Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1905-04-11

land. now fully dressed, descended the
staircase and entered the dining room
q small, coy affair that was but q
continuation Of the long hall, curtained
of at the sides with dark tapestries
ana huge screen set up in the middle
for partition. Mr.. Maryland, the ia
Their OF the present occupant Of the
house, having had French blood in his
veins through his mothers side. had
not taken kindly to the plain furnish
ings, high backed chairs, wooden
benches and bare white sanded floors
OF his more simple minded neighbors
and had purchased from time to time
bright stuffs, works Of art and tufted
chairs and couches, so that his home
presented an air of comfort and ele-
gance not to be found elsewhere on
that bleak mountain.
AS Margaret entered the only occu-
pant Of the room was an elderly wom-
an. having the appearance Of being
more than common serving woman,
who was spreading white cloth on a
table, idly humming a little tune as
she did so.
"A good day, Elsbeth. Prithee, sing
mgr she exclaimed. with affected as
constituent. "Then thou doth like thy
new surroundings"
"An' thou, MargaretY'
"Ah, welladay, cannot tell thee
yet" she answered, with sigh. But
own to great depression this morn
Ing, Elsbeth, and feelings of strange
ness and loneliness lie heavy on my
heart"
She walked to the window and, rest
ing her arms on the deep sill, looked
out of doors discontentedly, uncon-
scious Of the graceful appearance she
made in the French morning gown of
pink poplin that fitted loosely to her
rounded figure and fell In long folds
to the floor.
Hast had no misgivings, Elsbeth,
before us?"
| Where thou art, sweet Margaret, 1
am happy" the woman replied gently
whether It's at thine aunt's at Paris,
where I sewed thy frocks and cared
| for thee, or here in thine own home,
where thou art come to be the mis-
tress. Ever do find my best con-
tentment at thy side, for, sweet hast
thou not been mine to watch over since
thy mother died?"
Margaret accustomed to the wom-
ans fondness, made no reply, but came
and took seat at the table in thought
full silence while Elsbeth busted her
self about her, pouring cup of milk,
breaking eggs into saucer and plac-
ing the plate Of hot bread within easy
reaching distance.
But for thee, sweet" she observed,
happen the Maryland farm will prove
more quiet than thou'lt like"
"And Cragenstonew exclaimed Mar.
garet. what doleful people here abide
How long and solemn their faces have
grown, and with what serious demean,
or they do stalk aboutl Why, Elsbeth
one short walk with my good Cousin
Josiah near gave me the megrims
Prithee must we all the time be quot
ing Scripture or thinking Of our pray.
ersW
"Naught is. changed" the woman re-
piled. "I' the five years Of the different
life in Paris thou hast forgotten; TIA,
is all. To my mind thine aunt received
us with the same cold smile she gave
US when we rode away"
Margaret shrugged her shoulders and
threw out her hand in manner thai
suggested the Frenchwoman. "How
gloomy they looked in the plain gray
clothes they wore as they stood around
the door, erect and solemn, to receive
me. But, withal, weary and nervou:
with the homecoming as was, my
quick eye failed not to see two things
admiring love on the bright face o.
my sweet cousin Hetty Taunston ant
stern disapproval Of my crimson riding
dress on the countenance of her moth
er. Mayhap shall prove too world.
for their quiet tastes. Dost think so
Elsbeth?"
The woman touched Margaret's sun
ny hair caressingly.
"Thou'rt SO bonny, sweet, so fair, 81
6OOu, ludI all luuSt lOfS lueS WHO huON
thee" she said. "And as thy ways ar
good ways wot thy nelghbors and tn,
kinsfolk must grow accustomed t
them"
Margaret rested her hand lightly o.
old Elsbeths shoulder. "And tho
lowest me and Godfrey" she said
blushing softly. IT care not for the 9th
ers. That much is so much that 1t dot
suffice me-"
A light footstep was heard in tn
hallway.
;, "Am come too soon?' Hett
. Taunston in a black cotton frock, wit
!, a white kerchief folded neatly owe
! her BOSOM entered the room.
!, "Methought mother would ne'er b
.. done finding chores for me to do" sh
; said poutingly. First there was til
linen to spread on the grass for bleacf
ing; then the ewers to be filed at th
brook, my lesson in embroidery an