Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1908-08-29
Copyright 1908, by Horace Enuesley vachsu

All rights reserved.

She knew that the past five and TWEEN
ty years were regarded by them as an
interregnum; she felt, with a shudder
of revulsion, that before her father
was out of the house they were busy
fitting different sort of man into it,
one of the sound, "cocksure'' type
like the very superior person who had
married Arabella Mottisfont, the Rev
erend Archibald Starkey, he who was
destined to become a Colonial Bishop.
1t goes without saving that in their
niece's presence the aunts were care
full to speak no word that might be
construed as slight upon the dead.
All Mettisfonts speak well of the dead.
or, in exceptional cases, say nothing.
| The aunts made a lamentable mistake
| in saying too much Well meaning
but not quite sincere praise was as
nauseating for Joy to swallow as the
Gregory'sS powder which her mother
| had administered to her when child.
\ Much against her wish, although she
had uttered but the faintest of pro
tests, the aunts were sleeping at the
l.ectory; and, very properly, they in
sisted upon their niece taking due
nourishment for regular hours Their
appetite for plain food never failed on
these unhappy occasions, although
each lady made it point of honor to
eat what was set before her-and this
| applied more particularly to second
| helpings-with an air of mournful de
| tachment and in silence. Joy wanted
to talk and eat nothing.
"But, my child" Miss Priscilla
would observe" you must take some
thing. This sole is excellent and sc
easily digested'
No, thank you, Aunt Priscilla"
| Miss Lavinia bleated feebly; al
your poor father were here
! "of course, he is here said Joy
firmly.
! Miss Lavinia quite unconsciously
allowed a pair of frightened pale blue
eyes to wander in and out of corners
Miss Priscilla said with authority;
Really, JOY! you go too far
I'm quite sure he's in this room
now. He loved this room. When ws
were alone, we always sat here ans
had our 'beyondy' talks"
g Beyondy' talks? l never heard o
such an adjective"
| dlhS DSy0uu luS Veil, IL YOU ike
Father didn't believe that dealt
whirled us asunder. He held that tbs
spirit fingered for time at least will
those it loved. Why, only fortnigh
ago, he told me to look after his col
lections, because he should be so I'm
easy if the moth got into them"
Good gracious mel" CALCULATES
poor Miss Lavinia.
, At once Joy closed her lips, con
scious that she had been All idiot t.
let herself go in this intimate strait
to persons whose ideas and assoeia
tons were as remote as the fixed star
from her own Miss Priscilla close,
the discussion for ever by saying in
: glacial tone: These Things have no
been revealed unto u.s.
, The day before the funeral the al
, important subject of joys future wa
introduced by Miss Priscilla. In jus
tice to the aunts it must be under
stood that they were anxious to d
the real right thing. Nor must it b
forgotten, looking at the matter fror
joys point of view, that the aunts, b
virtue of years and experience, claim
: ed the doubtful privilege of determir
2 ing what the real right thing was
JOY, of course must live with then
: This, let us admit frankly, involve
. sacrifices; the dislocation of habit
t sacrosanct in the eyes of elderly spin
e sters. Joy would bring her dogs t
: the lodge, and the -terrifyin
g thought-would certainly harass an
e perhaps Stay the cats. One coul
J, hardly expect SO impetuous creatur
), - to remember to wipe her feet CAREFUL
before entering the small hall with il
immaculate carpet Moreover, Joy
particular friends were not held in til
highest esteem by the Misses Motif
Q font.
n However, they tackled valiantly tn
:. certainty of discomfort and the prol
e ability of what JOY vulgarly Gale
"ructions," Miss Priscilla opened th
x proceedings.
s my DEAR she said kindly, ''you
Aunt Layinia and ! will dol our bes