Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-01-21

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fore the lights in the Pettengill house
were extinguished 1t was past mid
night when Quincy sought his room
at Mrs. Hawkins's boarding house and
the picture of Alice Pettengill, that he
had purloined so long ago, stood on a
little table at the head of his bed,
leaning against large family Bible,
which he found in the room.
The next morning he was up early
and visited the grocery store. Mr..
Strout and Hiram both assured him
that business had picked UP amazing
ly and was really splendid. The
new wagons were building up trade
very fast. Billy Kicker went over to
Montrose for orders Monday, Wednes-
day and Friday mornings and deliv-
gave Abbott Smith a chance to post up
the books on those days for he had
been made bookkeeper He went to
Eastborough Centre and Westvale, the
new name given to West Eastborough
at the last town meeting, Tuesday
Thursday and Saturday mornings. He
delivered goods on the afternoons of
those days, which gave him an oppor-
tunity to spend Sunday at hime with
his father and his family
(Chapter XxXV Continued.)
When Quincy reached the Pettengill
house, Mrs. Maxwell informed him
that Miss Pettengill was in the parlor
alone. After greeting Alice. Quincy
asked, "But where is Miss Very?"
II told her should not need her
services until after had seen you, !"
she replied. II have question to ask
you Mr.. Sawyer, and know you will
give me truthful answer. What led
your aunt to invite me to come and
visit herr"
Quincy knew that Alice had been
considering the matter, and this one
simple question, to which she expected
a truthful answer, was the Crucial
test
He did not hesitate in replying. If
he did, he knew the result would be
fatal to his hopes.
only the promptings of her own
good nature She, is one of the warm
est hearted women in the world,,' con-
tinued Quincy. II will tell, you just
how it happened / told her had found
an assistant to help you in your work,
and that the next thing was to fix upon
place for a summer residence. l
asked her opinion and after consider
ing the advantages and disadvantages
of a score of places she finally set
tied upon Nantucket as being the most
desirable. Then she said, While you
are finding a place and getting. it
ready for them, ask Miss Pettengill to
come and visit me and bring her
friend. Tell her that I am rich as
far as money goes, but poor in love
and companionship. Tell them both
that shall love to, have them come
and will do everything can to make
their visit pleasant one Those were
her words as nearly as can remember
them" and Quincy waited silently for
the decision.
1t soon came. Alice went TO him and
extended her hand. which Quincy took.
Tell her. said Alice in her quiet
way, that thank her very much and
that we will come
How soon?" inquired Quincy anx.
/ iously and rather abruptly.
"In few days." replied Alice 81
can get ready much sooner with Miss
Very to help me-
She withdrew the hand, which had
! unconsciously allowed to remain in his
SO long, and slight flush mounted to
her cheek for Quincy had equally I'm.
consciously given it a gentle pres.
sure as he relinquished it.
II must do up these proofs" said
he, going to the table. l will get the
next train to Boston. | will be back
tomorrow noon, and in the afternoon
will drive over to Montrose about that
deed of the Putnam house. know
Aunt Ella will be delighted to hear
4 that you are coming" But he said
nothing about his own delight at be
4 ing the bearer of the tidings.
When he had gone, Alice sat in he1
chair as she has many time before
and thought. AS she sat there she re
allied more strongly than she had ev
er done that if Fate was marking out
her course. it had certainly chosen as
its chief instrument the masterfu
young man who had just left her.
The remainder of that day a.d the
morning of the next, Alice spent ir
debating to Rosa a crude general out
line of Blennerhasset During the work
she was Obliged naturally, to address
Rosa many times and uniformly called
her Miss Very. Finally Rosa said:
wouldn't You just as soon call me
Rosa? Miss Very seems so stiff and
formal"
Il hope you will not consider me un
companionable pr set in my ways re
marked Alice. I'VE are working. you
know, and not playing" she continued