Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-06-16

. y I. T. UH- E i . u F.
had ever heard man stutter. There
was something captivating about it
to her. 1t was original. 1t was unique.
1t was hundred times better than
mere don't know" She returned
thanks and smiled.
When there are great many good
looking girls going to postofflce
more or less frequently. there will be
good reason why more or less
young men will drop into the same
place. Thus 1t was In the New Eng
land town. Somehow they get In
troduced and become acquainted, and
the world seems brighter all around
In time Miss Schoolcraft and Mr..
Chester became acquainted. He was
bashfulness itself, and he had little 70
say. The school wasn't doing for him
what he hoped Even when he fell.tu
love he realized that 1t was hopeless
case. It was not until after he had
been, assured over and over again that
he had delightful vernacular that he
took courage. II that peril would
only come and give him the longed-
for sudden shock! He hoped for 1t
when he lay down at night, and he
hoped for it when he got up in the
morning.
And then vacation came and he
and Miss Minnie were separated. He
could write without suffering and
he did write. It was one OF his let
rers that the girls mother found and
carried to the father. The colonel
read every last word of it, and then
called the daughter up to ask:
who Is this fellow who writes love
to your"
Papa, he's just the incest young
man you ever heard OF" was the re.
ply. 1--WE are engaged
Never! You can't be! MY con-
sent has not been asked.
"But it will be some day. Roy
wants to wait until his suffering IS
better
"stutter! Do you mean to tell me
he shutters? 2" Numbered the colonel.
Eyes, papa, and It's just the incest
stutter you ever heard. only wish
you could hear him say: Lrllook at t.
1.-THE s.s-s-s set-set-ing s-s-sun, ILL
love- You would be positively
charmed"
"Holy smoke! He shutters! He
wants to be my son-in-law, and he
suffers! Drop it! Drop 1t or I'll
lock you up!"
"But, papa, the doctors told him
long ago that If he met with q sud
den
II say drop 1t! want my son-in-
law to enter the army. How can 8
sufferer give the words OF com
mand? You write to him that you
are done with this Irritation"
The command was fiat, and must
be obeyed. That is, some daughters
would have obeyed it. Miss Minnie
kept on writing whenever she had
chance, and never even Etnted that
her father was terrible man. Mr..
Chester was informed by letter just
what hotel in the Catskills the family
was going to for six, weeks, and he
was invited to make his appearance.
and love did what money couldn't
have hired him to do. He journeyed
down, there. Miss Minnie was on the
watch for him, while the doughty col
onel, wasn't. The latter was passing
his days and evenings on the veranda
telling war stories to interested LISTEN
ers. Miss Minnie was truthful and In
genious. AS she and young Mr.. Ches-
ter sat on q bench in the twilight she
asked:
Roy, do you love me?"
He nodded his head and frightened
his hold on her hand.
"You will have to ask papa If we
can be married. Papa's an awful man.
Have you the courage?"
She felt him shudder.
"Oh, but you must have. After
breakfast in the morning you must
meet him as he walks out"
But l stut-tut-ter."
~ don't care for that That was
why first fell in love with you. Just
talk right Up to papa. You must, or
we can never get married. Come on
and I will show him to YOU"
After breakfast next morning
Col. Schcolcraft walked out. SO did
Roy Chester. Love was doing what
wild horses could not. have accom-
plished. The colonel mad proc aeded
as far as the spot called The. powders
when ne heard step behind him and
turned to- see the young man. Roy
was pale faced and his chin was shak-
ing. Something warned tie colon y
that he stood face to face with lie
sufferer who wanted to be his soE-in
law He had given his orders and
supposed the case had been dropped,
but here was the young man.
cts you, is it?' shouted the man
OF war as he raised his cane and put
on terrible look.
Roy made no reply. His hour OF
peril had come at last. The sudden
Shock was there. He knew that q
queer feeling was creeping over him.
"s-s.s-speak s-s-s-sir!" commanded
the colonel. Are you not t-t-t-that
stut-ut- terer?"
"No sir!' calmly replied Roy.
The doctors had been right.
"B-b-b-but w-w-who are y.y-you
them"
"Mister Chester! Colonel, please
don't get excited I wish to have q
few minutes conversation with you"
"B.b-but w-w-what ails me-?
"You are somewhat excited, sir,
and you stutter."
"B-b.but I-I-never s-s-stut-ut-
cred before. W-w-what has h-h-hap-