Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-11-09
n I1lII n - 3 FfI t7E h FsIlf ~ IVIFi
Like what?" inquired Tom.

lklk6 WuhL luQullCu AOAAs tf5l
why. this-all weeds and briers,
Betty surveyed the unkempt waste
that had once been lawn, little
frown fixed itself on her smooth brow.
Mr.. Ware rubbed his chin reflective.
ly with the back OF his hand.
THAT sort OF thing looked all right,
Bet" he said, "but 1t kept Ave or six
Of the best hands out of the fields right
at the busiest time Of the year."
s Haven't l slaves enough?" she ask
ed.
The dull color crept into Wares
cheeks. He hated her for that III!
So she was going to come that on
him, was she? And he'd worked him.
self like horse to bring In morS
land. Why, he'd doubled the acreage
in cotton and corn in the last four
year! He smothered his sense Of
hurt and indignation. Il.
Don't you want to sec the cropS.
Bet? Let me order q team and show
you about, you couldn't walk over the
place in week." he urged.
The girl shook her head and moved
swiftly down the path that led from
terrace to the margin Of the bayou. At
the first terrace she paused. All be
low was wilderness ofstangled vines
and brush. She faced Tom rather
piteously. What had been lost was
more than he could possibly under.
stand. Her father had planned these
grounds which he was allowing =
iriotous second growth to swallow up.
a Its positively squalid!" cred Betty.
with little stamp Of her foot.
Ware glanced about with dull eyes.
The air OF neglect and decay which
was everywhere visible, and which
was a shock to Betty, had not been
reached In a season, he was really
convinced that the place looked pretty
much as 1t had always looked.
"l'll tell you Betty. I'm busy this
morning; you poke about and see Whist
you want done and we'll do it,, he
said, and made q hRsty retreat to hts
Office, little brick building atfths
other side Of the house. c,, {. s,.,s 4.g,
Betty returned to the porch and seat
ing herself on the top step wiki her
elbows on her knees and her chin
sunk in the palms OF her hands, gazed
about her miserably enough. ,6he wis
still seated there when half an honr
later Charley Norton galloped up t1s
drive from the highroad. Catching
sight Of her on the porch he sprAng
from the saddle, and, throwing his
reins to black boy, hurried to hcr
side.
II inspecting your domain. Betty" Ne
asked as he took his place nears her
on the step. Il, II
II why didn't you tell me. Charley
or at least prepare me for this?" she
asked, almost tearfully. @.51
Il How was to know, Betty? l have
not been here since you went away.
dear what was there Y to bring me?
Old Tom would make n cow pasture
out Of the Garden OF Eden, wouldn't
she-a beautiful, practical sordid soul
he ISL .s q
What am going to do, Charleyy"
Keep after him until you get what
you want, It's the only way to mail-
age Tom that know Of"
B tits horrid to have to assert ones
sself!" 4,
t "You'llfhave to with Tom--you must
Betty-he won't understand anything
else" Then he added: Let's Look
around and see what's needed. sea.
son or two ;of care will remedy the
most Of this neglect. Just make Tom
put lot of hands in here with brush
hooks and axes and soon you'll not
KNOW inc pace. ssh s} 8s83 $5
Norton spent the day at Belle Plain.
and though he was there on his good
behavior as the result Of an agreement
he proposed twice.
my intentions are all right, Betty,
he assured her In extenuation. But
I'VE the worst memory imaginable.
oh, yes, the lower terrace IL badly
quilted, but it's no great matter, It
can be fixed with a little work"
/ It was soon plain to Betty that
Toms ideals. II he possessed any. had
not led him in the direction Of, what
he termed display. His'social impulse
had suffered atrophy. The house was
utterly disorganized; there was
dearth OF suitable servants. Those
she had known were gone-sold, she
learned. Tom explained that there
had been no need for them since he
had lived pretty much in his once.
what had been the use In keeping
darkies standing about doing nothing?
He had got rid Of those show nigeers
end put their price In husky Held
hands. who could be made to do q
days work and not feel they were
abused.
. But Tom was mistaken in his sup
position that Betty would soon tire OF
Belle Plain. She demanded men; and
interested and fascinated her. She
was out at sun up to direct her labor.
ers. She had the advantage OF Char.
ley Norton's presence and advice for
the greater part OF each day In the
week, and Sundays he came to- look
over what had been accomplished. and.
as Tom firmly believed, to put that lit.
tie fool up to fresh nonsense. He
could have booted him!
AS the grounds took shape before
her delighted eyes, Betty found lois
ure to institute q thorough reforms.
tien indoors A number Of house serv.
ants were rescued from the quarters
and she began to instruct them In
their new duties.
Tom was sick at heart. The little
fool would cripple the place. It gave
him acute nausea to see the gangs ct
work about the lawns; It made him
sicker to go through the housA. There
were five or six women in the kitchen