Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1905-04-08

u.
Lately ha' thought" he said, with
slight hesitation, that mayhap our
cousin Margaret would be much chang
ed after her long sojourn In France.
Belize she may return to find US dull
and our ways too quiet for her taste.
Have such thoughts, e'er come to thy
mind, mother?"
NAY, not to speak on" she replied,
"for l know that thy cousin will real
lie her obligations to thee and unless
her early teachings are entirely swept
away will heed the advice Of her aunt
and listen to her counsels with re-
spect."
She raised her hand and shook her
| finger sternly.
"But think not 1t was with my con-
sent that Andrew Maryland sent Mar
garet away to his sister in Paris" she
said, there to remain until she was
| twenty-one. l tell thee, Josiah, that
Andrew wronged his only child, who
| should have been raised there in yon-
der gray stone house, built by her
| grandfather, and allowed to grow to
| womanhood among her own kind and
in the God fearing ways Of her kins-
folk. Education, forsooth! Can Hetty
not read and write and do her number
ing skillfully? PrittGs, It's enough
knowledge for madras my good IA
Their, now dead, hath often said, Fill
thy daughters heart with dread Of
sin, raise her IN fear of the wrath Of
the Lord, an thou hath done thy
duty"
Josiah acquiesced by an emphatic
movement Of his head. Mother" he
said, recurring again to the subject of
bis cousin Margaret, 81 ha' been think
ing much on the coming home of our
kinswoman.. Often my mind hath
dwelt upon her youth and inexperience.
What knoweth she of the care Of q
household and the management Of so
many acres as are hers entirely now.
I-thou"-he hesitated-"we must keep
close to her, direct her endeavors, and
from the first"-he raised his voice,
speaking with harsh emphasis-"aIlow
no other influence to crowd in to push
ours out. On our counsel she must be
taught to rely, and she must ever find
us to be towers Of strength upon which
| she may lean with confidence"
Thou hast spoken wisely, JOSIAH
the dame replied. "If my memory
doth serve me well, Margaret was ever
an obedient child to her father, so wilt
come naturally, methinks, to place re-
lance on her kinsfolk. Hast thought,
Josiah" she continued, lowering her
voice almost to whisper and looking
toward the door, that thy cousin
lands adjoin thine and what great ben
eft could be derived from being master
Of it all?"
Taunston rose and paced rapidly up
and down the dimly lighted kitchen.
Thought! OF course 1 ha' thought!''
he exclaimed. "For two years have
watched over everything on the May
land farm lands, from the littlest new
born lamb to the feetest horse, and
given orders as If I were the owner
there"
He drew sharp breath.
And now-God's PITY must give
place to chit of girl, who happen
/ will bring disorder where ha' had or
der and put wasteful French notions
above good Puritan thrift and care"
AS IL the thought were intolerable to
him, he gave his shoulders despairing
shrug, strobe to the window and looked
out long and silently over the blacken-
ed landscape in the direction of the
Maryland estate. His mother sat for a
time looking with sympathetic anxiety
at the tall, disconsolate figure Of her
son. At last she observed quietly: "In
doing thy duty SO well thou hast grown
to love those lands above all reasoning
Josiah. Methinks by every right thou
shouldst be master there"
Mother" he came and stood before
her, with his hand appraised, in a state
Of unusual excitement, II dreamt last
night that the vessel on which Marga.
1, ret Maryland sailed from Paris was lost
with all on board, and my cousin, she
who stands between me and the estate
for l am the next heir, as thou doth
know, was gone forever. 1t was O
4 dream, but for night all was mine
was III lEulu uudSLeE IuGr6, anu
lived. I was rich in this worlds goods
busy, important, prosperous"
His pale blue eyes glittered covetous
ly with the feeling that possessed him
us he brushed his hand over his hair.
ETA, an We're it SO 'twould be well!'
Mistress Taunston cried sharply, "pro
vided, of course, it were the good
Lords WILL" she added piously. "Bui
there are other ways, my son. Hast
thou given consideration to the fact
that Margaret will need husband
now? An who more suitable than thou
JosiahY
He shuffied nervously on his feet, un
able to meet her glance.
"Dost think she would regard my
suit with favorT' he asked. Although
an upright an honorable man, I ha
never thought had much attractive
ness for woman"
i l.