Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-08-29

= II -----------------------
to make up to you for what you have
lost"
A faint smile f1ickered about joys
lips and vanished. Not being inspired
to say the appropriate word, she kiss
ed her aunts in silence.
"You will come to us at your own
convenience, but speaking for myself
and Aunt Lavinia she glanced at
Miss IIavinia, who nodded her head in
approbation-"I say the sooner the
better"
you mean''-faltered JOY.
THAT you must make your home
with u.s."
Having spoken, Miss Priscilla folded
her hands upon her lap. Miss Lavina
did likewise, looking down her long
nose. In her mind. which was not
quite clear, as rule, Immediately aft
er luncheon, was confused vision of
joys bull TERROR devouring her NAL
tese cat.
"You are very kind, but-but K
can't do that"
"Can't?"
81 should drive you both wild inside
of a week"
1--WE should have to bear and for
bear on both sides,' muttered Miss
Lavinia about the dogs, for in
stance, Grip (this was the terribly
well, we must ask you to let Grip
sleep in nice kennel outside the
lodge instead of in your bedroom
'And, one more thing, my dear
child, dare say you would forego the
pleasure of walking with any more
fox-hound puppies
81 can't come to you,' said Joy res
! olutely.
| What followed, which may be omit
ted cannot be described as row
| ''ruction" joys word, is the better.
The aunts, being first and last gentle
women of more dignified generation,
abhorred rows Both ladies would
have sooner eaten pudding with a
spoon, or spoken Of gown as a dress.
or alluded to stays as corsets, than
raise their voices in unseemly bicker.
ings. Having exhausted their own
arguments, they said, almost stimuli.
taneously: 1--WE must lay this before
your Uncle Giles"
Please, please, don't!"
cit is our duty, child
Sir Giles, magisterially, took the
matter under serious consideration
After the funeral he escorted Joy
back to the rectory and sat down be
side her in the dismal drawing room
He had felt her hand trembling upon
his arm, had seen the tears upon hel
cheeks, and he knew that his elder
sisters, much as he respected them
were somewhat auster and hypercriti
cal. In fact, during the progress Of
the service. and indeed at the yer,
moment when the earth battered up
on George Vennable's coffin, he haG
come to momentous decision.
"Joy," he said in his rumblina
voice, my poor child, you don't wan
to live with your aunts.''
This revelation of perceptive poweri
and sympathies hitherto unsuspectet
filled JOY with amazement. In he
surprise she seized her uncle's arm
and exclaimed:
How did you guess that? Uncle,
can't live with them. Their ways ar.
not my ways. IL should die of SUI
location in the prim, tiny house"
The prim, tiny house belonged to ST
Giles, he didn't like to hear it dis
paraged, but he continued very kind
u ly, yes, yes, yes. To be sure-to b.
! sure. We won't go into that-eh
No, no. You have been mistress here
my dear, and, all in all, a very com
petent little mistress, too" He pat
ted her hand, keeping it in his own
"'Pon my soul! I've had better din
ners here than in my own house. Nov
what do you say to coming to tn
park and looking after-me?"
Joy gasped
You are quite overcome" said 81
Giles, magnifcently, "but l mean it. ;
He had the air of monarch con
ferring, Unexpectedly some tremer
dous honor like the Order of tn
Golden Fleece.
"Ohl OH"
BE calm, child. I'm not speakin
, on impulse And I propose to Civ
! you, Northumberland limits,
, free hand You are a capital house
!, keys
He spoke very solemnly. To hin
!. poor fellow! they were the keys of tn
!, only heaven he knew.
'Uncle-oh. what shall say?-yo
will think me so ungrateful!-bu
can't. It's impossible"
God bless my SOUL" calculated 81
!, Giles He wiped his forehead with
large bandana handkerchief; his eye
were popping out of his head; hi
lower lip auivered pendulously. The
r light was vouchsafed him.
IL This has been too much for yeu.