Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-01-14

and when he was strongest in the
hearts of the people.
Your question reminds me-" contin-
ued Aunt Ella, "of something had in
mind to say to you at some future day,
but | may as well say it now How
much money have you, Quincy, and
what is your income?"
Father gave me $4,000 outright
when was 81; it pays on an average
s per cent. Besides this he allows me
$4,000 a year for supposed profession
al services rendered in his law office. !"
That makes $4,000 a year." said
Aunt Ella quickly well, I'll allow
you $4,000 more year, and the day
you are married I'll give you as much
outright as your father did. That's
unconditional. Now, conditionally,
if you bring your wife here and live
with me YOU shall have rooms and
board free, and I'll leave you every
dollar possess when I'm through with
it. Don't argue with me now" she
continued, as Quincy essayed to speak.
think it over tell her about It. You
will do as you please, of course, but
shall not change my mind on this
point"
Didn't your husband leave any rel
atives that might turn up and prevent
any such disposition of your prop
erty?"
when we married, Robert said he
was alone in the world" replied Aunt
Ella; ''he had no sisters, and only one
brother named Charles. Charles was
an artist; he went to Paris to study
about thirty-five years ago. From
there he went to London. Some thir-
ty years ago Robert got letter from
him in which he was going to return
to America. Robert waited, but he did
not come; then he wrote again to his
English address, but the letter was re-
turned with the words Gone to Amer
lea endorsed thereon
WAS he married." inquired Quincy,
Robert never knew" said Aunt FL
la, but he imagined not, as Charlie,
as he called him, never spoke in his let
tiers of being in love, much less of be-
ing married.
Quincy caught the 8 o'clock train to
Eastborough Centre, and Ellis Smith,
another son of Bias Smith, who had
taken the hotel carriage in place of
his brother Abbott, drove him home.
A few days thereafter invitations TO
the wedding of Ezekiel Pettengill and
Hulda Ann Mason were sent broadcast
through Eastborough Centre. West
Eastborough, Mason's Corner and
Montrose. Then it was decided by the
gossips that Ezekiel was going to have
Mr.. Sawyer and Hiram Maxwell and
Sam Hill to stand up with him, while
Hubby Ann was going to have Alice
Pettengill, Mandy Skinner, and lilly
James as bridesmaids.
The whole town turned out when the
two gaudy wagons, with their hand
some horses and fine harness reached
Marlborough Centre, and a. number of
Centre folks followed the unique pro.
cession over to Mason's Corner. One
of the wagons contained the new sign,
which was soon put in place, and was
a source of undiSguised admiration for
a long time.
On April 10, Strout & Maxwell's two
Centre and returned about noon heay-
lily loaded, followed by three other
teams from the Centre equally well
filed Then Mr. Obadiah strout could
contain himself NO longer. He let the
cat out of the bag, and the news
spread like wildfire over the village
and was soon carried to Marlborough
Centre and to Montrose. The Mason's
Corner church was to have new or
gan, a present from Mr. Sawyer, and
Professor Obadiah Strout had been
engaged to officiate for one year.
April 10 was fixed for Huldy's wed.
ding day. The hour was 10 in the
morning. AS early as s o'clock teams
began to arrive from north, east, south
and west. Enough invitations had
been issued to fill the church, and by
$3.50 every seat was taken.
The little church was profusely deco
rated with vines, ferns and potted
plants, while wealth of cut flowers
adorned the altar, the front of the new
organ, which rose towering to the very
top of the church, and the pews re
served for the bridal party.
Outside the edifice hundreds Of
sightseers, not honored with invita-
lions, lined both sides of the spacious
Square in front of the church, and oc
cupied position of vantage on the
steps.
1t lacked but ten minutes of TO- The
sexton rung a merry peal from the
|sweet-toned bell, which was the pride O
the inhabitants of Mason's Corner
Within the church the ushers, having
attended to the seating of the audi
ence, stood just within the door await
ing the arrival of the bride and groom
They were in dress suits, with white
gloves, and each had white rose il
his buttonhole. Robert Wood ant
Cobb's twins had been assigned to The
right of the centre aisle, while Abbot
Smith, Benjamin Bates, and Emmanu
ell Howe had charge of the left side
of the edifice. If any noticed the alb
sence Of Samuel Hill and Hiram Max
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