Ottumwa tri-weekly courier., 1908-08-06
of us put together, but you don't mean

of us put together, but you don't mean
that"
| 81 don't mean that, George, and |
don't believe it. You know what l
mean. There has been some talk"
| you drive me into corner. OFF,
cially, I know nothing, but l suppose
there is what you call an understand
ing. Joy might do worse
| "She might do deal better"
snapped Miss Priscilla.
| What has the young man got?"
said Sir Giles heavily, but with CLEAN
of interest in his eye.
| Marriages of kfnsmen were serious
affairs, because, if arranged upon lines
not sound, the high contracting par
| ties were likely to come to want, and
then become an incumbrance upon
heads of families. Esme Burgess had
reckless blood in his veins.
"He has five hundred year" re-
piled George Vennable; "and with his
Fellowship, and what he makes by
| scribbling-''
Sir Giles held up his hand.
| mo young fellow in his position
should marry on less than a thousand
year" He glanced at his aunts who
never had failed him upon these occa-
sions.
81 quite agree said Miss Priscilla.
! Miss Lavinia murmured: THE min
| imum."
! George Vennable edged nearer the
door. His blue eyes were twinkling
as he fired Parthian shot
in any case, he said lightly. 81
shall give Joy a free hand in the choice
of a husband. She must marry ta
please herself, God bless her! not to
| please me-or YOU Goodnight"
| He walked home, not quite as brisk.
ly as usual, thinking of Joy and the
future. He had reason to believe
that he would not make very old
bones, and tonight his responsibilities
as father and parson added new
burden to his increasing years. He
sighed more than once, and blinked at
the stars, which did not seem, some
how, to shine very clearly. Twice he
splashed into a puddle, much to his
evaporation, because he was scrupu-
/ lous about the condition of his clothes
| Dear mel" he muttered There
are lot of puddles.''
Then the philosophic habit came to
/ iliS lSoSuS. MIL leilS uS ISlleCteu, lldu
to walk in the dark sometimes, with
no better light than stars twinkling
behind wracks of cloud; and, pick
ones way how one might, man could
hardly hope to escape puddles.
| Accordingly, he pushed on with a
longer step till he reached the Rectory
where Joy was awaiting him. with a
smile upon her lips. Invariably, if at
home, she welcomed him like this,
and perhaps he had come to accept
such oblations as matter of course.
But tonight, when she brought his Slip
pers, and settled him into an easy
chair by the fire, he glanced at her
with apprehension.
What is the matter?" she asked.
| He laid his hand upon her arm
"As came home l wondered what
should do without YOU"
She laughed gaily.
'You darling old fuss-pot You don't
think that I'm in any danger?"
mot from diphtheria, perhaps"
Good gracious, what do you mean?''
''If you should marry the wrong
man"
THE wrong man." For an instant
she stared at him almost stupidly.
Then she laughed again, bending down
to kiss his forehead. With her fore
finger she tried to rub wrinkle from
between his eyes. as she said: Don
worry. I'm not thinking of marrying
the wrong man. say! | hope you
screwed few more pounds out of
Uncle Giles"
81 think he'll make it a hundred
I'VE shall want double that, now
that the disease has spread to Hern-
shaw Magma Do you know that Mr..
Charters, Esme's friend, offered to
help with money? Wasn't it awfully
nice of him?"
"Awfully,' repeated George Ven.
nable absently.
i Beard or no beard. I'm beginning
to like that man. which doesn't seem
to interest you at all; and you're still
i frowning. l shall have to tell you
my precious secret
4 Your precious secret?" He was
alert enough now.
"Yes. | have a golden plover for
i your dinner. There!"
4 Presently she hustled away to tell
the cook to be sure not to over-roas ST
the wonderful bird. George Vennable
sat in his chair, not reading the book
4 which Joy had placed ready TO his
( . y