Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-10-03

of them had a sincere regard for the
i daughter of old Sam Jane, and they
resolved to give her what they called
a bang-up home comm 1t is even
possible that a little vorldly wisdom
entered into the indlines of their
thoughts. Even in this enlightened
age they We're all tie subjects of their
overload, bound to hi. btdy and soul
| Inc arrangements we're placed in
tne hands Of committee, which in.
GUIDED four clergylnen, seven farmers
ana the agent of the Tankerlane es,
tates. AS might be imagined, much
tlme was pleasantly wasted in slow
speech and controversy, and nothing
would nave been settled If it had not
| oeen for the polite but firm insistence
or the agent This worthy young
gentleman, who was instructed to pro.
vide the funds for everything, was
naturally listened to with respect, and
when a deadlock , :fued, he put IN
his word with the skill of a trained
diplomat, and everyone agreed with
him.
| mere was to be a fete, of course,
with unlimited food and beer. There
was to be cricket match, and sports
with prizes worth the winning. There
! were to be swings, and all the fascina.
| lions Of fair, which was to be i'm
ported wholesale for the occasion.
There were to be fireworks-large
expensive fireworks And then, of
course, there were to be banners, tri-
umphal arches, reception at the rail-
way station, the presentation Of a
| wedding present, and all the outward
show of homage and loyalty that Is
ofered to a local sovereign.
For three weeks the vast tract Of
country covered by the Tankerlane
property talked of nothing elses And
then at last the day came, and for
! miles round the inhabitants streamed
to the railway station to do honor to
their new master. The gentry came
in carriages, the farmers on horseback
or in their gigs, the poorer folk on
foot; and there were many on bicy-
cles, from the well-to-do doctor on a
machine that glittered with plating
and enamel, to the laborer on his
rusty piece of scrap iron, that recalled
the earliest days of cycling.
Sir William Tankerlane had gra-
clously consented to arrive at the ear
Hest hour possible so that the people
should have a long day in which to
enjoy themselves, and the train was
expected at 1882 in the morning.
This be proud day for zee. Sam
Vane," said !. farmer, refining in his
horse by the side of the old mans
trap. "a mortal proud day it must
be for sartin."
I'm glad to see the lass back" Sam
Vane replied with a smile, land as
for Dride-well. she be lass to be
!! proud of, Mr.. Redholt. What be the
time by your watch; I'm thinkin'
mines stopped, or else it's goin' NOR
tai slow this mornin"
Mr.. Redholt laughed
You're over-impatient. Sam" he
replied, looking at his own watch
1T amt only half past eleven"
"She should be signalled," growled
Mr.. Vane. but it amt to be expected
as trains'l alus come UP to the mark =
But five minutes passed, then too,
then quarter of an hour, and still
the train was not signalled The
crowd began to show signs of impa-
tience. The gentry hummed and
hawed, and disparaged the directors
of the company, in which many of
them held stock. The rougher ele-
ment INDUCED in horseplay to while
away the time.
"She'm late" said the station-mas-
ter in answer to all inquiries.
But few minutes later he emerged
from the booking-o office with white
face, and hurried to the side of Sir
10 To
There has been an accident to the
train" he whispered; -four carriages
smashed to bits. Shall | let the PEG
pie know, or wait for further news?"
But the whisper, soft as it had been,
had reached the ears of a Dystander,
and almost before the agent could
make reply the news had spread
through the waiting crowd
Men looked at each other in hor-
ror, and women chartered and chung
to each other as though some danger
threatened them. On all sides rose
the one question, put in various forms
and asked in various tones:
"Sir William and his lady-are they
safe?"
But there were some among tho
crowd who had friends and relations
Of their own in the train. and they
gave no thought to Sir William Or
Lady Tankerlane. They besieged the
station-master with questions, and he,
poor, patient man, half distracted by
the turmoil lost his head. and gave
them answers that drew down wrath
upon his head.
The attitude of the crowd became
sullen and even hostile. Some of
them cursed the directors of the line,
and were of opinion that someone
should be punished for all this,
cts a fine day growled one old
man, "and liker June than Octber.
It'd ha' been grand day for a fete,
if them railway folk hadn't bin and
spilled it
And he voiced the sentiments of the
lower classes, dull workers that had
NIr. Thomas ]. Faulds,
FO7 Madison AwPnv1e.