss Albright's destina-
ton was the same as his own, ''I'm
glad that we travel together" he said.
Eyes Grace assented hesitatingly.
Jacks face flushed, and he turned to
his host with the explanation, Miss
Albright has just recognized an old en-
ulny in your humble servant"
'Oh, no" Grace protested. eff our
fathers are roes We need not be-" And
she held out her hand to him, with
friendly little gesture.
During the three days journey west
ward their friendship progressed rap
idly. They were In the midst of one of
many animated conversations when
Mr.. Amos Albright boarded the train
at X, station some thirty miles from
Highmead. Grace saw him coming
down the aisle,
There is father" she said hurriedly.
/ He'll not recognize you, I'm sure! 1
believe I'll introduce you as, Mr.. Jack"
When Mr. Albright bent to kiss his
daughters uplurned face he looked
keenly at the young man beside her.
sAIr. Jack, father" Grace murmured
and blushed guiltily when the two
men shook hands gravely, and Jack
offered the newcomer his seat.
"Pll move opposite" he said in his
pleasant drawl, "if you don't object"
Before they reached Highmead he
found himself drawn into the conversa-
ton. To his daughters delight Mr.. AL
bright seemed to enjoy talking with
her friend. Sensible young manv' he
said to Grace when Jack went into the
| smoking car just before the train pull
| ed into Highmead On the homeward
drive he spoke of him again. 1--WE sell
dom met a young man." he said, "as
| intelligent as Mr.. Jack. Queer name
! isn't it? If my eyes We're shut while he
was talking I'd declare he was Win
! tom
'He is, father" Grace confessed. "He
is Mr.. Jack Winton.'
Amos Albright looked at his daugh-
ter for moment in dumb amazement.
"I'm sorry" he said at last, "but that
settles him.
| Jack Winton refused to be thus sum-
marily settled" The next day he
(! came to call and was received so coldly
by his unwilling host that he knew at
once that his identity had been re-
venled
"N1r. Albright" he said in his DELHI
crate way, Pm Winton, as you've evil
! IDENTIFY discovered, but the Wintons are
not such bad lot, after ALL Aren't
| you bit prejudiced?"
''Not a whit more than your father
/ Is" Mr.. Albright said stif1ly.
/ eyes, know. Mother and Sue hadn't
a word to say when | spoke of calling
here but the pater raised a storm-al-
most forbade me to come. Really, now,
what have you against me-the Win.
| ION SlOWneSS
Yes. l hate a laggard in anything.
| That's enough to condemn you, sir! My
daughter can receive you, if she wishes,
| whenever you may call, but | must ask
! you to excuse me now-and always" A
! chilling request, but Jack went away
! happy in the thought that Grace still
considered him as Il friend and had
! asked him to come again.
j In spite Of the enmity between the
heads of the two houses Mrs. Winton
/ and her daughter were exchanging
| calls with Grace Albright before tho
i summer waned. Amos Albright still
disapproved of Jack. though he could
| discover nothing Objectionable in his
/ conduct The young man seemed to
be an able assistant to his father. who
was at the head of we'll established
business. Blood will tell" he said to
i himself, 'and the old Winton slowness
will crop, CIT. some day" When Jack
I came one evening in October with the
not unexpected request for his rlaugh
\ ter's hand. he said impressively:& "If
\ Grace loves you. and she imagines she
i does, ! will consider your, proposal care