Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-10-17

uOuSe ike tuu col anu iutlSo
of water, whirled from the top of a
wave, crashed against the window,
and shivered the glass into fifty
pieces. A drop of spray touched
Laura's cheek and she shivered.
what has happened?" she moaned.
What is 1t? am frightened"
"'Tis nothing" Mrs. Dowsett re-
piled with a mirthless laugh. "Tis
only BLOWN bit and high tide run
min against the wall We'm used to it.
I and Dowsett IT'S allus like this
with a gale from SOU east. I'll stop up
the hole, lest the cold get you.
She rose to her feet and proceeded
to move small table against the
window On this foundation she placed
large trunk, and covered 1t over
with an old piece of carpet. The bar
rier was effective enough as make
shift. Loura watched her with Won
dering eyes. Her mind was too feeble
to grasp details; and she had not the
slightest idea of the danger which
threatened the house and it's occu
pants. She only knew that there had
been draught and that Mrs. Dowsett
had supplied remedy.
will zee have drop of hot MILK"
said that worthy woman, as she re-
sumed her seat by the bedside.
Twill be time for medicine in an
hour
mo" murmured Laura impatiently.
mo. If | could only sleep. | was so
happy when I slept
"'Twill be medicine time in an
hour Mrs. Dowsett replied, "and then
you'll sleep again, dearie.'
Laura turned over On her side and
began to cry quietly. 1t was the help
less sobbing of an exhausted child,
without strength or passion mere
whisper, pitiful to listen to.
Hush, hush,' said Mrs. Dowsett.
speaking as she might have spoken to
a child. You're in good hands, miss.
and don't let the storm worrit you.
tbs only great noise, such as dog
makes when he barks. 'Twon't bite"
81 wish l could die" moaned Laura,
She was not thinking of the storm
which beat against the house, but of
the storm which had wrecked her own
life, The absence Of John Shil was
preying on her mind. In her weakness
she saw in him the only strong and
trustworthy thing in life She longed
for the touch of his hand, for the
sound of his voice, for even the sight
of him.
Don't zee talk like that, miss" said
Mrs. Dowsett sternly IT'S temptin'
Providence, who has said that In the
midst OF life we are in death"
To Laura the words were only a
commonplace sentiment She did not
know, as the speaker knew, how APP
propriate they were at a time when
death was knocking, ay, laundering
at the door OF the house.
There be much for all of us to do
in the world" Mrs. Dowsett continued,
"and not huff time to do it. Even in
Con'sea there be things to do. I'm
old, missile, and take things quietly,
but there was a time when was hot
blooded and over-full or pride, and it
seemed hard to suffer. But the Lord,
He broke me, and twas all for good.
But there, dearie, don't trouble your
head bout such things. You just lie
still and think of sunshine. Twill
come after the storm, sure huff, twill
come"
ut will never come" whispered
Laura softly. "What can you know of
sin here in Conasea?"
"Sin?" echoed Mrs Dowsett harsh
ly; FAY. what should know of sin
here in Con'sea, save that the Lord
chastens sinners, and It's all for
good
Laura was silent, but the words
had sunk deeply into her mind. 1t is
true that she had only sinned In
thought, but for all that she had suf
, ID ~, ST.
her.
After a few minutes silence there
was grinding crash from the back
of the house: then the door leading
into the next room opened slightly
and Dowsett beckoned to his wife
: "I'll be back in minute, dear
she said. as she rose to her feet
: "Dowsett wants me-"
81 shall be all right" Laura replied
family.
Mrs. Dowsett entered the other bed
room and closed the door. Her >hus
band stood among pile of chairs
with lantern in his hand. There
was a look Of anxiety on his rugged
face.
"She'm come to her senses?" he
asked quickly.
eyes, poor lass. She be wide
awake
, "Well. you'd best put her to sleep.
he replied. GIVE her some of tba
sleepin' stuff. doubt If the house
holds another ten minutes. One Of the
uprights has given at the back ant
there's three feet Of water down be
:. low"
"Tidell turn soon," muttered Mrs
Dowsett. "and tbs good wall
ooh ay, the wall will hold. But ths
seas topped 1t by more'n a foot, ant
l the waves are comm over it by fou
feet in places. If we was bit close
. to it, we'd have been washed ava.
I like one of them castles children builC
! in the sand. Just have look. Tis ;
! moderate clear sky now, the moon
up. That boats still a-rolling up thu
creek like drunken man. Side to sidt
: she 60 just anyhow
? Mrs, Dowsett threaded her way t.
one of the windows, and looked on
: across the sea, and, as she looked, sh,