Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-12-17

Mtcky, Wildt are 10u 8dytngf"
and only lacked years and titles and
wealth and reputation to make me de-
sirable for her.
II believe Also" she said, that Aunt
Molly means that we marry. Betty
says SO, and she is wiser than black
cat"
WELL" said I, 1--WE can't marry, can
we, Silver Heels?"
"Why, no." she said simply; there's
all those things you lack"
And all those things which you
lack" said I sharply. "Now, Marie
Livingston
"she is older than Tn cried Silver
Heels.
"And those things lack come with
yearsY' retorted.
''That is true" she answered. "You
IRE suitable for me excepting your
years, which includes all you ought to
be-
Suppose you wait for me-" pro-
| posed. IF wed not Marie Living
! ston, will wed you, Silver Heels"
meant to be generous, but she grew
very angry and vowed she would rath-
er wed young Bareshanks than me.
II don't care fg," said I. II only
meant you to be suitably wed one day,
and was even willing 70 do so 1mvaalf
to save you from Captain Butler. Any
! way I'll kill him next year, so don't
care whether you marry me or not"
| "a sorry match, pardieu!" she snap
ped and fell a-laughing. Michael,
| will warn you now that I mean to wed
a gentleman Of rank and wealth and
wear jewels which will blind you! And
l shall wed a gallant gentleman Of
| years, Michael, and SCARED with bat
tles-not so to disfigure a pleasing
countenance, but under his clothes,
! where none can see-and shall be my
lady'-mark. me, Michael-and shall
be well patched and powdered, as be-
fits my rank. shall strive to be very
kind to you, Michael"
Her cheeks were af1ame, her eyes
daring and bright. She picked up her
skirt and Knocked me in a courtesy,
then marched off.
Later in the day, when the sun had
dropped low behind the trees, mount
ed Sir Williams great horse, Warlock,
and rode among the woods and out into
the still country, with the sun a red
ball sinking through saffron mist and
the new moon aslant and dim over
| head.
1t was night ere the lights Of Johns
town glimmered out against the hill
side. pulled rein at the blacksmith's,
as my horse had cast shoe on the
stony way below.
While the smith was at his forge 1
! dismounted and stood in the fire glow,
stroking Warlock's velvet nose and
watching the fiery fakes falling from
the beaten metal.
And as l stood, musing now on Sill
| Yer Heels, now on Mr.. Butler, came
one a-swsggering by the shop and
bawling loudly most foolish Tilt.
! Perceiving me in full uniform, the
songster halted and saluted so cheer
fully that / returned his salute with
a smile. He was drunk. but polite; q
great fellow, six feet two at least, all
cap, with tail bobbing to his neck, a
true coureur-de -bois
"a fine horse. captain" quoth he,
with good natured, drunken freedom,
which is not possible for gentlemen to
either ignore or resent. "a fine horse,
sir, and, by your leave. worthy of his
master" And he stood swaying there
heel and toe, with such a jolly laugh
that laughed too and asked the news
from Canada.
Canada he roared in his voice of a
giant. 1--WE not shifted priest or Jesuit
these six months! Do You take me for
a Frenchy, captain?"
At that moment another man who
had been pushing his nose against the
J window Of bake shop crossed ths
.