Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1905-04-29

lifted state. She wished good fortune
| to all and gave Simon the refreshment
he demanded, with a smile Of happi-
ness.
poor Simon" she thought as she
carried the first full pan to the but
| terry. What kind friend he hath
ever been to me. There's many lone
~ hour would ha' spent without him.
When my lord doth come and ride
away shall not forget Simon. Hap
pen anon may have influence to have
him made lackey at the court"
Returning for another pan, with her
heart and mind full Of her good inten-
lions, Hetty bestowed more than or
binary sweet glance of esteem and
kindly feeling upon her visitor, whose
heart, always full Of love for her, ached
now to bursting with fancied encour-
agement. Only when wearing his new
churchgoing black suit, he thought, had
she ever given him kinder glances; SO,
regardless Of his untidy appearance,
he clasped the astonished Hetty in his
arms, and thoughts that for months
had been filling his mind now took the
form of words and sprang from his lips
in sentences expressing his passionate
love for her.
Arr gone daft, Simon? Ha' done.
tell thee" she cried in angry surprise,
struggling to free herself from his
strong embrace.
"Hetty, say the word" he entreated.
Promise to be my wife. Plight thy
troth with me-"
Coward" she cried, ITO hold maid
against her will! Dost think want a
cowboy for husband?"
He loosed his hold and drew back as
If stung, with staring eyes and face
from which all color had gone.
Thou dost not love me, Hetty?" he
asked solemnly. AN all our sweet
friendship is to so for naught?"
Love thee?" Hetty gave her head a
toss. "Whoe'er put thoughts of my
loving thee into thine idle brain? Nay,
silly. Look not SO downcast," she
cried, IAN take my best assurance that
our friendship hath not been in vain,
for SO dear hold thee in my heart
that but cen now before thou spokest
thy foolish utterances l was making
plans for thine advancement"
Unable to understand and much be-
wildered, Simon watched Hetty as she
airily lifted her skirts and, holding her
head very high, walked up and down
the dairy In imitation Of grand lady,
For thou knowest, Simon" she con
tinued, with patronizing nod, me
thinks to marry French courtier who
will come anon on white steed to WOO
me and take me back with him to Par
is, there to set me up In a grand palace,
with countless serving men and wom-
en- to do my bidding"
"Hetty, what nonsense is this7" ST.
mon cried in desperation. What man
is this thou lovestT'
"'T!s no man that e'er seen as yet"
Hetty continued her pacing up and
down. rs
but know this, Simon Kempster,
that I'll ha none Of thee. Dost think I
would bother with TRY little scraggly
farm when I can be mistress Of a
grand estate? However" she conclud.
ed condescending)y. her foolish little
mind Slightly troubled by the broken
hearted expression in her companion's
eyes, think not that will forget thee,
Simon. Why, who knoweth but may
make thee overseer Of one Of my farms
In the provinces. Think on that-thy
bright futurc-with joyful anticipation,
good Simon" sc
He came and stood before her with
white, drawn face, depicting desperate
earnestness.
"Then thou hast meant nothing by
any fair words thou might have spo.
KEMP"
"Fie, Simon" she giggled nervously
more affected than she knew by his
seriousness, "out upon thy CROSS looks
Thy solemn countenance would give a
body the megrims! Who said we
could not be friends?'
Kempster turned his back upon he1
and walked away. At the door be
paused.
"By all this talk then thou doth mean
that thou canst not love me-that
thou'lt never be my wife2"
'Thy wife! A common farmers
wife7" Hetty laughed low, ripping
laugh of amusement. NAY, good
Simon, thou must seek thy mate
among thine own farm loving kind. As
for me, will wait the arrival Of my
gallant courtier."
i "Hetty, hast forgotten the love
verses?" His voice was entreating.
| 1.-THE verses! Ha, ha!'
| She laughed again, this time more
merrily. ITO speak o. your silly rhymes
as verses, forsooth! Why. BODY o. me
good Simon, thou shouldst buy a bool
Of good Will Shakespeare verses, an
then thou'dst know what poetry is, an
ne'er more speak again, warrant
thee, O thy nonsensical rhyming."
Something must have snapped IL
Simon's heart, 1t went down with suct
bound. Bnndly he turned and
CROPPED his way out Of the house, moi
seeing the sack Of potatoes resting OF