Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1905-11-09

DUH IAoI SAllih6 OlOAC 0VulN UC OOuQly
hard when his foremost hand went
back to school again, which he was to
do very shortly, for Josiah meant to
accept the captains offer and try for.
the Annapolis appointment when the
time came.
The boy came back with the mail and
an item of news. The mail, paper
only, he handed to Mrs. Snow, and the
news he announced at the supper table
as follows:
"Mr.. Hazeltine's goin' to leave the
cable station" he said.
Coin to leavef' repeated the house.
keeper. What for?" I.
II don't know, ma'am. All I know is
what I heard Mr.. Wingate say. He
said Mr.. Hazeltine was goin' to get
through over at the station pretty soon.
He said one OF the operators told him
So"
well, for the lands sake! Did you
know anything bout 1t, Eri?"
"Why, yes, a little. met Hazeltine
yesterday, and he told me that some
folks out west had made him pretty
good offer, and he didn't know whether
to take II or not. Said the salary was
good. and the whole thing looked sort
Of temptin'. He hadn't decided what
to do yit. That's all there is to it."
There was little else talked about
during the meal. Captain Perez, Cap
tain Jerry and, Mrs. Snow argued, sur
missed and questioned Captain Fri, who
said little. Elsie said almost nothing
and went to her. room shortly after
the dishes, We're washed.
"Humph," exclaimed Captain Perez,
when they were alone, II guess your
matchmakin' schemes up spout, Jerry"
And, for a wonder, Captain Jerry did
not contradict him.
The weather changed that night and
1t grew coil rapidly In the morning
the pump was frozen and Captain
Jerry and Mrs. Snow spent some time
and much energy In thawing 1t out It
was later than usual when the former
set out for the schoolhouse. AS he was
putting on his cap Elsie suggested
that he wait for her, as she had some
lessons to prepare and wanted an hour
or SO to herself at her desk. They
walked on together under a cloudy
sky.
I s'pose you was glad to hear the
news last ,night?" asked Captain
Jerry.
what news?"t
."Why, that, bout Mr.. Hazeltine's
goin' away. You're glad he's goin', OF
course"
Miss Preston did not answer, imme-
diately. Instead she turned and looked
wonderingly at her companion.
''Why should be glad, pray?" she
asked.
why, don't know. I jest took 1t
for granted you would be. You didn't
want him to come and see you, and II
he was gone he couldn't come, So
Just a minute, please. What makes
you think I didn't want Mr.. Hazeltlne
to CALF"
And now it was the captains turn
to stare and hesitate.
What makes me think"- he gasped.
''Why-you told me so yourself"
"Elsie Preston. he calculated, "are
you losin' your mem'ry or what?
Didn't you pitch into me hotfoot for let.
tin him be alone with your Didn't
you give me bark from the tomb for
gittin' up and goin' away? Didn't you
say his calls was perfect torture to you,
and that you had to be decent to him
Jest out of common politeness? Now
didn't your
t"No, I didn't You misunderstood
me. did object to your leaving the
room every time he called and making
me appear so ridiculous, and did say
that his visits might be torture fol
all that you knew to the contrary, bu
certainly didn't say that they were
"sufferin'! And you amt glad Ii.
stopped comin'?'
The air of complete Indifference as
sumed by the young lady was tri
umph.
why, Of course" she said, 'N1r
Hazeltine is a free agent, and I don't
know Of any reason why he should BIZ
compelled to go where he doesn't wist
to co.
Captain Jerry was completely crush
ed. My! My! N.Y. he murmured
"And after my begin his pardon and
ALL"
Begging his pardon? For what?"
"Why. for leavin' you two alone. OF
course, after you pitched into me sc
see how foolish I'd been actin, and ]
honest, I didn't sleep scursely bit
that night thinkin' bout it. Thinks I
If Elsie feels that way, why, there
amt no doubt that Mr.. Hazeltine feels
the same There want but one thing
to be done. When a man makes a mis-
take, If he is any kind of q man, hi
owns up and does his best to straight
en- things out. 'Twa'n't easy to do, bu
duty's duty, and the next time 1 SCI
Mr.. Hazeltine I told him the Who'll,
thing, and"-
"You did"
"Sartin I did"
'What did YOU tell him?"
| They had stopped on the sidewall
nearly opposite the postoffice. Eecl