Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1905-04-20

err In that frock-a blue forgetmenot!
And the next day he sent thee bunch
Of the sweet fowers7"
"Ah. remind me not Of those happy
daysp' she replied tearfully. "Ah.
lackaday, that I ever left mine aunt
in PARISH
Elsbeth, assisting her to remove her
habit, said, with gentle sympathy,
"'Tis no wonder thou art nerveless
and pining, bonny, in this raw noun.
tain climate that, trow, doth not
agree with thee, an the sober ways Of
thy neighbors do pail upon thee"
Although it doth appear to thee, Els
beth, that I have lost my bravery and
strength, have still courage to bear
the heaviest ills Of life, such as separa-
ton, poor health, grim poverty, + TRUTH
starvation; but admit that such agony
as the knowledge Of harm to Godfrey
would be grief such as would kill
me-"
"Fie, fe on such grim thoughts!
Cheer thee, Margaret" urged her COM
panion.
For moment the girl struggled with
herself, then forcing smile through
the tears said more cheerfully, "The
blue frock, Elsbeth, and my lace ber-
tina. Who doth dare say that thou and
have lost hope Of brave Godfrey"
An hour later, just as the waning sun
light was lowering over the pine COW
cred peaks of Cragenstone now dis
tinctly defined against the rose tinted
horizon, the young mistress of the May
land farm, wearing blue evening
gown made in the French fashion, with
the bodice cut low, surmounted by q
lace bertha, her fair neck and arms
bare and ruffied skirts made full and
sweeping walked out Of the house and
standing before the door looked down
the roadway pensively with an air Of
indecision.
The soft breeze stirred the leaves of
the foliage and the monotonous call Of
the whippoorwill could be heard over
the trees of the forest, but no other
sounds, such as the galloping of horses
feet, fell on the ears of the waiting,
lonely woman.
"Mayhap, an thou'lt walk little
down the road behind the hill, thou'lt
meet Sir Godfrey" Elsbeth called from
the window.
Margaret turned to her sadly.
"Elsbeth, an Godfrey comes not to-
night 1 shall know that he is lying
helpless, i'll; hath met foul play-or-
or Is dead. Tomorrow an he Is not
hay
sengers scurrying in all directions, for,
prithee," with little sob, "if the truth
is what suspect, 1 had better die of
that at once than linger with this SUI
fering, this slow suspense that Is kill
ing me-"
what foolish megrims! Nay, cheer
thee, Margaret" Elsbeth cried in pro-
test at the dark views Of her mistress.
81 do protest Sir Godfrey's not the man
to be outdone by any villainy. And
who hereabout would be his enemy
He'll come anon"
$50 thou hast said before" Margaret
replied, turning away listlessly, IAN
meanest well, for thou dost love me-
While yet it is day I'll stroll through
the woody forest path to the village
Some new arrival at the inn perchance
hath brought some news. I'll 60, good
Elsbeth."
At about this time Josiah Taunston
with his broad brimmed hat pulled
well down over his closely cropped hair
wearing his church going suit Of black
cloth and finely knit gray wooler
stockings, came through the forest to
ward the Maryland farmhouse to make
an evening call on its fair mistress
Unusual pallor shone on his stern coun
tenance, and his eyes, cold and steely
looked almost wicked, so full were they
of an expression of determination. Sud
denly the sound of light footstep fel
on his ears and, raising his head HI
discerned through the foliage a glim
mer Of blue that caused him to draw
his breath hard and his heart to stant
still.
4 Not seeing the approaching form OF
account Of turn in the path, Margare
advanced, her head, crowned by tn
wealth Of hair wound high above IT
AClo pIOuulJ, uSI lOuS ohlEu
we'll off the ground to avoid the brier
, In her way, disclosing as she walked
, the big buckles and red heels Of he
little black shoes.
II give thee good even, cousin" Th
! voice was sudden and loud
Margaret gave a wild shrek. He
heart and soul eager for the presenc
: Of her lover, every nerve strained wit
! listening and waiting for him, expect
: ing him at every angle of the road, sh
/. was startled almost beyond hope o
composure at this sudden voice. Wit
3 her hands over her heart, painting, sh
t fell against tree and rested there.
2 II wot I frightened thee" he said
r watching her furtively out of his sma
! gray eyes.
What meanest thou" she cried ar
grily when she had recovered Slightly
that thou CONTEST like great panthe
, stealing through the forest? Coulds
3 not give body warning?"
80 IL T..