Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1905-04-18

IoCb lover. JOS1lH ana MS 1llolHei pe
lieve that Sir Godfrey will be delayed
at Sterndorf. neighboring village. by
floods, leaving Josiah to seek Marga-
ret's hands, V-Hetty tells Margaret
that tRe country folks are firm be-
levers in witches. Josiah call on Mar
garet.
CHAPTER IV-(Continued.
-An', though we fully realize his mis-
take in that particular, we rejoice in
thy fathers wisdom that ordered thy
return to thy native land when thou
had reached thy majority, here to
spend the remainder of thy days"
Margaret made no response, but sat
before him quietly, Indifferent to his
words, finding him even more tiresome
than usual and inwardly wondering
when he would consider 1t expedient
to take his departure, and Josiah, mis-
taking her silence for acquiescence and
approval Of his remarks. took courage
to advance step farther in his deep
rooted scheme to win the young mis-
Eess Of the Maryland farm.
'sHast ever thought, Margaret, what
idea thy father had in his mind when
he did select me for the manager of
thine estate7"
Thou didst ask me that before, and
4 truth, good cousin, am fain to con-
fess that I ne'er gave much thought
on the subject" Margaret replied in
differently. ''Perchance he knew of
thy good business ability and that thou
wouldst order all things well for his
daughters benefit"
Josiah, leaning forward, spoke I'm
pressively.
Ills idea was that should learn the
land, so that one day would be mas
ter here. Knowest thou that he named
me for thy husband, cousin?"
may. tits not So" Margaret cried e1-
eitedly, rising and confronting him, "or
else 1t would be so stated in his docu-
ments. In them It Is most clearly writ
that only at my death, should I die
without Issue, art thou successor herep'
Calm thyself, good cousin. The
thought is new to thee, and therefore
thou'rt disturbed. To me-" he added in
a low voice, this thought hath beer
food and drink since thy father
mean" hastily correcting himself
'since first saw thee"
He rose and came to her.
'ATake time to think on the words
ha' just spoken. Pray for guidance t.
see the wisdom Of accepting the love
and protection of true hearted, right
eous and Go& fearing man, Margaret
an thrust not aside carelessly the offel
Of marriage he now makes to thee"
Sho lifted her head hastily as II t,
speak. but Josiah stopped her With 1
stern, peremptory motion of hts hand.
''Nay, cousin, answer not now. Sucl
grave confederation as Is now befor
thee takes time to think on. I'll speal
with thee on the subject again whel
thou hath Jet the thought of me in tn
position of thy husband dwell longer Il
thy heart. God guide thee to right de
cision. Fare thee well, Margaret May
land" ~
She courtesied stifly, and he, after ir
clining his head, strobe through tn
open doorway and. mounting his horse
rode toward the village.
At the sound of the closing Of th
door Margaret ran to the window an
threw open the lattice, exclaiming wit
q shiver: Ills damp and musty In TIL
room, or else tits my cousins propos
ton that hath chilled me. I'll let th
sunshine In. and Giles can put som
logs to burn in the chimney plac
Prithee, the room must be warm an
cheerful for Godfrey, who" she whi
pered happily, now that the storm
broken, will come ere nightfall."
For time she looked out of door
humming gay tune lightly. then, lea'
ing the room, ran up the stairs ant
bursting into the chamber where Ell
beth was sitting mending linen, stoo
before her with flushed face and spa
king eyes.
'sWhat frock shall I wear for Coz
frey. Elsbeth?"
"Sir Godfrey hath conner The W
man laid down her work and looked ,
Margaret in surprise. who answere
petulantly: MAY, dullard. How cou
he travel in such awful storms Of
mountain roads he knows not?"
She drew a piece of paper from b.
bosom, reading slowly, Tuesday
shall reach the inn at Hackvon, Ii
there one night and wilt be with tn
on the, morrow, Wednesday
She raised the paper to her lips.
'sThus reads his missive, Elsbet
Thou'lt remember that the storm ro
wild Wednesday, now six days gol
by. An SO, oh, me-" she sighed disms
ly, poor Godfrey hath been impriso
ed all these dreary hours in that 70
tavern, the Puritan, where we we
forced to rest when we journeyed hit