Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-11-06
"Oh, I've known Tuck Crawford ever

"Oh, I've known Tuck Crawford ever
since he was knee high to grass.
hopper" said Aunt Bethiah placidIy.
He won't hurt anybody, and I've new
er been afraid of him. He's got plenty
of money hid down the well, suppose
or under the mounting stone"
"Then it's pity he doesn't dig up
some of it for Bernice," said Laura
passionately. She perched herself on
the edge Of the table, plate In one
hand and the dish towel in the other.
She has had to stay at home and take
care Of her father and all those chill.
dren, five OF them, ever since her
mother died. and they're we'll mot
POOR - suppose, but always just get
ting by - don't you know what mean
auntie? There isn't enough money for
this and that and Berenice can't even
think of getting married for years and
years."
HAS she got any one picked out
YETI" asked Aunt Bethiah.
HAS she? Why don't you know she
Is engaged to our Rob?'
Mrs. Fennimore dropped her croch-
citing and looked over her eyeglasses
at her youngest neice. The hope of
the Fennimore family was Rob. And
in the past it had been a safe axiom to
state that girls might come and girls
might go. but Rob went on forever"
He had passed through college without
any troubles and was building his first
engineering contract, the new concrete
bridge over the Quinnebaug river, sew.
enteen miles below Fairview, III.
! 81 suppose" said Mrs. Fennimore,
with Just bit Of sigh. they were
sweethearts when they were children
Rob's the kind of a boy to keep the
flower OF romance blooming for years.
Is she nice, Laura?"
! Mice? She's just darling. auntie.
Well ride over there this morning and
you can see her. She's the winsomest
girl you ever saw = just that the win
soonest"
Willing to marry Rob?"
. ooh, yes, tell you they've been en-
gagged since his junior year, but she
has big idea of duty. and her father
needs her. The two after her are boys
and the next three girls, SO there's no
one else you see to look after them
and bring them up. But if their Grand.
father Crawford would do the right
thing they could afford to hire house
keeper and let Berenice get married In
peace"
| always was too selfish to give a
crow crumb," Aunt Bethiah agreed.
We'll see what can be done, never
was afraid Of Tuck Crawford and I
amt today. He needs boss fearfully.
About 10 they drove over to the
junior Crawford home. 1t was an old
! story and half farmhouse backing up
against rocky hillside. There were
late asters blooming n the garden and
chrysanthemums. and the porch was
rudy with woodbine.
Real slightly old place amt it," said
Mrs. Fennimore when they came away.
"and I do like Berenice. She's sweet
as tea rose I declare she Is, with
those big brown eyes and that fair,
curly hair Bless her heart! Just
drive over to her grandfather's place,
will you, Laura?"
Back on an old side road 1t was, a
little gray house In tangle OF trees
and grape vines, with big we'll sweep
at the back and the barn across the
road. Mr.. Crawford was struggling !
with the well, trying to draw up pail,
and Laura hurried over to help him.
Don't spill it, mind" he cautioned
testify. Cant bear mite o. damp or
mildew round my house. Some folks
don't mind, but 1t makes me fearful
chilly. Just set it down on that shelf
by the sink, Larry. Much obliged"
How be you, Tuck?" called Aunt
Bethiah, happily. coming UP the path
toward him, her full skirts brushing of |
leaves and cobwebs from the dry
weeds. So sweet faced and blooming
she looked that Laura stared at her
And so did Tucker Crawford. Not
such vision had he seen in many
years in his front yard He wiped his |
hand of on his coat and gave It to
her bit shakily
"Why, Bethiah, how be YET" he ex-
claimed. Look just as young and pert
as ever When did you get over here?"
Been East two weeks
Widow, too, amt you?"
These ten years, Tuck"
well, well. How pert you do look"
His faded blue eyes fingered on her !
cheerful face hungrily. Want place !;
as housekeeper, Bethiah? I've been |
looking round for good hard working |
woman"
mo, thanks" she laughed. I'm pro-
vided for, Tuck. l wanted to see you
about Berenice, your grandchild. Our |
Rob's in love with her, and she with |
him, want them to be married be-
. hr,o II oy3v p,h