Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-02-06
The Best of Chester
A TALE OF RED ROSES
BY George Randolph Chester
Autaor Of Get. Rich Quick wainsford. Etc.
Copyrighted. The DoahsAserrT Conpssy

congratulated them. shaking Dicky by
the hand. "She is a good girl, Dicky,
and you must be very kind to her
How could help it," returned
Dicky, taking Jessie away from her
father, and restoring her to that snug
place against his side.
Now let's talk business little bit.
invited Father Peters. you're young
man yet, Dicky, and you would be
wise to take another mans advice. You
mentioned to me the other day that
you have little money, and l want 10
see you invest 1t wisely.
Il made every cent of 1t myself, as
serted Dicky, with sidelong glance,
to see if Jessie had the proper pride
in him. She had.
Put it to work, like do mine, y
promptly urged Henry. Make your
money make money. I'll call up my
friend, and see if can't get you some
of that stock" and he started Tor the
telephone.
Don't do it," called Dicky 50 de-
cisively and sharply that his future
fauher.in-law turned on him, offended.
That traction stock may be good but
nv money stays in the West End bank
until we buy and furnish our home
"All right" gave up little Henry.
Some day you'll realize the value Of
an older mans advice"
81 suppose so,' granted Dicky easily
I'VE have to go up to the house now,
and break the news to our mama.
Jessie squeezed his arm adorably for
saying 'our mama" and they took a
car straight up to the Peters home,
where they found their mama baking
cookies for Minnie's baby.
Hello, Dicky," she greeted him.
wiping her hands on her apron to
shake hands with Dicky, and beaming
up at him with the motherly warmth
he always inspired in her. Did you
get that thread, Jessie?'
Jessie colored
Il forgot it," she falteringly con-
fessed.
why, you went down for nothing
else" protested Mrs. Peters.
'She met me-" smilingly explained
Dicky. kiss me-" and he held down
his puckered lips.
She shrank from him. as If he had
haunted a spider in her face. She
Dlnshed until the white parting of her
hair was red clear back to her knot,
and she looked at him so distressedly
and so helplessly that Jessie felt sud-
den sharp Juggling of compassion for
her.
Don't, Dicky!" she protested. 1T
isn't fair
That's right" agreed Dicky nicely.
Well sit down and talk it over" and
placing himself comfortably in the big
splint rocking chair, with
the red worsted cushion in it, he calm
" drew Jessie on his lap. you see
Mama Peters, having nothing else to
do on the first of next month, Jessie
and | have decided to be married"
Mama Peters slowly sat down. and
stared at them for long, long minute,
as if they had been their own ghosts;
then she suddenly put her gnarled, red,
old hands to her eyes, and began cry
ing.
Jessie was on her knees beside her
and had that gray head
bent on her shoulder, and petted 1t, and
tears came into her own eyes.
Don't you like me for SON." de-
manded the apparently much-abused
voice of Dicky.
: She looked up at him, smiling
through her tears, and then she and
Jessie both laughed, half Historically,
at him.
Come here and I'll kiss you" offered
Mrs. Peters.
Dicky was very prompt to accept
that offer; then, seeing that it was
c;t hay, f1
little longer he placed chair for Jen-
sic by her side, and walked outdoors
TO look at the struggling chrysanthe.
When he returned, Mrs. Peters was
asking eagerly:
"How many rooms has it,"
Seven replied Jessie happily. 1--WE
are going up to see it Sunday. We
leave here on the six o'clock train in
the morning, and get back at ten at
night
How is it arranged?" asked Mrs
Peters, appealing to Dicky. Your new
house we're talking about
II guessed it, laughed Dicky, draw
ing his chair directly in front of them,
and reaching over into Jessie's lap for
ISI llduu lOu SlCp vi q VAuC pOI
into big square reception room. To
the right of that is the parlor, with
wide folding doors. Straight ahead Of
the reception hall is the dining room
The stairway goes up between the
kitchen and the dining room, and a
door for ice opening on to the back
porch Upstairs there are three bed
rooms and bath"
How about clothes closets?'' asked
Mama Peters. arranging that house
in her minds eyes, and walking
through it critically.
"A big closet in every bedroom, and
one in the hall. The cellar stairway
opens from the kitchen. There's
cellar under the whole house Hot
air furnace, hot and cold water, cleo
trio lights and gas"
ANY hardwood foors?" asked Jes-
sic with her mind on rugs.
Borders down stairs, except in the
Kitchen answered Dicky promptly.
That's nice" approved Mama Pet
ers with sigh. But the house is
too big for Jessie to take care Of all
by herself
"'rhe hired girls already picked