Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-02-08

'the two Of them. all alone on tho
foot.bridge, and 1t was after nine
o'clock. III hadn't been in . hurry to
get home to see that the roomers
didn't set the house afire, not a soul
would have seen the two colloguing."
"And it don't seem to have done
you ~ good" remarked her brother
who, having heard the tale twenty
times, began to look upon the went
almost as matter OF course. YOU'D
better not have saw them. at an early
age Bob had cut of his education, and
It h stopped growing at that very
place. Perhaps he had been elected
president Of the school-board on tn
principle that we best appreciate what
does not belong to us.
envy home has been Abbott Ashton's
home" said Miss Sapphire, "since the
death of his last living relation, and
her a step. and 1t mercy. for nobody
could get along with her, and she
wouldn't let people leave her alone.
You ,,now how fond I am of Abbott,
but your position Is very responsible.
You could get rid of him by lifting
your finger, and people are making lots
Of talk: it's going to in1ure you. Peo-
pie don't want to send their tender
young innocent girls-they're mighty
hardened and knowing set, nowadays.
though, I must say--to superintend-
|, t that stands on bridges Of nights.
holding hands, ami her Young slip OF
a thing All alone. Robert. all alone;
there's going to be complaint OF the
schoolboard, that's what there's going
to be, and you'll have to look out for
your own interests. You must talk to
Abbott. Him a-standing on that
bridge
lie amt stood there as often as
I've been worried to death a-hearing
of IT," growled the ungrateful Bob.
who was immensely fond of Abbott.
Miss Sapphire spoke with amazingly
significant double mods between each
word "And Jan saw
only four days
ago"
She pointed at the school-house
which was almost directly across the
street. its stone steps facing the long
veranda. "They were the last to come
out of that door. You may say she's
a mere child. Mere children are not
in Miss Bulls classes"
"But Abbott says the girl is far ad.
vanced."
Gar advanced! You may well say!
III be bound she is-and carrying on
with Abbott on the very school-house
steps Yes, venture she is advanced.
You make me ashamed to hear you.
Bob tugged at his straw-colored
mustache: he would not swear, for
whatever happened, he was resolved
to lead the spiritual life. "See here,
Sapphire, I'm going to tell you some
thing. I had quite talk with Abbott
about that Observation-Disclosures you'd
spread it all over town, sis--and II
you'll believe me. she waylaid him on
those Scholarships He didn't want to
talk with her Why, he left her stand
ing there. She made him mad finding
fault with the very folks that have
taken her up. He's disguised. That
night at the camp-meeting, he had to
take her out OF the tent--he was asked
to do it"
"He didn't have to stand, a-holding
her hand"
And as soon as he'd shown her the
way to Brother Gregory's, he came on
back to the tent. saw him IN the
aisle
sapphira-"the limb"
Now. listen, Sapphire. and quit
goading. Abbott says that Miss Bull
is having lots Of trouble with Fran"
See that, now"
Because Fran won't get her les
sous, being contrary"
81 wish you could have seen her
whistling at me, that night"
Hold on. SO this very evening
Miss Bull is going to send her down to
Abbott's ONCE to be punished, or dis
missed. This very evening he wants
me to be over there while he takes her
in hand"
abbot is going to punish that girl?"
cried Miss Sapphira; going to take
her in hand? What do you mean by
taking her in hand?' She is too old!
Robert, you make me blush"
"You amt adjusting, Sapphire" her
brother assured her, good.naturedly,
you're suffering from the hot weather.
Yes, he's to punish her at four o'clock,
and I'm to be present, to stop all this
confoun-I mean this ungodly gossip.
you'd better wear your spectacles.
Bob, so you'll look old and settled.
I'm not always sure Of you. either.
"Sapphira, If hadn't Joined the
church, I'd say" He threw up his
hand and clenched his fist as IL he had
caught an oath and meant to hold 1t
tight. Then his honest face beamed.
See ere, I've got an idea. Suppose
you make it point to be sitting out
here in the veranda at about half-past
four or Ave. You'll see Fran come
sneaking out of that door like a whip
ped kitten. She'll look everlastingly
wilted. I don't know whether Abbott
will stuff her full of fractions and geo.
graphy. or make her stand in a corner
but you'll see her wilted."
Miss Sapphire was highly gratified.
"I wish you'd talked this reasonably at
first. It's always what people don't
see that the most harm comes OF. III
give little tea out here on the veranda.
and the worst takers in town will be
in these chairs when you bring Fran
away from Abbott's ONCE. And I'll
explain 1t all to 'em, and they'll know
Abbott is all right, just as I've always
known"
Get Miss Grace to come" Bob said
YC~S-