Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-04-15

him from her mind, and we talked OF
her sister. Her mood had changed ana
1t was depressing to find that she
spoke of Jane always In the past tense.
She could speak OF her quite calmly
suppose the sharpness OF our emo
tons is in inverse ratio to our length
Of years, and she regretted that, under
the circumstances, Jane would not
rest In the family lot.
1--WE are all there" she said, eleven
OF us, counting my sister Mary's nus
band, although he don't properly pc
long, and always said we would take
him out If we were crowded. 1t IS the
best lot in the Hopedale cemetery;
you can see the shaft for two miles I'M
any direction
We held family council that morn
ing around Miss Letitia's beu: Ward
rop, who took little part in the pro-
ceedings, and who stood at q window
looking out most of the time, Margery
on the bed, her arm around Miss
Letitia's shriveled neck, and Heppie,
who acted as interpreter and shouted
into the old lady's ear such parts OF
the conversation as she considered es-
sential.
II have talked with Miss Fleming"
said, as clearly as could, "and sne
seems to shrink from seeing people.
The only friends she cares about are
in Europe, and she tells me there are
no other relatives"
Heppie condensed this into vocal
capsule, and thrust it into Miss Let
itia's ear. The old lady nodded.
mo other relatives" she corroborat-
ed. "God be praised for that, any
how"
"And yet" went on, "there are
things to look after, certain necessary
duties that no one else can attend to.
I don't want to insist, but she ought, II
she is able to go to the city house,
for few hours. at least
''City housed" Heppie yelled In her
ear.
"It ought to be cleaned" Miss Let
itia acquiesced, "and fresh curtains
put up. Jane would have been in her
element; she was always handy at
funeral. And don't let them get one OF
those let-down-at-the-sidec collins. They
are leaky."
Luckily Margery did not notice this.
II was going to suggest" put IN
hurriedly, that my brothers wife
would be only too glad to help, and II
Miss Fleming will go into town with
me, am sure Edith would know Just
what to do. She isn't curious and
she's capable"
Margery threw me grateful glance,
grateful, think, that I could under
stand how, under the circumstances,
stranger was more acceptable than GU
rious friends could be.
eli n q W INFER.
preted Heppie.
when you have to say the letter g.
turn your head away" Miss Letitia
rebuked her. "Well, l don't object il
Knox's sister-in-law don't" She had
an uncanny way Of expanding Heppie's
tabloid speeches. "You can take my
white silk shawl to lay over the body,
but be sure to bring it back. We may
need it for Jane"
II the old lady's chin quivered q bit,
while Margery threw her arms around
her, she was nightly ashamed Of 1t.
But Heppie was made of weaker stuff.
She broke into a sudden, storm of sobs
and left the room, to stick her head
in the door moment after.
Kidneys or chops?' she shouted al
most belligerently.
Kidneys" Miss Letitia replied in
kind.
y Wardrop went with us to the sta
ton at noon, but he left us there,
with brief remark that he would
be up that night. After / had put
Margery in seat, l went back to have
a word with him alone. He was
standing beside the train. trying to
light a cigarette, but his hands shook
almost beyond control, and after the
fourth match he gave 1t up. My min
ute for speech was gone. AS the train
moved out I saw him walking back
along the platform, paying no attention
to anything around him. Also, | had
a feeting glimpse of a man loaf1ng
on a baggage truck his hat over his
eyes. He was pairing an apple with
penknife, and dropping the Feelings
with careful accuracy through crack
in the floor Of the platform.
I had arranged over the telephone
that Edith should meet the train, and
1t was a relief to see that she and
Margery took to each other at once.
We drove to the house Immediately,
and after a few tears when she saw
the familiar things around her, Mar
gerry rose to the situation bravely.
Miss Letitia had sent Bella to put the
house in order, and 1t was evident that
the idea Of clean curtains for the fun
eral had been drilled into her until 1t
had became an obsession. Not until
Edith had concealed the step-ladder
were the hangings safe, and late in the
afternoon we heard crash from the
library, and found Bella twisted on the
floor, the result of putting teakwood
tabouret on table from thence at
tacking the lace curtains of the library
windows.
Edith gave her good scolding and
sent her of to soak her sprained
ankle. Then she righted the tabouret,
sat down on 1t and began on me.
do you know that you have not
been to the Office for two days?" she
said severely, "And do you know
that HAYES had Mysteries in our front
hall last night? You had a case in
court yesterday, didn't your
Nothing very much" said, looking
over her head. Anyhow, I'm tired.
don't know when I'm going back. 1
need q vacation"